The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-05-06
CHAPTER VII.
THE BENDING OF HORACE
BLAGDEN.

Late the next afternoon Horace re-
eeived a telegram that puzzled him not
a little. 1t was from Chetwynd. "Who
won the prize? Wire me at the Hol-
land as usual"
What puzzled Horace was this: what
a become Of the telegram addressed
to his son at the Holland half an hour
after the awarding Of the prize the day
before? But what would have puzzled
anyone who knew Mr.. Blagden at all
we'll, was his action in sending a sec
ond telegram without tnquiring at the
telegraph office why the first had no
been delivered. The hin line between
the eyes seemed to have deep
ened perceptibly after the receipt of his
son's query. Somehow, he had the ugly
notion that his first telegram was ly-
Ing unclaimed at the hotel in New York.
Mr.. Blagden usually left the bank at
4 in the afternoon. 1t was his prac-
tice. not to say habit, to walk up the
street to his lub-the only one in town
hat a gentleman could enter without
glancing yer his shoulder in all direc-
ttons-there to read the Boston papers
n engage in a subsequent game of
cribbage with Colonel Harkweather
who ais read the papers before doing
anything else. On this particular at
ternoon. however, the colonel not only
read the Boston papers, but scanned
the New York dailies and Their took up
the magazines. Finally he went home
in fine disgust. 1t was the first time
in months that Blagden had failed to
appear. He was half way home before
1t occurred to him that the banker
might be Ill. So he entered a drug
store and telephoned to the house on
the hill. He was not at all relieved
to hear from Mrs. Rlagden herself that
Horace had never been in better health.
II anything, the colonel was more flu
rious than before, considering himself
a much abused man. He kept saying
was sorry Blagden was not i'll: there
was now nc excuse at all for him that
he could see.
But Horace sat at his desk much
later than usual on this day, a trou-
bled frown on his brow. He was not
thinking OF Chetwynd, as you might
suppose-at least, he was not deyotine
all of his thoughts to the boy. It seems
there was a very grave cause for sus-
pectfng a former employee Of dishonest
practices during the last days of his
employment in the bank. Within the
past week, auditors, in going oyer the
books anticipatory to the appearance
discrepancies in the balances. There
was a clearly defined shortage of near
ly $4,000, carried over for several
months before coming to light. Careful
investigation revealed the fact that the
shortage was created about the time
tile assistant teller left the bank In
order to make room for the presidents
son. The young mar himself, one John
Payson, after losing his position. Sc
cured work in the offices Of a build
ing and loan society, upon the unqual.
filed recommendation Of Horace Blag.
den. He remained In the bank for 8
week after ChetWynd was installed. in
Btructing him in the duties of office. Al
near as could be reckoned, the embez.
element occurred Immediately before OF
during his week OF instruction.
Nothing CT the kind had happened be.
fore In the history OF Blagden & Co
Not SO much as a penny had been fell
oniously taken from Its Golfers, not In
all the so years OF the banks existence
No wonder, then. that Horace was dis.
turbed.
To think that he had employed a maj
who could stoop to theft! And to think
that subsequently he had recommended
him to q position of trust! It was mos,
upsetting.
With q promptness that suggested
panic MI. Blagden hired a New York
detective and put him on the case. Fol
g week or more.rthat worthy had beer
deyoting his time and intelligence Il
g study of the past and present habits
OF the suspected young man, with the
surprising result that, so far, he was
unable to report to Mr.. Blagden thai
they We're anything but good. This, Of
course. convinced Horace that the Eel