, 1917-11-08
THE books of the Atlas National
bank contain many a mention of
Millionaire Robert Dale. This

'SeAe ~
oldest and most prominent director in
the institution. His dealings had run
up into the millions. But a plain rec
ord and a clean sheet were all the sur
face Indications, showing no more, no
less, than the bare limit recount of
some saving, underpaid clerk laying
aside an lily spared surplus for a
rainy day.
When 1t m to the secret
archives, however. the confidential
files accessible only to the officers and
credit manager of the bank, that is a
different proposition. He had company
in that Department. ghostly troop
of family skeletons, closeted at home
safely, locked away from public view
in the strong steel safety vaults.
Should they ever parade forth, one
Basil Trego, among several Of like
mold, would strut and caper across
the stage, and vanish leaving the i'm
preston that honored names are some-
times a farce and honest men a
rarity. It might then be shown how
and why that great protector or
finance, the active head Of the United
Bankers Protective association, Resili-
us Marvel, was called into the most
secret councils Of the Atlas National,
to ward of disgrace and peril from
our valued friend and client, and final
ly to save his life and his millions.
I recall Robert Dale just a 8 he ap-
peared that bright June morning when
the president of our institution sum-
moned me to his private office, and
the gravity and ~earnestness Of his
face Influenced me to the belief that
something out Of the ordinary was in
the wind
"Mr. Dale is in the directors Office"
advised our chief official, land wishes
to see you. / hav told him of certain
attributes of yours that we have recog-
nized-a close mouth, a strictly bust
ness attitude, and u~nfaltering accuracy
of judgment"
81 thank you" l bowed, with a natu-
raj glow Of pleasure at the handsome
compliment.
Poor Dale!" observed the presi-
dent, "he needs the exercise OF all
these qualifications, indeed. A journey
on your part may be necessitated. Fall
III VIII Hlb pldhbB "hotSNSA thSy "NJ
be-"
| proceeded at once to Join the wait
ing visitor. He greeted me in a friend
ly manner and touched a chair by his
side.
81 am going to ask a good deal of
you," he said-"service l can never
sufficiently repay you for because i
wish o to share my troubles. and
the load isn't a light one. l want n
man who can remember always, yet
forget absolutely 30 far as others are
concerned. 1t is about my step
nephew, Basil Trego."
The last name was not unfamiliar to
me, but l did not show that this was
so. l recalled the first incident with
where a music hall danseuse had kick
ed her dainty slipper into his lap
high honor for the shallow-pated
youth, who proceeded to lavish his
own and the money of others upon
her. 1t had led to the presentation
and payment of a forged check on
his uncle. Nor was 1t the only n
We OF the bank had never let Mr..
Dale know what we suspected. When
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
business man fancied he vas impart-
ing to me a great secret when he said
In a tone infinitely depressed and Sc
rious:
my nephew, Basil Trego, is a
forger.
For over W. years this young
man, continued the millionaire, "has
led a life of idle profligacy, riot and
revel. Not once, but twenty times he
has passed checks on this institution
bearing my forged name. There
was a lapse where, l 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
for over 100000. Later he took some
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 a woman
known as Sara Bruhl."
1 made a mental note of this for fu.
ture reference. while Mr.. Dale went
on:
"A week since he appeared at my
home in a desperate condition Of fright
and actual or pretended NOR
He begged of me a final $4,000, to go
to some foreign place Of refuge and re-
deem his blighted past. He realized
that | had put up safeguards to u
wit any further forgeries or pecula-
tons. | sternly told him my decision.
My Will was made, and he was cut Off