Year: 1869

had been clerk in the Bristol Bank, in
Providence, for eighteen years, and had
gained the confidence of the President and
Cashier by uniform good behavior and close
attention to my work. Other clerks had
come and gone some to more lucrative po-
sitions, and some know not where, discharg-
ed as they had been for inaccuracies in tieir
bdols. One Of them, James Petrie. whJ had
lett us about a year before the events hap
pened which | am about to relate, had been
ON friendly terms with me. and had always
found him an obliging kind-hearted fellow
lie had been rather too fond of a glass, how
ever, and | had frequently warned him that
it would injure him in the opinion of the Of
ficers of the bank if it should be discovered
that he INDUCED SO freely He had always
promised me that he would reform, and had
always failed to do so.


At last he came to She bank one day in a
state which certainly would betray him if he
should have to speak to the Cashier, which
he had often to Go, and was urging him to
leave on the plea Of sickness, when the Cash
ier, who saw us talking, called him to his
room on some matter of business He went,
and on entering the room stumbled against
chair and fell The Cashier discovered his
condition; and when the President arrived,
poor Petrie was at once discharged. 1t was
the custom, when an employe left the bank.
for the President to give him a statement of
his conduct while there, and what was the
cause Of his dismissal. Such n statement
was handed to Petrie, as he left the office
ruined as to any prospect of getting position
in banking house afterward | had never
seen or heard of him from that time.


About a year after, was summoned into
the Presidcnt's room, and Informed that
had to start that evening for New Hampshire
He stated that MIR. IIardie, very eccentric
man, who did large business with the bank,
had written to him to send on clerk to
keene, town in New Hampshire, with one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars to pay for
a large amount of property which he had
bought there. 1t would have been easy fer
Mr.. llardie to have given a check on the bank
for the sum specified. but he had a habit of
always paying the money down, and he now
proposed 10 pay clerks expenses to Keene
and back rather than dabble with checks, as
he called it. / had been chosen for the work
and telegram was to be forwarded to Mr..
Hardie to tell him that | would start on the
1:20 P. NJ. train that night.


The money was ready and | went home to
prepare for my journey, taking it along with
me. had scarcely arrived home when
was attacked by complaint from which
occasionally suffered, and which completely
Frustrated me for the time. 1t was nine
o clock before got over the attack, and then
was too late to get a train that night | did
not think, however, that it was of much CON
sequence, as / could start by the 4:20 A. NJ.
express train, and be in time for the : AM.
train from Boston to Keene. This arrange
ment carried out without thinking it neces.
sary to inform my employers. since Mr. Har-
die would have the money within few hours
of the time notified by the telegram.


In due time | reached Boston. and was
passing up fremont street on my wav to the
Fitchhurg depot, when hand was laid on
my shoulder, and a voice quietly said


. You must be new to your business, Mr..
Gloyer?''


What business?v / inquired, as I turned
round and faced the man who had addressed
me. There was something in the tone of his
voice which made me think | had heard it
before; but on lookingat his face perceived
that he was stranger to me.


All +. beginning to act, he said. looking
steadily at me. . There is no use however.
trying that on" he continued. "Y You were
missed last night; and as you had such a large
sum OF money ii was thought strange. and
word was sent on here. / have been on the
lookout for you since, and now you had bet
ter accompany me to the office without anv



What office p inquired. with more and
more amazement, for he was speaking in
parallels to me.


$ To my Office" he replied. II am de-
tective Steel, and have to arrest you on the
charge of attempting to make off with a large
sum of money from the Bristol Bank of Proyi-
dence."


was completely stunned. Surely | must
be dreaming. But no. There was the de-
tective, of whom | had so often heard. with
his hand on my shoulder. and looking into
my face with calm satisfaction. There could
be no doubt of that. And he must have been
instructed to arrest me. Otherwise, how
could he have known my errand SO accurate
ly? thought quiet submission was the best
course, as could easily clear up any doubt
which might be cast upon me by telegraph
ing to the President of the bank how | had
been prevented from starting the proceeding
night. therefore walked quietly along with
him till we came to house in Hanover street.
where he said the superintendent of Police
lived, from whom he wished to get instruc-
tions regarding me. He had a pass-key. by
which he admitted himself. aud we went into
a room where gentlemanly looking man was
writing.


"Weli, Steel,' said the person, = is this
your man?'


: {. Yes, SIR" was the detectives reply
He is quite green, or very deep"
g Has he got the money!" inquired the
Superintendent.


g Ileft the matter of searching for that till
we should come here" replied Steel. Then
turning to me, and looking at the valise in
which had the money, he added, 81 sup
pose you have it all. Open i"


did az he directed, and the bundle of bills
was produced. | observed glance of salts
faction pass between the Chief and his sub
ordinate but thinking nothing of the cir
cumstance, proceeded to state how | had
been detained, and that had been crossing
to the Fitchburg depot to take the train.
when Mr. Steel had arrested me.


:. Well, my FRIEND" said the Chief, " the
trptb of vo,r statement will soon ha tno,,-,