The Tomahawk., 1917-11-15
books of the Atlas National
bank contain many a mention OF

0U1HE books of the Atlas National
bank contain many mention OF
Millionaire Robert Dale. This
would be natural, for he was our
oldest and most prominent director In
Il the institution. His dealings had run
q M into the millions. But plain rec
4 ord and q clean sheet were all the sur
face Indications, showing no more, nc
less, than the bare limit account OF
some saving, underpaid clerk laying
aside an lily spared surplus for g
rainy day.
When it comes to the secret
+ archives, however. the confidential
files accessible only to the officers and
credit manager of the bank, that is
+ different proposition. He had company
& In that departments ghostly troop
, OF family skeletons, closeted at home
1 safely, locked away from public view
/ in the strong steel safety vaults
Should they ever parade forth, one
4 Basil Trego, among several OF like
I mold, would strut and caper across
\ the stage, and vanish leaving the I'M
/. preston that honored names are some
times q farce and honest men q
4 rarity, It might then be shown how
and why that great protector OF
D finance, the active head of the United
Bankers Protective association, Res1li-
us Marvel, was called into the most
Il secret councils of the Atlas National,
to ward off disgrace and peril from
our valued friend and client, and final
4 l. - nd q m
I recall Robert Dale just as he ap-
reared that bright June morning when
A the president of our institution sum-
moned me to his private office, and
4 the gravity and earnestness OF his
face Influenced me to the belief that
Fl something out of the ordinary was In
Il the wind
"Mr. Dale is in the directors office"
4 advised our chief official, land wishes
|. to see you. I have told him Of certain
J attributes of yours that we have recog-
!. nized-a close mouth, strictly bust
ness attitude, and unfaltering accuracy
Of judgment"
II thank you," bowed, with natu'
raj glow of pleasure at the handsome
compliment.
81 Poor Dale!" observed the prest-
dent. "he needs the exercise OF all
these qualifications, indeed. A journey
on your part may be necessitated. Fall
In with his plans, whatever they may
be-"
proceeded at once to join the wait
ing visitor. He greeted me In friend
( " manner and touched chair by his
side.
Il II am going to ask a good deal OF
you," he said-"service I can never
sufficiently repay you for because |
wish you to share my troubles, and
the load isn't light one. I want
y man who can remember always, yet
3. forget absolutely SO far as others are
concerned. 1t is about my STEP
nephew, Basil Trego."
1 The last name was not unfamiliar to
X ne, but I did not show that this was
30. l recalled the first incident with
& in by knowledge Of the young man
\ where a music hall danseuse had kick
cd her dainty slipper into his lap
high honor for the shallow-pated
youth, who proceeded to lavish his
h own and the money of others upon
her. It had led to the presentation
and payment Of a forged check on
4 his uncle. Nor was 1t the only one.
4 We of the bank had never let Mr..
Dale know what we suspected. When
q he passed over the forgeries, accept
~ Ing his loss in silence, the incident
was dropped so far as we were con-
cerned. Therefore, this honorable old
Z business man fancied he was impart-
& Ing to me great secret when he said
4 in a tone infinitely depressed and Sc
Il rious:
5 my nephew, Basil Trego. Is a
lorger.
For over two years this young
i man." continued the millionaire, "has
II led a life of idle profiigacy, riot and
revel Not once, but twenty times he
mas passed checks on this institution
8 bearing my forged name. There
was lapse where, suppose,
/ realizing that he was my nearest
|, living relative and likely to inherit
my fortune, he curbed his extrava-
\ gance. A few months since, however,
he issued two forged notes in my name
tor over 100000. Later he took some
4 securities from my safe, disposed Of
( them, fed to New York city. and asso-
ciated himself there with a notorious
set Of gamblers, among them woman
known as Sara Bruhl."
I made a mental note of this for fu-
ture reference, while Mr.. Dale went
u on:
"A week since he appeared at my
home in desperate condition Of fright
and actual or pretended remorse.
He begged of me a final 5000. to 60
% some foreign place of refuge and re-
deem his hlighted past He realized
{ that had put up safeguards to out
vii any further forgeries or pecula.
lions. sternly told him my decision.
4 Ny will was made, and he was cut of
& without dollar had written abroad
z 10 the orphan daughter of a distant