Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

| oo on in & a s TRAIN AND STATION. 159 Dykeman one day received the fol- lowing message from the auditor of the company: - “Why are you not making your re- mittances more promptly? The last received was June 8th.” As it was then June 16th, and he had made four remittances since the date given in the telegram, it can easily be understood how surprising to him such an inquiry was. He instantly referred to his express receipt book, and checked off the four remittances for which Brakewood Forsdyke had receipted. He was not responsible for the money after it had been turned over to the express agent and receipted for by him, and he was convinced he was not guilty of the slightest irregularity. He immediately answered the audi- tor that he had made his remittances promptly, giving the dates oi those since the &th. It instantly occurred to him that there was something wrong in the ex- press agent’s office to account for the non receipt of the packages, and he de- cided to speak to Forsdyke about it. But before he had an opportunity to do so, he received another message from the auditor, reading: * Remittances all right. Do not say anything about them to express agent.” He felt relieved, and concluded that some one in the auditor’s office had made a mistake, and the auditor did not want the express agent to know there had been even a suspicion as to the forwarding of the remittances. The matter passed from his mind, only to be recalled at the end of a series of.exciting and trying events, when he realized how far he had been from the truth in his theory. CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE EXPRESS COMPANY’S SAFE. “So you think I look worried. Dyke- man,” observed Forsdyke, a few days Il A later, as he, Kinney, his assistant, and Dash were sitting around talking in the express agent’s office, as had been their habit for some time past. The agent had been given a day op- erator to assist him, and he now had occasional periods of relaxation from his duties. * Well, I'll tell you what’s a fact, Dykeman,” Forsdyke went on, after a pause, “so would you, if you had the responsibility resting on your shoul- ders that I have. Between us, I don’t mind telling you that there’s ten thou- sand dollars in that little safe of mine in the corner, and I don’t feel that it is the securest place in the world.” “ Whew! You don’t say!” whistled Dash, certainly astonished at the mag- nitude of the amount. “ Whose is it, and why do you keep it there? ” “ It belongs to the railroad company, and was sent down here to be used by the superintendent in purchasing a piece of property they want to possess, and on which they expect to have some lively bidding to meet. The sale was to have taken place three days ago, but it was postponed for a week.” “Why in the world couldn’t they have bid just as well, and paid the amount with a check?” asked Dash, wondering that the company should have risked sending down so much cash. ‘ Because the owner of the property is a crank, I suppose, and wants the purchase money in cash,” explained Forsdyke. “Anything for the south express, Mr. Forsdyke?” interrupted Kinney, as a train pulled up at the station. “Yes, here’s a couple of money packages,” replied Forsdyke, handing over a closed receipt book, with a couple of sealed money envelopes be- tween the leaves, and a way Dill wrapped about them. The assistant grasped the book and rushed from thie office. “ Now, as I was saying,” resumed the express agent, glancing toward the P 5 . Soni YOOKS eo