Part 46 (1/2)

”How would you propose compromising the matter, if I am guilty?” he asked.

”By leaguing with you,” answered Monroe, artlessly.

”Leaguing with me?” said John, doubtful of his meaning.

”Yes,” he answered. ”I have a draft here for one hundred thousand, made payable to the treasurer of the New York office. You can get the money yourself by signing it as a.s.sistant treasurer. Get it, and we will divide the amount. I will fix the books at the other end so that a discovery cannot be made till we are safely in Europe or South America.

Will you do it?”

A new idea came to John, growing on him gradually as Monroe unfolded his nefarious scheme.

”Yes; I will do it,” he answered, with alacrity. ”Where is the draft?”

Monroe immediately pulled the draft from an inside pocket of his vest.

He looked it over, as if he regretted to give it up; then he turned it over to John, with a hesitating hand.

”Get the money,” said Monroe, without an intimation that he was pleased, or not pleased, over the readiness with which John seemed to be falling into his trap.

John leisurely put the draft with a number of other drafts he had in his possession belonging to the firm, placed them all together in the firm's bank book, and retreated, without a word, from the enervating personality of Monroe. After depositing the entire sum in the name of the firm, he returned to the office to report to Monroe.

”That is rather a crude piece of business, Mr. Monroe,” said John, as he entered the office. Standing with folded arms on the opposite side of him at the flat-top desk, he gave a laugh, and smiled sarcastically, as he said: ”Crude! I should say; so crude that it smells of rusted iron!”

Monroe looked up nonplused at the haughty and sneering tone of his inferior; but he showed no irritation.

”Did you get the money?” asked Monroe, blandly.

”I did,” answered John, good naturedly.

”Well, divide up,” said Monroe, having doubts.

”Oh, I forgot to return with it, Monroe,” replied John, as he laughed in his superior's face. ”I placed it to the credit of the firm. Believing there was no hurry about dividing up, and thinking tomorrow would do as well as today for that little formality, I changed my mind between here and the bank. The money will keep where it is, Mr. Monroe.”

The door of the office opened. The form of Mr. Jarney stood in it for a brief time. Then he closed the door and stood inside the room. He did not advance at once. As Mr. Monroe saw him first, his face took on a yellow pallor. John noticed the change in the coloring of his marbled visage, and turned about. Seeing who the intruder was, he took a few steps across the room, and lively grasped his former master by the hand.

”Glad to see you, Mr. Jarney; very glad,” said John.

Mr. Jarney, in turn, greeted John very warmly, and said he was inexpressively happy to see him looking so robust, and hoped that he was still the same unpolluted young man as when he first met him. All of which abashed John so that he blushed.

”Did you get my telegram?” he asked John, yet not turning to greet Monroe, who sat without a tremor at the desk.

”Yes; I have been looking for you all day,” replied John. ”Here is Mr.

Monroe,” he said, as he turned and waved his hand toward that brazen piece of trickery.

”Yes; yes; I see Mr. Monroe,” said Mr. Jarney, shooting his sharpened glances at him. ”I came here to see about some little tricks he is up to. What have you accomplished, Mr. Monroe?”

”Aren't you laboring under a misapprehension, Mr. Jarney?” asked the ghost.

”Oh, not at all, Mr. Monroe,” said Mr. Jarney. ”I have found you out. I came here to beard you before this young man,” rising almost to the angry point in the vehemence of his threat.