The Press., 1916-07-20

I worried, too, about the affairs of my department. The cashier, Samuel Gregory, was under my orders, and the only person besides myself and MT. Edsall who had the key of the safe Gregory had been with the con- cern twice as long as I had, but wor- ried lest he would involve me in some misfortune. He was not as careful with his personal expenditures as | thought a man entrusted with funds should be, but that was not sufficient caGse for my pessimism.
 One afternoon after bank hours GUS toner from another city came into the office and insisted on paying his ac- count, very large amount, in bank bills. I was obliged to receive 1t, and it was placed in the safe. That night lay awake, not only thinking of the equivocal position occupied with re- spect to having love affair with the daughter of man who trusted me i'm pnc1t1y, but who could wreck my pros- poets if he considered that I had been treating him dishonorably. Worry is habit, and If a man permits himself to worry about one thing he will worry about everything.
 What made me worry about the money in the safe was that when I had reported the fact of the payment 10 MT. Edsall he said that [ should have declined to receive so large an amount in currency after banking hours.
 Not being able to sleep in a comfort able bed away from the funds in Ques- tion, I got up and dressed myself, in tending to go to the office and sleep on a lounge there was in MT. Edsalls pri- vate room, where I would be near the safe. On reaching my destination un- locked the door to the main office and went iH with no light except what came from the street. I feared that if I switched on the electrics some police man would come to investigate what was going on. I did not care to make an explanation, and would not have it known by any one connected with the office that I had been1here.
 Feeling my way to the lounge, lay down. I was some time getting to sleep, for had a new source of worry in the fact that if were found in the office my motive for being there might be misfnterpreted. However, l finally dropped into light and troubled slum- Der.
 I was awakened by sound in the next room. I did not stir, but listened. I faintly heard something drop in the safe lock. Had my hearing not been very acute I should net have detected it. After hearing several such drops, which I recognized from having opened the safe so many times, I heard the heavy door swing open. For moment it seemed that I was still asleep and dreaming a dream that had been ex- cited by my imagination. Then I sprang up and. without thinking that was liable to be shot down, switched on an electric light
 There stood Gregory facing me, white as sheet, in his hand a package of currency. We looked at each other for moment, then Gregory, realizing his position, broke down and began to beg piteously that would not expose him.
 I told him to replace the package of bills he had taken and close the safe. Then he confessed that he had been speculating and had got caught. He was intending to take few thousand dollars to tide him over for few days, trusting to the fact that he alone look ed after the cash on hand to replace it before the deficiency should be discov- cred.
 I asked him how much money would tide him over, and he told me that $2, ,50O would do 1t. I had saved several times that amount and told him that I would let him have the money in the morning, but he must leave 1t to me to act toward him in other respects as my conscience dictated He declared that this was the first time in his life that he had appropriated money that did not belong to him and assured me that what I had offered to loan him would put him beyond further need If it were not so he would not have acted as he had. This did not influence me. I told him that would tell him my having surprised him, and, leaving the building, we parted on the side walk.
 It was long past midnight when I got back into my own bed. lay awake wondering if my having gone to the office at the same time Gregory had gone there to make loan of the firms funds was a coincidence or whether subconsciousness that he was intending to do so had led me there. It is said that no one can think of two things at the same time, but these thoughts did not interfere with a dread that, no matter what course I should pursue with Gregory, it would result unfortunately for me.
 The next morning he did not show up. I waited till noon, and since he did not appear laid the matter before MT. Edsa1. An examination was made but no deficiency was found. But it came out that Gregory was heavily in debt and he had decamped to parts un-