The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-10-05
Bv WILLIAM ATHERTON DU PUY
Copyright by W. G. Chapman

hotel in the carryall which, in Roger
ton, still afforded the only link be-
tween those two points, when pande-
monium broke out in the slumbrous
streets. He met it's forerunner head
on not two blocks from the station.
This bolt that had launched itself from
Lhe clear skies took the form OF
normally dignifed family carriage
drawn by two lean bays. But the
sedate responsibility which surround
ed this equipage when it was driven
by it's proper owner, President Sis
sons of the Royerton National bank,
had been lost in the madness Of the
present exploit.
For the lean bays were now extend
ing themselves in what appeared to
be an attempt to break all speed rec
ords that the community had ever
known. The dignified carriage was
careening from side to side in way
that threatened it's overthrow at any
moment. Cards first impression was
of team that had broken loose from
a hitching rack and dashed away I'M
controlled. But as it flashed past him
there was an instant in which the
actual situation was photographed
upon his brain.
For this team was not without
driver. He had seen the form of
slim young man which leaned far out
over the dashboard-pale, refined fea-
lures that fitted lily into a scene OF
such vigorous action. But what was
more surprising was that this driver,
instead Of attempting to restrain his
horses. was every moment lasnlng
them into new exertions.
Homer Hester, as I live!" ejacu-
lated the driver Of the carryall in con-
sternation.
'sWho is Homer Kester?" asked
Gard.
''The cashier of the bank" was the
reply.
Whereupon the young special agent
of the department Of justice acquired
an even greater interest in the stu
alton than he had experienced be-
fore, for he had come to Royerton for
the purpose of making inquiries into
the condition of it's national bank,
which was under suspicion.
Behind the fleeing carriage came the
town constable, who had evidently
appropriated, for purposes of giving
chase, the first horse he had found by
the side of the street. Others had
Joined in the pursuit and a rabble OF
small boys and curious townsmen
crowded the street. From these the
stranger was soon able to gather the
story of what had happened in the i'm
mediate past.
It had suddenly developed that the
cashier was short in his accounts. The
directors had awakened Of sudden
to arealization that the institution over
which they presided was but tinan-
cial shell. There was no delay IN
the interest of expediency. An i'm
mediate call was sent forth for the
constable. The young cashier went
into a panic. In desperation he rushed
from the back door of the bank, cut
loose the team Of the institutions
president which stood near, leaped IN
and made dash for it.
It would have appeared that such
procedure would have been entirely
futile, that there would have been no
question o. the apprehension of this
criminal. Yet such was not the case,
and Homer Hester was a thorn in the
flesh of the authorities and particular
1y of Special Agent Billy Gard for
many day. For he ran his team two
miles into the country, abandoned it,
but sent it still adrift, caught cross
country trolley, and with the excep-
ton of a single feeting moment, was
not again seen by the authorities TOR
"a year and half.
Gard, in the meantime, was faced
with the immediate problem or deter
mining the nature of the crime and
representing the United States, that
Justice might be melted out. In the
course of which work he developed
the detail of what had happened to the
lone financial institution of this coun-
trv town and revealed method by
which single depositor had filched 1t
sof it's funds in a way that almost
amounted to the knowledge and con-
sent of the directors.
The trouble was all caused by a
young man by the name of George D..
aCaviness who was born with a Pc
,culiar gift of inducing his associates
to perform for him such favors as
were better not granted. 1t would
seem that he had taken for his model
in life the monkey (if it was a
monkey that had first induced the
cat to pull those historical chestnuts
out of the fire. But so alluring were
his Establishments, SO attractive his per-
/sonality, so popular was he socially,
T that the town had become accustomed
10 forgiving his transgressions and al
lowing him to have his way.
The father of George D. had been a
director of the Royerton National bank
and at one time a man of means.
1t YES a great shock to the town