Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-24

it, sayl You can't swipe $4,000 out O. YOU
bank for your own social purposes, then come
IN here, an pin 1t on mel''
It stopped Bert that Yes, how could h
Z, prove he had paid the cash to Albee? Dorothy
had been present, but certainly she could no
testify as to the precise amount OF the cur !
rency he had showed out to Abe. Nothing but
the boys personal statement stood between him
and an indictment for theft. A realization Of
his dilemma took the strength from him.
panic-stricken teller got back to the bank
"Mr. Cogswell-he denies paid 1t to him
And yet did swear did-in mistake.
Young fellers paid t handle money cana
make such mistakes"
Seayers dropped into Q nearby chair In
hollow tone he asked:
Are you going to f1re me, Mr.. Cogswell7'I
Jerem was canny man, hard man. Yeti
his voice held no rancor:
mo- I'm not gonna fire you. What's more
you're not gonna IRE yourself. II that moneys
lost, III personally reimburse tn bank with 81
loan. But guess YOU know what you can
do in turn. You can pay that loss backl"
Met Pay it backl But haven't COB"
''I1l raise your pay t. 30 q week. Guess II
you alter your ways. you can manage T. live on
10 of it." s---sr.sls-se
But at 20 Q week, to pay IL .62S would take
me over 10 yearsl" N-so
IF you know o better way out, tell me.
Don't forgit, however, tn bondin' company
might take more stock In Abes denial than
in your claim O. carelesSneSs.
Twilight hung over the valley when Bert
left the bank. Sheriff Crumpett, appraised Of
what had happened, saw him start unsteadily
up East Main street and go through the river
bridge. On the opposite shore was wooded
country-bog and deer bottom.
Hope he don't try no fiummadiddles ON him
SELF" unused the ofncer anxiously.
Where Bert Seavers went that night was no.
bodys business. But the town learned later
that he had climbed to the top Of Cobb Hill
and remained there bareheaded under the
stars. 80.
Dorothy was helping MRS. Mason in the.
boarding-h house kitchen the next forenoon when
young Seavers rang the bell. A moment later
he was facing the girl in the small side parlor.
At s'pose Albee's skipped?" he said.
''Yes," said Dorothy.
Silence for q moment. Bert torturing his
hat. Then:
"Dorothy-yesterday at the bank-you Of
fered-to release me from our engagement"
With sharp intake Of breath, face becoming
pale, Dot backed against q table. Her hand
gripped It's edge. Yet she kept her eyes level.
IT did, Bert That rs. if-h 1t meant your
happiness" ~i.
I'm hereto ask you-to do It, Dot And
it's not because Of Miss Carver. haven't had
much sleep the past night. I've been OF by
myself, getting things straight. I've faced
facts, Dorothy. And the biggest fact I've faced
is I've got TO buckle down and pay OFF that
loss TIN take me 10 years"
BERT" -,-
at got myself into this mess. and I've got to
get myself out After all, IL I'd shot straight
with you, you wouldn't have come in the
bank yesterday noon If hadn't been upset,
knowing was guilty, I'd have paid mOse- at-
tention to those cards Of collection SOereaaly
It. was my yellow streak I showed toward
you that's, landed me where am. Ten years
Os slaxing fer q neasly $40 = week is4 mTe meti-
cine.s. Well. III. take ~, And yosa knew what