Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 131, 7 June 1904, Page 4

Literature.

MVBA BKOCKLEY'S JOKE. Thursday wa9 market day in Burffell, and on that day much 'business •W'tomuionly transacted in the m, the banks being kept open an jJbjt later in consequence. But on lite last Thursday in July two events Fere in progress, each of which, in its- own way, interfered with the orJtnary course of affairs. The annual Jqwer show was held in Mr Hod- I pbU's grounds, just outside the town, ■nd a meeting of the creditors of Messrs Hall and Whitehead, bankrupts, was called for the same afternoon, and necessitated the presence at Mr Brockley, manager of the Burtirell branch of the Burfordshire Banking Company. This last circumstance caused Qeorge Harvey, the cashier, to be alone at the bank counter for upwards of an hour. Business, however,- was slack, and nothing noteworthy occurred till a few minutes before closing time, when a young man entered the office and presented a cheque for payment. The cheque was drawn in favour of George Duncan or order ; it was signed by one Of the principal customers of the bank, and was duly indorsed "Geo. Duncan" in'a bold, masculine hand. 3"be amount of the draft was £SO.

One of the qualities most essential to the success of a bank clerk, as of a'detective, >s the power of noting every peculiarity of the persons who come before him in the way of business, without appearing to observe them.

All that the presenter of the chekjue saw was that the cashier took the Blip of paper, read it rapidly, glanced at the back to sec the indorsement, and stuck it on the file before him, barely raising his eyes to ask, in careless tones, the usual question, "How will you take it?" before beginning to shfovel out) tire gold. But in those few seconds George had tak--Sn stock of his customer—a clergyman and a gentleman, evidently ; although but for his clerical hat and overcoat—which last-named article of apparel struck George as being inconveniently heavy for a fine summer day—he would have looked too young to be in orders.

George pushed the sovereigns over the counter in the rapid, matter-of-fact manner affected by bank clerks, who appear anxious to impress upon -she public that they are so familiarised with the touch and sight of these coins as to be quite indifferent whether they pay them away in fives or in thousands. The young man who brought the cheque seemed less accustomed to the handling of money. He counted {t slowly, and picked up the coins difficulty. His gloves appeared to be too large for his hands, and to impede the free use of his fingers. "Allow me," said the cashier,picking up the "coins and counting them Into the clergyman's hands. A passing feeling of wonder as to who his customer, was crossed his mind, together with a sense that his face was not unfamiliar to him, though he could not recollect when or where : he bad seen it.

As the young clergyman left the bank, a fussy old lady entered, and demanded her pass-book, with a long explanation of why she wanted it. George answered her absently, following the movements of the departing stranger with his eye. As the latter reached the door, George observed that he wore a pair of dress trousers, the ends of which just showed below his overcoat.

"Been to a funeral, probably," he thought. "That accounts for the great coat to hide his black suit," and he thought no more of the matter till it was time to shut out the public for the day. He fastened the outer door of the bank, and returned to his desk, pausing idly on his way to glance out of the bow window. As he did so his eye was caught by the figure of the stranger returning rapidly towards the bank, and he lingered a moment to see if he wished to re-enter the office or would merely pass on his way. He did neither, but on reaching the side door that led to the manager's private rooms, turned and passed quickly in, having apparently cither found the door ajar or used a latchkey. "A friend of Brockley's, evidently. Where can I have seen hiin ?" But the question was not worth thought, and George plunged into his work with the intent of getting it over as quickly as possible. Before he ;half finished, Mr Brockley returned, with the preoccupied air of a man who has just heard serious or unexpected news. " Awful thing '." he exclaimed. '-'Poor Hammertbn was found dead in his bed this morning !" "Hammerton ! Which Hammerton ?" asked George, shocked and bewildered. " Old Teter Hammerton, the father. Went to bed all right last night, and was found dead by his servant this morning. Must have had a fit, they think." "But," returned George, incredulously, "I have just cashed a cheque of his, dated this very day." " You have ! Where is it ? Who presented it ?"

George found the cheque, und placed it in the manager's hands. "Here it is, made out, as you see

to George Duncan. I do not know if that is the name of the man who cashed it, and I do not know that I have ever seen him before. A clergyman ; young, short, and fair—certainly a gentleman, and, seemingly, a friend of yours. At least he went into your house about half an hour ago."

Without a word Mr Brockley turned and went into the house. All the rooms seemed empty. He rang the dining-room bell. "Who has called here this afternoon?" he asked of the servant who answered it. " No one, sir." "No one ? Think again. Has no gentleman been here ?" "Not to my knowledge, sir, except Mr Stevens. He came back

from the show just about four o'clock, and ran upstairs quickly, as though he had forgotten something and came back to fetch it." "See if he's in his room now, and ask him to speak to me." "I know he is not, sir. I have just come past his room and it was 'quite empty. I sec he has left his great coat behind him. Ho had it on when

he came in, but I suppose he found it too warm for such a day as this. I was surprised to see him in it." "Did you let him in ?" "No. He must have borrowed Missus' latchkey. I was coming out of the pantry, and just as 1 opened the door I saw Mt Stevens come in at the front. He ran upstairs,without stopping to take off his hat or | coat. I looked to see that he hail made the door fast, and then went down to the kitchen, and saw no more of him. I don't know when he went out." "You are sure no one else has been in '?" "Not that I know of. No one could have come in without a latchkey, unless I had let them in ; and I have nut answered the door this afternoon, except to the milkman, and he comes the back w»y." "Of cousse. Well, never mind. That is all I want to know." And llr Brockley returned to the office.

"How was the clergyman dressed?" ho asked the cashier. "In an overcoat, dress trousers, and a rather worn felt hat. He spoke as though he had a cold. I fancied he must have been to a funeral ; partly becausd of the trousers, and partly because he was wearing a pair of black gloves, two sizes too large for him. There seemed to 'lie something familiar about his face, though I could not say where t had seen it. I should know him again in a moment." "And you are sure that he went into my house'?" "Quite sure. I saw him from the window, just as I had shut the door, »nd I watched for a moment, thinking he was coming back to the bank, !jut he stopped at your door and went in."

The manngtr took up the cheque, ;nd examined it again. " Are you sure that, your news is true?" asked George. "The ink of the signature looks very fresh, and the date is certainly to-day." "There is no doubt about my news. t have seen the doctor who was called in. If this cheque is genuine, it ■mist have been drawn yesterday." " Genuine ! You don't doubt it, do you ? People often do make a •nistake in the day of the month ; or Hammerton might have post-dated it intentionally."

"He might, of course," returned the manager- ; "and the signature is 'ike his, only a little shaky."

"Tf he had a fit coming on. his hand would be likely to lie unfeady.'said George.

"No doubt. Still, Hammerton was the most accurate of men, and if he put a date not that of the day ;>n which he wrote, he did it on purpose. But I suppose we shall have no trouble about it with the executors." (To be continued.)