A Daughter of Delilah — page 202: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A FATHER’S THREAT. 193 When he was gone Billings approached Edgar with a troubled face. ‘‘I hope that nothing is wrong, sir?’’ he ventured. ‘“Why should you think so? Ido not understand you.’’ ‘‘T have been with this house for twenty-nine years, Mr. Edgar, and never before knew the principal to draw a penny, much less fifteen thousand dollars, without satis- factorily accounting for it.”’ “Fifteen thousand dollars!’’ exclaimed Edgar. ‘Yes, sir! And all within three days.”’ ‘‘Well, I suppose my father can do as he pleases with his own money, Billings.’’ ‘““Yes, sir, but it’s irregular—very irregular in a house like this. ’’ He half turned to go away, and Edgar said, quietly: ‘Ts that all that is on your mind, Billings?’’ ‘No, sir, not quite. The pass-book has just been sent in from Terhune’s Bank. There is an item of twenty thou- sand dollars which I know nothing of. It does not appear in the cash-book, and has been drawn against a counter check. I never knew Mr. Alston to use a counter check be- fore.”’ “Did you mention the matter to my father?”’ ‘‘No, sir; I did not discover it until he had gone.”’ ‘‘Verify the signature at once, Billings, and say nothing to any one,’’ Edgar concluded. “‘Iam going away on im- portant business. If you have anything to communicate, telegraph home.’’ Billings retired, and young Alston took a telegram from his pocket, which read as follows: Gomicboo cS (E(@) =)