The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-05

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pers lying loose on the desk.
As he spoke he turned toward thu
wall desk at which he had been sit
ting. It vas Uttered with papers o.
various sorts, including an envelope
that contained $4,000 worth Of
bonds.
/ With one areiess sweep of hit
hands Hugh jumbled the mass OF pm.
pers together SO that he could bundle
them into the safe.
The bond envelope was at the rca,
OF the desk, where Hugh had tossed
1t, after jottiug down the numbers.
And now, the sudden jostlins Of
the other papers against It. sen the
envelope sliding to the floor and hid.
den from sight by the blackboard OF
the desk.
Hugh did not notice its fall.
Meantime, in Turnbull's private OF.
fee, Henry Scott and his employer
had reached a decision on the bust.
ness question they we're discussing.
III II comes to a question of further
collateral In the Bogardus loan"
Henry said, as he was leaving the
room, Hopkins says We can put up
that block OF bonds he deposited with
US. The face value is $4,000; and
they mature-they mature in-I for.
get the date. But Hugh will know.
left them with him an hour ago"
He stepped to the door Of the outer
office and then reported:
Hugh isn't here. He must be out
at lunch. But. for once. hes put all
his papers back in the safe. He"
"If he has" growled Turnbull, ITS
the first time on record. He must be
Ill. Just take a look through the safe
will you, and find the date when those
Hopkins bonds matureT
Henry crossed to the safe and
opened It.
Patiently he sought to put the pa.
pers to rights, at the same time
searching for the bond envelope.
The envelope was not there.
His brow clouding, Henry went back
to the private Office.
The Hopkins bonds" he said, hest
tatingly, are missing"
"Missing?" roared Turnbu!i. leapins
to his feet. Missing? Seventy.sis
thousand dollars worth OF negotiable
securities missing? And Hugh Scot,
Is missing at the same time!"
"No!" denied Henry, fercely,
You're wrong. sir. My brother"
Your brother is lazy, p~leasure.lov
Ing. eItravagant. He lives above his
salary, as l happen to know, and he
is in debt. His creditors are bother
ing him. And this morning I threat,
oned to discharge him. He was In a
tight corner. And he vanished. The
Hopkins bonds vanished, too. What ID
the answer"
II don't believe It." declared Henry.
81 won't believe It."
Turnbull wheeled about and caught
up the telephone. Before Henry Scott
could stop him, Turnbull had called
up police headquarters and was tell.
ing his story to the desk lieutenant
There" said the older man, at last
as he set down the instrument. That's
settled. The police are going to send
out a general alarm at once"
Mr.. Turnbull!" broke in Henry. his
face white. his Jaw set. 81 believe you
are doing my brother a terrible injus.
tice. l grant you that he is weak and
foolish and rash, but he has never
been dishonest"
Never that we know Of" countered
Turnbull. And there must BIO a first
time to everything, even to theft"
Hugh has always been little
brother to me-" said Henry. wretch.
eddy, ever since mother left him in
my care when she died. He was a
baby then. and I was a s~choolboy.
Ever since that time I've tried to
make up to him for the loss OF our
parents. But lately, perhaps. I've neg.
lectod him for my work. I'm as much
to blame as he. / should have watched
him more closely. +"
"Nonsense!" returned Turnbull.
You've stood between him and trou.
bio a million times; but this time you
can't"
Perhaps I can" was the steady an.
swer. as an odd light came into the
brothers sorrowful eyes.
You can'tI" contrad!cted Turnbull.
you are mistaken" said Henry.
There is n thing l can do. And Il
necessary / shall do It. You handed
those bonds to me. I handed them
to Hugh. At least, I Just said I did.
II worst comes to worst, I'll tell the
police It was not Hugh. but I, who
stole them"
No one would believe such an
idiotic story!"
You must give mo your word not
to prosecute" persisted Henry. mot
only for your own sake, but for the
sake OF our father who was your
friend"
Turnbull threw up both hands In
sulky surrender.
Have It your own way!" he snapped.
II promise. But you'll let me scare
him a little first for his own good"
Yes" said Henry regretfully. after
. brief pause.