THE BANK MANAGER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2483, 31 May 1909, Page 7

THE BANK MANAGER.

(By Robert Barr.)

John Murdoch, manager and chief pro prictor of Murdoch’s Bank, Limited, ir the little country town of Ohelslngham, s hundred miles or so north of the metropolis, did not start, gasp, or even change color as he realised that the long tension had ended, and that, at last, the crisis was npon. him. The conversation between him and his cashier had been the usual morning talk, pertaining to the commonplace routine of banking; a consultation similar to those that had taken place daily any time these past five years. A very shrewd observer might have seen that the two men were antagonistic; that they disliked each other with a mutual distrust, but the words that had passed between them had been quite frigidly correct. The interview came to its logical end, but William Randall, the cashier, made no motion to leave the manager's private room. The keen, calm, smooth-shaven face of tho manager turned toward his sub-ordi-nate, and the latter, moistening his lips, said somewhat huskily: “Mr Murdoch, I wish to speak with you regarding that package of bonds in the strong room.” The person addressed did not flinch, and when he spoke his voice was without a tremor, as he asked a question that seemed to his opponent strangely irrelevant. ‘ At what hour do vou dine, Mr Randall?” “Seven o’clock,” was the curt reply. “I am very busy to-day,” the manager said serenely, “and will not be at leisure until long after closing time. Would it be convenient for you to sec me, say at half-past eight to-night, in the directors’ room? I shall leave word with the watchman to admit you at that hour.” “Why in the directors’ room?” asked Randall suspiciously. “Why not here?” "Because I expect to be at work in this room until midnight. I am rather a methodical man, as you know. Tho documents with which I shall he engaged are important and confidential. Aside from that, you will come in by tho private entrance to the bank, and must, therefore, pass through the directors’ room. I prefer to leave this office undisturbed, and meet you in the larger apartment which opens directly from the ha!!.” “It does not matter in the least to me,” said Randall, who in an endeavor to summon up' his courage rather overdid it, and spoke almost with an air of bravado. “If you think to conceal a witness here while we arc conversing in tho adjoining room I have not tho slightest objection, but I think you will regret it.” “In that case,” replied the manager, “1 shall take every precaution to assure myself there are no eavesdroppers about. Half-past eight is the time. Good morning, Mr Randall.” The cashier hesitated for a moment, but he saw that the manager was already absorbed in the papers before him, so he turned and tiptoed out of tho room with the noiseless step which custom had formed into a habit. English banka contain no telephone and managers accord with reluctance a personal interview to an important customer. They prefer that all dealings with tho bank should leave written documents in their trail. You cannot file away a conversation for future reference. Ten minutes after the cashier had departed John Murdoch locked away his papers, put on his hat, and left the hank by way of the private entrance. If Randall had seen him go, which ho did not, he would have been helpless, being unable to follow his chief, for a hank holds its cashier prisoner until four o'clock. At eight that night the directors’ room lay gloomy and methodical. The door between it and the manager’s private office opened, and John Murdoch entered, standing for a few moments in the darkness and the silence, A fire burned in the grate and throw a fitful, ruddy radiance that did little to dispel the murk. Murdoch’s hand stretched out to the electric button by the side of the door through which he had entered, and instantly the room was flooded with the glow of electricity coming from a chandelier of many bulbs that depended from the ceiling. The manager stood there looking at the furniture as if he had never seen it before. The main body of the room was occupied by a long, heavy, mahogany table covered almost -to its polished edges with dark-green leather. Neatly placed at each end and in the middle were oblong pads of unblemished, white blottingpaper, and situated in tho centre of each pad stood a round, heavy inkpot of pewter, garnished with two quills pens and two steel pens attached to ordinary wooden handles. Accurately distanced, shoved under the table, were six mahogany, leather-covered chairs, three on either side. These, with two chairs, one at each end of the table., completed tho seating capacity of tho room. Upon the mantelpiece at tho end of the room where the manager stood sat a squat, plain clock of black marble, and its faintticking' was the only audible sound. There were two large windows, heavily curtained, in the wall to the right of the fireplace, and the four walls were panelled m oak, unornamented either by pictures or maps. Although the eyes of the manager looked upon this prim formality, he was accustomed to its air of stolid respectability, and, indeed, saw nothing of it, for his whole strong nature was concentrated in thought. John Murdoch was forty-six years old, with closely cropped hair slightly spjrinkled with gray. His masterful face, which was deeply lined, gave token of power, and, even though he knew himself to be alone, there was no relaxation of his habitual self-control. He walked toward the farther door that led into the passage, and locked it. He tested the electrical turn-knob at- this end of the room by putting out tho light and setting it ablaze again. Returning to the fireplace, he pulled out the heavy chair from that end of the table, and, setting it down with careful precision almost against the end wall, be sat down facing the distant locked door that led into the passage. Reaching- out his right arm, he found he could not touch the corner of the table, so shifted his chair a little to make tills adjustment possible. Kneeling down, he passed his fingers along tho surface of the heavy carpet until he discovered what he sought, wherupon he took a piece of chalk from his pocket and market a white cross on the dull rod of the carpet. Sitting down once more in his chair, he placed his right foot lightly over the chalk mark, drawing his chair forward a trifle, so that the position of his legs seemed carelessly natural. Glancing up at the chandelier, he pressed down his right foot, and instantly the electric lights went out; another pressure, and they were burning again. With a slight sigh of relief, or admiration at the mechanical perfection, he rose, and directed his attention to the three other chairs on that side, pulling the first back from the table until its set had almost emerged from under cover; the second he set about four feet away from its customary place; the third lie drew farther than the first, but not so far as the second. He now walked tho length of tho room, zigzagging among tho chairs. They made the stage setting an obstacle race on that sidc> of the tab’e, and presented- an appearance of careless disarray, as if a board of directors had, upon dissolving their session, left them there, and no servant of the bank had yet replaced them. The three chairs on the other side of the. table ho drew out in somewhat similar fashion, but paid no such minute attention to their arrangement. The chair near the locked door_ he drew out and placed in such a position that a man occupying it would face him seated at the farther end of tho room. He now knelt down at the farther end of the table and satisfied himself that there was a clear passageway underneath to a

•man crawling on his hands and knees. This done, he unlocked the outer door, returned to the chair by the fireplace, sat down upon it, saw that his right foot al- - most inadvertently fell upon the chalked i cross, took an evening paper from his i, pocket, and began to read, as if nothing - interested him but the doings of the day. 3 The heavy clock behind him chimed the i half-hour, and almost before the subdued, s mellow tones died away there came a i sharp knock at the outer door. 1 “Como in,” cried John Murdoch. William Randall entered and closed the i door behind him, but instead of greeting r hia overseer he turned his back upon him ' and took out the key from the lock. The ! visitor faced about, showing himself to bo a man approaching thirty, with a crafty face, blond moustache, shifty, uneasy ■ eyes, and light, curly hair, rather foppishly parted in the centre. The cashier began the conversation in a tone of truculence, as if hoping to cow his adversary at the outset: “You will, perhaps, excuse me, Mr Murdoch, if I leave open the lino of retreat.. I do not intend that by any chance this • door shall be locked upon me.” “You are right to take every precaution,” replied the ipanager calmly. “You may put the key in your pocket until our conference is ended.” Randall slid the key into his trousers’ pocket and advanced to the chair that had been placed for him. Resting his hand on its back, he said: “I think, Mr Murdoch, in spite of the fact that you closed our interview rather abruptly this morning, you nevertheless know why I am here.” lie paused for reply, but Murdoch made none, merely elevating his eyebrows, so Randall continued: “For three months past you have quietly watched me.” “You think so?” “I am sure of it.” “I must have done it very clumsily, then.” “So I determined there should be no more beating about the bush,” Murdoch inclined his head, but made no comment. “For a .good deal longer than three months I have boon watching you,” continued Randall. “Ah, it seems to have been diamond cut diamond.” “Rather, diamond cut glass.” “Perhaps you are right. Proceed, it you please.” "[ proceed by placing my cards on the table.” Saying this, Randall took from his coat pocket a revolver, and placed it, with hesitation, on the blotting-pad before him, looking defiantly at the elder man. “An excellent example. I shft.ll follow it,” commented the manager, pulling open a drawer at the end of the table and taking out a revolver. As ho did this, Randall, panic-stricken, sprang upon his own, and pointed it at Murdoch, shouting : “None of that! Hold up your hands! Up with your hands, or T shoot.” “Don’t you see I am grasping the weapon by the muzzle? If you place your cards on the table, and claim credit for doing so, you should not attempt to play them until your opponent is ready.” Saying this, Murdoch slid the pistol along the table toward the young man, as if putting a curling-stone. Randal! lowered his revolver, and seemed for the moment to be taken aback, but ho pulled himself together, and observed : “You may have another in that drawer, for all I know.” Murdoch, in answer, drew out the drawer entirely and upset it on tin? table. A few card photographs dropped out, and it quite evidently contained nothing else. The manager carelessly threw in the pictures, and replaced the drawer. “Perhaps there is a weapon in your coat, pocket,” still objected the cashier. Murdoch soberly, patiently, turned his pockets inside out, than sat down again. “You seem a little nervous, Mr Ran,dall,” lio said with no hint of resentment. “I give you my assurance there are nofirearms in this bank except those now in your own possession. If it will satisfy your mind and make our conversation less intermittent you arc quite at liberty to search the room I beseech you to handle my revolver with care, or it may inadvertently go off. Should that be the case wo are in danger of being interrupted. If you have anything of moment to say I presume you do, not wish our conversation broken in upon. You may sit down, Mr Randall.” “Thanks, thanks.- hut I’d rather stand, if you don’t mind.” “Oh, I don’t mind in the least; but, if I may make a suggestion, I should like to point out that this is the directors’ room of a bank in Ohelsingham, a very sleepy and conventional country town'belonging to the Midlands of England. You rather give one the impression wo are in Arizona.” “I am the best judge of what is necessary for my own protection.” “Quite so, quite so; but, even in that case, I think I can give you two hints. First, you should never shout, ‘Hold up your hands!’ because you might be shot, several times before you finished the phrase. I believe that among the modern train robbers it- is now etiquette to say simply the one word ‘Up!’ My second hint is this; You should have kept a cocked revolver in your coat pocket, then, if you found it necessary to shoot me, it could bo done without any outward motion, thus taking your enemy completely unaware.” “You seem to be well versed in the methods of robbers.” “Yes; I have read a good deal about them.” “Are you sure that you didn’t learn from experience?” “You moan that I am a robber?” “Yes; you are a robber.” “Ah, no wonder you feel a little nervous about intrusting yourself hero alone with mo.” “I am not nervous, and I am not afraid* of you. I’ve got you like that!” Randall raised his hand in the air and clenched 1 his fist. “My dear fellow,” murmured the manager wearily, “let us avoid melodrama, if wo can.” “Do you deny it?” “I neither deny nor affirm. I am here to listen, if you can prevail upon yourself to come to the point.” “You have made an accusation. I am anxious to hear on what foundation it is based.” “An honest man would have knocked mo down if I held called him a thief, and added that he was a hypocrite and a liar.” “I couldn’t knock you down with such a length of table between us, and two or three chairs standing in the way. Are you afraid to siti down?” “No, I am not.” The cashier sat down on the chair previously placed there for his convenience, rested his elbows on the table, with a revolver in each hand, “Would youl be so good as to put my revolver in your coat pocket,” begged Murdoch. “I think you do not appreciate the delicacy of the weapon. It is of the most modern make, and can be shot off six times while you are cocking yours.” “You spoke of my 'being nervous, but you seem very anxious there should be no noise in this room.” “For your sake only. If you bring a third person to our conference it may bo the worse for you.” “I possess documents that will protect me.” “Very well; why trouble me? Take your documents wherever you like, and use them as you please, I supposed, from what you said this morning, that you wished 1 to come to an understanding with me. It would seem, from what' you say to-night, that you have discovered me to be a criminal. If that is the case, and if, as you hint,

.. you hold proof, there are two courses open - Premising you an honest man, the first t course is to the police station. If you are - a rogue the second course is to learn how i much I will pay for your silence. You s can’t both have your cake and eat it. ; Make up your mind which method to . adopt, and let us be done with the business e as speedily as may be.” , “You are my elder in experience and i my better in position,” said Randall, rising again. “What would you advise me to do?” > “As your elder and superior in every j way I advise you to go to the police i station.” s The young man started 1 towards the > door, but' paused when ho was half-way • to it in hesitation, and turned round, ’ saying: “That’s bluff, you know.” “Is it? Well, the way you call it—l believe that is the phrase —is to follow my suggestion.” “Look here, Mr Murdoch, don’t be a fool.” “Really, Mr Randall, you expect too much of me. With such an example before me how can I help it?”’ “I say,” cried the young man impulsively, ignoring the insinuation, “are you willing to come to terms?” “Of course. If I find myself in a difficulty I always take the easiest way out, but first I must bo very certain about the difficulty.” “All right. There will bo no trouble on that score.” Ho put the manager’s revolver in his coat pocket, still holding the other in his right hand, and then sat down. “About two years and a half ago, in other words, six months before the bank panic, Colonel Marshall came to this neighborhood and bought the estate of Highbriars.” “Quito right. Ho borrowed' money from the bank to pay for the property, having been offered quite exceptional terms on condition of prompt cash. He left with me bonds to the value of forty thousand pounds. During the panic there was a slight run on the bank, and with Colonel Marshall’s consent, together with the concurrence of the directors. 1 took those bonds to London, endeavouring to raise money on them, but did not succeed. Is that the transaction to which you refer?” “Oh, that was all straight enough,” said Randall, smiling sarcastically, and half-closing his eyes; “but you found times so stringent in the money market that you could not raise a loan on them. Argentine bonds were not saleable in such a crisis.” “How do you know they were Argentine bonds?” “Because later, when I acted as your messenger between Ciielsingham and Jxmdon, 1 opened the packet, in spite of its being closed by the bank seal. My curiosity was aroused, because when I loft that morning for the city a brown paper packet of tho same size, with the same kind of seals on it, was still in the safe. I suspected you had stolen forty thousand pounds’ worth of bonds, and i suppose, not daring to go yourself, you sent me to London with them." “You opened them on the way?” “Yes; 1 got a compartment to myself on tho train, and satisfied my doubts regarding tho packet. Since then 1 have taken the trouble to open the packet now in our vaults, and find that it contains merely blank bond papers.” “Ah !” Murdoch took a cigarette out of his case, rapped the end on the table to clear it of dust, placed it in a cigarette holder and lighted it, throwing the match behind him into the lire. “1 suppose you lost the bonds in speculation,” Randall went on; “but, be that as it may, they have never come back to this bank, and the packet now resting in our safe contains only worthless paper. Colonel Marshall is an old fool, whom you have flattered by making one of your directors, and who has such misplaced confidence in a robber that he has never made any investigation. What have you to say to that, Mr Murdoch?” “What have I to say? Why, that you have waited 100 long, my shrewd cashier and accountant, Of course, persons who engage in such transactions as 1 did, usually do lose the securities they have hypothecated, yet, I dure say, there are many instances where the reverse occurs, and these the public never hears of. In this case, Mr Randall, you have waited till I tided over the crisis. 1 don’t attempt to justify my action. I didn’t speculate; I played on a certainty. The short panic caused a slump in all stocks; they sold far below their actual value. From insidt knowledge i was aware that, because of the banks’ standing together, there would be no real crash. Although during those few days while the panic lasted I was unable to raise money on Colonel Marshall’s bonds, i found no difficulty ill getting what 1 wanted after the immediate scare was over, but before those valuable stocks had recovered. 1 got the money, put it all straightway into what it would buy of first-class securities, used these securities to obtain more money, and so on. If things went as I expected I should dear a million, and Im> enabled to place my bank upon such a foundation that the next panic would not shake it, as was the case two years ago. As it happened, I did make the million. Colonel .Marshall’s shares are now in tho safe again. I placed them there myself, after our brief interview earlier in the day. 1 withdrew and destroyed the bogus packet yon have mentioned.” “So you put tho real bonds back in the safe?” "Yes.” “Since 1 spoke in there to you this morning?” Randall pointed to the door of the private room. "Yec.” “Then you knew my purpose in coming here to-night?” "Acs. 1 have been watching you, as you surmise. I wondered why you did not spring long ago.” "Are. you quite certain I cannot spring now?” “A man can be certain of nothing in this delusive world. You were certain a moment ago that the bogus packet still rested in the safe.” “Nevertheless, you did speculate with Colonel Marshall’s property.” "If you call it speculation,” said Murdoch with a shrug of tho shoulders. "1 was sure to win.” “Every criminal says that.” “Well, this criminal was right.” “You would have made a very clever sleight-of-hand man. Are .you convinced that you have forgotten nothing?” “I may have forgotten something. One generally does.” “I think you overlook the fact that although a crime is successful and concealed, although restitution is made surreptitiously, yet if the misdemeanor can be proved the culprit docs not escape.” “.Doubtless that is true; but I think the law is rather lenient in a case such as you suggest. Still, never mind that. Everything has been squared up. Colonel Marshall is not a penny the worse. No one has lost anything tlirough my conduct. Therefore nothing remains but to make terras. You have been supremely clever, hedging mo round so completely that tbore seems actually no avenue of escape. What is the price of your silence, Mr Randall?” “I wish the bank to guarantee me during life two hundred and fifty pounds a year.” “About five pounds a week, eh? You wouldn’t accept my surety, I suppose, and leave the bank out of the question?” “No; I insist upon this as a sort of pension from the bank.” “I see. You resign, of course. Ground of ill-health. Desire to go to New Zealand or to Canada. Grateful bank recognisevs faithful service. Presents flattering certificate of good conduct. Benevolently grants a pension of two hundred and fifty

i a year. Yes, I think that can all be > managed, Mr Randall.” 3 “So ranch from the bank.” r “Ah, so much from the bank! Then i there is more to come, I take it.” , “From you I demand forty thousand ► pounds cash down, the value of the bonds i you stole.” “Forty thousand pounds? I couldn’t i consent to that.” , “Guess again.” j “It isn’t a .guess. It’s a certainty.” “I thought you said there were no such things as certainties.” “This is the exception that proves the rule.” , “You won’t pay it?” "Ho; and I’ll tel] you why. You refused to accept ray guarantee for the annuity. I refuse to take your word regarding ray own future immunity. Your judgment is poor.” “Oh, is it?” “Yes. Also your sense of justice is weak.” “Justice ! Really, and this from you !” “This from me. Your sense of justice is weak because it doet? not recognise that, although I took securities worth forty thousand from the bank, I have restored them, so it is harsh and unfair to compel payment twice.” “ ‘Compel’ is the proper word to eraploy.” “That is why I used it. Rut to return to your judgment. Even if I waive the injustice of your claim, and pay the money, I should rest under no sense of security. You would plunge into the stock market with your forty thousand, and being- a 1 fool —■ —” “A fool! Better bo a little careful of your phraseology, Mr Murdoch, or I shall raise my terms. Civility costs nothing, you know.” “It appeal’s to cost you an effort. But, as I was about to say, you’d lose the forty thousand pounds, and then return to me for another instalment. The one assured thing about blackmail is ” “Blackmail? I’ve warned you once ” “Let us call it, then, the exacting of involuntary contributions. The one thing that you can prophesy about it is that the exactor will return. I therefore refuse to pay you forty thousand pounds, or any other sum, and advise you to he content with the two hundred and fifty a year.” "It’s no use, Murdoch. Squirming will do no good. You daren’t face publicity, and yon know it.” "Won’t you take into account, what is the strict truth, that I acted largely for the benefit of the bank, and for the future welfare of its stockholders, who have entrusted mo with the management of affairs? Even you must admit that my intentions were good.” “Pshaw! Hell is paved with good intentions.” “So. The road to hell,” corrected Murdoch. “Your intentions were just the same as those of any thief who takes what doesn’t belong to him, and speculates with the proceeds. The intention is to enrich himself, making secret restitution if he succeeds.” "It rarely pays, Randall, to push a man to the wail.” “1 don’t push you to the wall. I’m lotting you down mighty easy. You acknowledge that you have made a million, and most men would have demanded an equal share.” “But I took all the risk.” “Yes; and I gave you all the rope you needed, not jumping on you when you might have been embarrassed. I waited until I knew you had been successful, although, of course, until you confessed I had no idea you made so much money. How, I put it to you, what’s a beggarly forty thousand pounds out of a million?" “I never heard that sum of money called beggarly before. It’s an outrageous amount to demand.” "Outrageous or not, you must pay it. You say I take no risks, but that is not true. I am compounding a felony, and a remark you made a while ago shows that I am in danger of being charged with attempting blackmail.” The manager of the bank pondered deeply for a few moments with bowed head, then looked up and said: "Randall, there is just one chance in a thousand that, when you understand 1 the circumstances of the case, you may bo content with the annual allowance which I am willing to settle upon you.” “You mean which the bank is willing to settle! on me.” “It is the same thing. You will receive tho guarantee of the bank, but I shall recompense tho shareholders either by paying tho annuity myself, or, more likely, in some other fashion. You see my point of view, 1 hope. If I once consented to pay money to you personally I should then place myself entirely in your hands.” “You are entirely in my hands now,” “What 1 mean is that this personal payment from me to you would be another evidence of my guilt, but, by arranging it as a form of pension through the bank, proposed by one director, seconded by another, and carried by the board, in whoso decision 1 merely acquiesce, that is quite a different and perfectly innocent matter.” “Very well. Arrange that the bank pays me the forty thousand also. I don’t care how it.’s done, so long as I get the money.” “What excuse could I give for tho payment of an amount so excessive?” “That’s your look-out. To make your path smooth is no affair of mine,” “1 am trying to persuade you toward a, course that is reasonable—l may add, toward a course that is possible.” “Then pay the money yourself. What’s the use of making such a fuss over forty thousand pounds? You confessed to making a million, and the sum I ask is merely four per cent, on that amount for a single year. You make me sick with your penuriousness. Fm letting you off cheap, if you only had the sense to see it.” “It is not penuriousness. I have thq sense to see and understand my own position, and I am determined that, when I make a settlement, it shall be once and tor all.” “You, must make a settlement.” “I know that, and I will, but, if I give you the forty thousand, I am a doomed man. You will lose the money, and come back for more, finding me, because of this payment, at a greater disadvantage than I am now,” “How can you bo at a greater disadvantage?” “Because to my present disadvantage you will have tho additional proof that T paid this large sum of money. Don’t you seo that I dare not pay what you require?’' “But you must.” “I suppose any appeal to you would be quite in vain?” “Quite. There is no sentiment in business, you know.” “Think what this bank means to me. It was handed 1 to me unsmirched by my father, and to him by his father. In three generations it has never incurred an obligation which it did not fulfil. The nearest it came to default was under my hand in the panic two yearns ago; and I risked my liberty that such a crisis could not occur again. I took ' every precaution against discovery, but you were too clever.” “Look here, Murdoch, you make mo tired. You’re in business to make money ; so am I.” “I assure you, Mr Randall, that the ■honor of this bank is part of my being. My feeling toward the bank is hereditary. It has descended- to mo as the bank itself did.” “Rats! A common * thief talk about honor! Really, Murdoch, you astonish me. I didl think you had some backbone, and I was under the impression that you were a man of brains. You are treating me as if I were a child, to be influenced by fairy stories.” “Very well, then,” said Murdoch with a sigh; “I’ll tell you a story, but, as you NS

i are hot a child, this anecdote will deal with the actual and not the supernatural. It will be more in the nature of a detective story, which I understand is very popular.” With this the manager opened the drawer in the end of the table, and as he did this Randall sprang up. “None of that, you hound! Tell your story if you like, but I’ll have no premature denouement. At the first suspicious movement on your part Til shoot you like a dog.” ‘‘That would be foolish,” retorted Murdoch very quietly; “for, besides destroying me, you wouldl destroy all chance of making that money which you say is your object in life. Your memory appears to be defective. I proved; to you that this drawer contains no weapon, but only <v parcel of photographs. The time has come to use them, for this is an illustrated, story, and I am merely getting the materials.” John Murdoch took out the package of photographs and re-arranged them as a player sorts out a hand at cards. Randall slowly and suspiciously resumed his seat, slipping the revolver into his pocket. Strive as ho would, ho could not overcome the fear that the elder man, although guilty, would, somehow, trap him. The manager selected the uppermost picture, and with a flirt of the hand sent it spinning down the table. “Did you ever see that man ?” he asked. “No, I didn’t,” replied Randall sullenly. “Ho was a friend of my younger days and an actor of great talent. He played one season with Henry Irving, but, as you see by that picture, consumption had him intis grip. Since my early days I have had few friends, and this man was the prince of them all—a person absolutely trustworthy. I shall not mention his name, and will merely add that lie died last year, when money had done everything for him that it could. So you see, Randall, money is not all-powerful, even though you and I run great risks to obtain it.” “Oh, come off! I’m not here to listen to sermons.” “You are not, so I shall stop preaching and get on with my narrative. It will interest you befoi’o 1 am finished.” Saying this, Murdoch tossed another photograph down along the table. “Do you recognise that old gentleman?” “Yes. This is the ancient duffer to whom I handed the packet of your stolen bonds in London.” “True, and ho is also the same person whose photograph you did not recognise. Look at the .excellence of his make-up. You would almost swear that was General Booth, wouldn’t you? Now glance at the third photograph; it is a snapshot” (sliding it to him). “Who’s that chap?’ “This' is a photograph of myself.’ “Quite right. It was taken just before you entered the house near the British Museum where my long-bearded, disguised friend was awaiting you. In the little handbag you carry reposes the packet of Ixmds you had opened. Those railings behind you surround the British Museum,” • “What are you driving at?” demanded Randall. ■ “Do you recognise the fourth photograph ?’ asked Murdoch, ignoring the question, as ho Hipped the picture down to his visitor. “Yes, this is also a photo of me.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, hut I don’t know where it was taken.” “It is another photograph of my friend the actor, who used an enlargement of the snapshot taken of you against the railings of the British Museum. My poor friend would he delighted! if you knew his success was such that even the victim did not recognise the difference. You see, the enlargement showed every wrinkle of your costume so accurately that when a tailor saw it he selected the cloth and made a suit so like the one you were wearing that even your scrutinising, spying eyes are at fault.” “What do you mean, anyway?” cried Randall, half-rising. "I thought the story would interest you. Sit down and 1 peruse this document. it is merely a copy, so no useful purpose will bp served if you should tear it up. Read it aloud, and I will explain anything you don’t understand.” The young man sat down and read the letter;

“To the Manager of the London and Tropical Bank, “Old Broad Street, “London, E.C. “Sir:

"In reply to yours of the 25th I beg to state that William Randall is cashier of this bank, and is, so far as I know, a capable and industrious young man. I seo no reason why you should hesitate to open an account with him, and the fact that he has been my cashier for three years answers your question regarding his trustworthiness.

“Yours most sincerely, “John Murdoch.”

After read in'r this letter, Randall glared at Murdoch with wide-open eyes, then stammered:

“I—l never opened a bank account in London, nor authorised anyone to ask for a reference.”

“The manager of the London and Tropical will swear that you did,” Murdoch assured’ him suavely. “Although two years have passed, he will doubtless remember both you and 1 your account, for from what my friend told me of his conversations with the manager, that shrewd man was a trifle uneasy. You spun him a plausible yarn, however, about a rich uncle of yours, a .cattle-dealer in Argentina, who died, leaving you forty thousand pounds worth of Argentine stock. _ You Supported this statement by the exhibition of letters and documents and wished to draw at once thirty thousand pounds, leaving this stock as security, but were forced to content yourself with twentyfive thousand. This amount you received in notes, and these notes you changed 1 to gold at the Bank of England, which bulky treasure, weighing something like four hundred and forty pounds, you took away with you in a closed cab. I daresay the hank manager wrote to Argentina to verify your statements, but before a reply was possible you had closed your account with the London and Tropical, paying in gold, releasing and taking away your stock, and with that, of course, the interest of the manager in you and your account ceased. The Stock Exchange transactions were carried 1 on through various brokers, and 1 1 am not sure that they can be traced, but, if tracing is possible, it will lead up every time to you.’’ During this recital Randall had l risen to his feet, and stood rigid, with clenched fists on the end of the table.

“You —you scoundrel! You thought to prove me the thief!” “Yes, if you ever attempted blackmail.” “There is certain to be a flaw somewhere in that string of lies.” “It is very likely, although T have used great oare, and time and time again have examined each separate link in the chain.” “But you certainly possess the money. On cross-examination, how could you account for the fact that you are a million-

aire?” “I cannot be called to account for ’t. because, if my private affairs are examined it will be shown that, except in so far as the Bettering of tire bank’s position is concerned, I am poorer than I was two years ago.” “Then where is the million you boasted of?” “Ah!”

There was a moment’s pause, and once again the manager's chin sunk to his chest. Randall,, whose hand was trembling, slipped into his pocket and withdrew the revolver, which ho concealed behind his back, leaving his left fist restin"- on the table.

“I did not Ixiast: I stated,” said Murdoch, raising hie head. “It is none cf your business where the million is, but

I am 60 anxious to arrange terms with, you, and show you the hopelessness of your own position, that I will tell you. You spoke of the million drawing forty thousand pounds interest annually, but it draws no interest. I dare 'hot set that money at work until you are out of my path, one way or another. All the Stock Exchange transactions were liquidated in gold, and the money is now in the shape of French louis, American eagles, English sovereigns, and German twenty-mark pieces. It rests in safe deposit vaults in Paris, New York, London, and Berlin. If I were compelled to fly to any of these countries I should find myself in possession of a quarter of a million without the necessity of drawing a cheque or of being identified. But there will be no need for flight. There are only two options open to you : on the one hand, there is a sure and comfortable annuity for life ; on the other, penal servitude. No sane man can hesitate for a moment over the choice.”

“You talk of sanity. Are you so fomented that you dare submit that cock-and-bull story to the scrutiny of a court of justice?” “Certainly not. I shouldn’t think < f such a thing.” “Then what’s the point of all this talk? Do you hope to frighten me with fiction?”

“Oh, no. I may inform you that the chief of police and two of hie men are in the room on the other side of the hall. A certain signal will bring them here on the instant'—one of two- signals, in fact. First, a revolver shot; so, as I have no weapon, it rests entirely with you whether or not you call them. Second, if I should turn that knob”—pointing to the electric light extinguisher beside the private room door—“the police would come in. For my own safety I shall make no attempt to reach the knob, so you had better sit down quietly and come to terms with me.” “You have not explained why you related that piece of fiction about the dead actor.”

“I told you nothin" 1 but the truth. 1 said I would not put forward that story ; for if the police come in I shall merely say you attempted blackmail, reciting to them* exactly what you charged me with. The cock-and-bull story, as you call it, will not come out through any motion of mine. It will be discovered when the police, finding you started a bank account in London, make investigations. No one will be more surprised than I when that cock-and-bull story is laid! before the public by the criminal authorities.”

“You hypocritical villain !” shouted Randall, trembling with anger. “You say I have two choices, but there is a third you hadn’t thought of. I shall first rid the world of such a ruffian. ’Tis self-de-fence. You’ve threatened me with prison, and I’ll take my chance that the truth comes out.”

Randal whisked round his revolver, certain that the manager would make a dash for the electric knob. Murdoch, however, sat apparently unconcerned, though watching alertly through his half-closed eyes every movement of his enemy. The moment Randlall’s right arm began its sweep pitch darkness fell, all the more blinding because of the previous brightness. Six shots rang out in quick succession, but the living target was immune beneath the table, making his way toward the outer door. Randall rushed towards the spot where his foe had been seated, and fell over* a chair. The door burst open, and two bull’s-eye lanterns show'ed the assailant sprawling and swearing. Ho had thrown away the empty revolver and was reaching for the other when the police pounced, taking him at a complete disadvantage. Just as the handcuffs clicked apop his wrists the chandelier was suddenly turned full on, and the chief of police saw the bank manager standing beside the outer door, with his hand on the electric knob.

“Are you hurt, sir?” asked' the chief anxiously. “Not even a scratch, thank you,” Murdoch answered him, smiling, “although I am much relieved by your promptness. I don’t think he shot to kill, but merely to frighten. Poor Randall seems to he a nervous wreck. Overwork, probably. I have been anxious about him for some time. I told you this morning that _he suffered from strange delusions, _ making the most shocking charges against my ■honesty.” “Anyone who knows you, Mr Murdoch, will pay little attention to slanders on youi' character,” said the chief. “Still, it bears an ugly look when a young man seeks an interview with you, and comes armed. It is evident that he intended mischief from the first. That.signifies premeditation, and not impulse.”

“Ah, permit me to explain. The two revolvers are mine, not his. One belongs to his drawer, the other to the cashier’s desk. You may think me reckless, but I gave them to him. He appeared beside himself with fear that I should attack him, so I showed him there were no weapons in the bank except those two pistols, and in order to soothe him I placed them in his charge.” “Forgetting they were loaded?” “No. I was never in any danger, but 1 resolved to learn how far he would go. A man in his condition cannot shoot straight. His hands were trembling all file time we talked. But I am certain that a month at the seaside will set him right again. It is hi's misfortune, poor chap, that, even though he recovers, I can never risk placing him in a responsible position again. Now, Chief, hero are nens. ink, and 1 paper. Would you sitdown and take his deposition? He made some very serious allegations against me. ’ The Chief drew up a chair to the table and prepared to write, looking across at his prisoner. William Randall's face was ghastly pale. The cold grip of the handcuffs on his wrists seemedi to have frozen his blood. “Formulate your charge, Randall. The Chief will take down what you say.” The manager spoke encouragingly, as one does to an invalid.

The cashier made no reply. “You remember I advised you to go to the chief of police in the first place.” (A pause in which there was silence.) “Don’t you?” “Yes," I remember,” answered Randall at last. “Very well; repeat what you said,” ordered the manager. “I have no charge to make against you, Mr Murdoch.”

“Oh, yes, you have. I stole the bonds." “No.” “And speculated with them in London.” “No.”

“You mentioned a date. That is what I am anxious to get fixed' in writing and before witnesses.”

“If there is no charge there can he no

date.”

“Ah, I am sorry, because I can easily prove that during the time the speculation was alleged to bo "oing on I never visited London, nor for three months after. I was too busy here in the hank. You may recollect the panic of two years ago, Chief?”

“Yes,” replied l the Chief, “and we were all very proud that the bank pulled through.” “We pulled through, but my nose was kept to the grindstone for several months, never giving me a chance to leave Ohelsingham. Well. Chief, what are we to do with our prisoner?” “Will yon appear against him, Mr Murdoch?” “If I do it will be merely to state what I have said to you: that the man is temporarily irresponsible.” “You make no charge against him?” “Oh, no.” “Then I don’t see how, without a charge we can hold him.” “I will be responsible for his future conduct if you let him go. The bank has always been rather open-handed! with employees who break down in its service, so I shall make a proposal to the directors

at the next meeting which will very likely be adopted.” “Take off the handcuffs,” said the Chief to his men, and as they obeyed his command the Chief said, aside, to the bank manager: “If all men were as honest and as generous as you, Mr Murdoch, this would bo a better world than it is.”

The manager laughed. “May I encourage that opinion by begging you to accept these two ten-pound notes with which to recompense the officers for their long vigil and alert assistance? They will, of course, say nothing about to-night’s work to anyone. So far as integrity goes, none of us is so ‘honest that we may look for Elijah’s cliariot of fire.”