The Washington herald., 1916-06-11

Again he caught her in his arms, hold
ing her close to him, his lips to hers.
Aroused by his enthusiasm and wholly
carried away by his plea for happiness.
she cried:
Yes! Yes, dear! II is the only way
we can keep from being parted. I'll do
it"
Hand in hand, laughing, like two chill
dren, they ran to the door. At the
threshold Hugh paused.
Walt second" he said. TITS against
the rules to leave valuable papers lying
loose on the desks. And hereafter I'm
going to obey rules and settle down to
my Office work as a married man should.
I'll begin by putting this stuff In the
safe"
As he spoke he turned toward the wall
desk at which he had been sitting. 1t
was Uttered with papers Of various sorts,
including an envelope that contained
$4,000 worth OF bonds-just a long and
labeled manila wrapper whose contents
represented more actual cash than the
yearly salary OF the president of the
United States.
With one careless sweep OF his hands
Hugh tumbled the mass of papers to-
gether so that he could bundle them into
the safe. The gesture set the documents
to jostling roughly against one another.
The bond envelope was at the rear of
the desk, where Hugh had tossed it, aft
er Jotttng down the numbers. It lay
with its edge Just above a narrow open
space between the desk back and the
wall
And now, the sudden Jostling of the
other papers against II, sent the envel-
ope topping, unnoticed, down this space,
like a letter dropped into a postbox.
Down it went, sliding TO the floor and
hidden from sight by the blackboard OF
the desk.
Hugh did not notice its fall When
man is about to run away to be mar
ried. his mind is seldom on petty de-
tails. He gathered up all the papers he
saw, crammed them into the safe and
twirled the metal knob. Then. hurrying
to the doorway, where Marjorie waited.
he put his arm around her. and they
hurried down the hallway toward the
elevator. AS they went he said in gay
malice:
Let's make on exception in our secre-
cy program; let tell Henry. It'll be a
treat to see the old chaps solemn face
when he hears I've won his girl"
But why hurt his feelings?" she OBJ
jected. He is so good and he is really
fond OF me-"
Hes got to know sometime, hasn't
he?' Hugh argued. And he'll help us
square ourselves with your father, when
the explosion comes He has all sorts
of influence with Mr.. rurnbull-Down,
six" he added. shouting to the passing
elevator.
Meantime, in Turnbulrs private Office
Henry Scott and his employer had
reached a decision on the business ques-
tion they were discussing.
IT 1t comes to a question OF further
collateral in the Bogardus Ioan," Henry
ca hA L, ~
kins 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 forget the date. But Hugh
will know. I left them with him an hour
ago"
He stepped TO the door Of the outer
ofice and then reported:
Hugh isn't here. He must be out at
lunch. But, for once, he's put all his
papers back in the safe. He"
IF he has growled Turnbull, ITS the
first time on record. He must be I'll. Just
take a look through the safe; will you,
and find the date when those Hopkins
bonds mature?'
Henry crossed to the safe and opened
1t. In the main compartment was a pile
Of documents IN such weird disarray as
to bring psng of disgust to his orderly
soul
Patiently he sought to put them to
rights, at the same time searching for
the bond envelope. As his hunt went
on and he did not find it, he worked
with a more feverish rapidity Every
compartment in the safe was ransacked
and then every drawer in every desk and
table OF the outer Office.
The envelope was not there,
His brow clouding, Henry went back
to the private Office.
The Hopkins bonds" he said. hesi-
tatingly. ARE missing"
Missing" roared Turnbull. leaping to
his feet. Missing? Seventy-six thou
sand dollars worth of negotiable securi-
ties missing? And Hugh Scott is miss
ing at the same time"'
mo" denied Henry. hercely. You're
wrong. sir. My brother"
Your brother is lazy. pleasure-loving.
extravagant. He lives above his salary.
as I happen to know, and he is in debt.
His creditors are bothering him And
this morning I threatened to discharge
him. He was in tight corner. And he
vanished. The Hopkins bonds vanished.
too. What is the answer7''
7 don't believe It," declared Henry II
won't believe it,
Use your brains, mani urged Turn
bull " 1 gave you those bonds an hour
ago. You gave them to your brother, to
the numbers. Not another soul
has been in the outer Office since then
He has disappeared. So have the bonds
It's a clear case
He wheeled about and caught up the
telephone. Before Henry Scott could stop
MIN, Turnbull had called up police head
quarters and was telling his story to the
desk lieutenant. Henry took an eager
step forward to check him in the midst
Of his recital. but Turnbul angrlily waved
him aside and went on with his report to
the police.
There said the older man, at last.
as he set down the instrument That's
settled. The police are going to send out
4 general alarm at once to all the pre-
cincts and telegraph a description of
Hugh to other cities. Well have him by
the heels soon enough"
Mr.. Turnbull!' broke in Henry, his
face white. his jaw set. Il believe you
are doing my brother terrible injustice.
grant you that he is weak and foolish
and rash, but he has never been dishons
est
Never that we know Of" countered
rurnbul And there must be a first
time to everything. even to theft"
There is no proof"
: The police seem to think there is
They don't know Hugh-as 1 do"
They will set to know him better"