The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life

by W. A. Wilkins

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  EXILED FROM HOME AND FRIENDS.

  The Legislative season drawing to a close, Senator Hamblin madepreparations to return home. Determining upon an active and earlycanvass for the nomination as Gubernatorial candidate, his moneyhad been lavishly expended to win converts, while his large dinnerparties--the finest of the season--were attended by leading men andhigh dignitaries. So successful had been his efforts to make friendsfor himself, that even when the session closed, and before his canvassbegan, he was spoken of as the probable choice of his party for theGovernor's chair. He therefore concentrated all his energies toaccomplish two objects: his own nomination and the marriage of hisdaughter to Walter Mannis.

  When awake these two objects were constantly on his mind; when asleephis dreams were filled with them; when the impending financial hurricaneforced itself upon his mind he always reasoned:

  "Walter Mannis will make my daughter a magnificent husband, while hisfortune will prevent my failure. Once Governor of the State, and I canwield influence enough to extricate myself from the present dilemma."

  The session had not been a profitable one to him, for no large jobs thathe was interested in came before the Senate; besides, while looking outfor his pocket, he had to avoid injuring his chances for the nomination.The session had cost him several thousand dollars more than his salary,which added to his embarrassments, yet his lavish use of money made allbelieve his wealth increasing.

  After the departure of Belle, George Alden became much depressed inspirits. He was anxious to enter the bank at once, but by the adviceof Doctor Briar he went, accompanied by his sister, to visit a cousinabout two hundred miles distant. The change of air and scene, togetherwith the letters received from his wife, gave him renewed vigor, and hisdespondency wore away. After a visit of one week he made preparationsto return home--his sister, as much in need of a change as himself, wasinduced to remain a few days longer.

  On his return, Alden was welcomed by many friends, who warmly graspedhis hand and expressed their gratification; but when, on the followingday, he entered the bank, he felt hurt at the cold greeting of theteller. Removing his hat and stepping to his desk, he opened a book,when Sargent said:

  "Beg pardon, Mr. Alden, but the president desires to see you in hisprivate office before you resume your duties."

  "See me?" said the astonished cashier. "For what?"

  "That you will hear, sir, from his own lips."

  His voice was full of irony, and the manner in which he spoke caused thecashier to tremble, his pale face indicating agitation.

  "Well, I will see him at once," Alden replied, and stepping to the doorof the private office, he gently rapped. Receiving a summons, he openedthe door and entered the apartment. The president was sitting at hisdesk. Alden said:

  "The teller informed me you desired my presence here."

  The president, giving him a cold, meaning look, rose from his seat,turned the key in the lock, then said:

  "Yes, he was right. Be seated. I have much to say, and of a painfulnature."

  George Alden's lips trembled. For a moment neither spoke, the silencebeing finally broken by the president.

  "George, never in my whole life did I have such a painful duty toperform as now falls to my lot. You have served the bank for severalyears, and during that time have succeeded in winning the confidence ofevery officer of the institution. You have been trusted implicitly atall times, yet an examination reveals to us that this confidence placedin you has not been deserved."

  He paused, when George Alden sprang to his feet, and gasped:

  "I--I do not--that is--I cannot comprehend your meaning."

  "Be seated, Alden. It almost unmans me; in fact, ever since this affaircame to my knowledge my confidence in mankind has been shaken as neverbefore. I see you are overcome; why not confess your crime, and let ussee that you are not as depraved as your act would indicate."

  "My God! what do you mean? Confess what? At least, inform me of what Iam charged."

  "Why inform you of what you already know? The abstraction of the fundshas been discovered and the worthless bonds are here."

  Turning to his desk and opening a drawer, he laid before the astonishedcashier five thousand dollars in worthless paper.

  "I swear before my Maker," exclaimed George, "that I never saw thosebonds before. What conspiracy is this?"

  The president affected surprise and answered:

  "You act your part well. You little thought, I suppose, that we woulddiscover your crime. The books, however, show that some time in Augustlast year you took five thousand dollars in money from the bank, placingthese worthless bonds in the vault as collateral."

  George Alden rose to his feet, and lifting his clenched hand above hishead, and bringing it down upon the table before him, said:

  "It is a lie! If anything is wrong the villain is in the other room."

  "Beware, young man, how you talk; the evidence is too strong for youto escape by any means whatever. Here is the entry made in your ownhandwriting. You cannot deny this. Look here--is that written by anyother hand than your own?"

  "It--it--it--does look--oh, my God! I never wrote it. Am I dreaming? No,I am the victim of that man who has been at my desk."

  Catching hold of a chair to prevent himself from falling, and turningtoward the president, in piteous tones he said:

  "Mr. Hamblin, certainly you do not think me capable of robbing the bank?"

  His answer being only a cold wave of the hand, the distracted man staredat his tormentor; as he did so, anger succeeded amazement, and heexclaimed:

  "It is a foul conspiracy, and _you_ are at the bottom of it! You wouldruin me to satisfy your own ambition, you scoundrel!"

  The president turned white with rage, and said:

  "Have a care what you say, young man, or I will hand you over to thecourts, where your crime will receive its just punishment. Your assumedinnocence cannot stand against proofs so damaging as these books reveal."

  "But I never committed the deed. I am innocent of anything sodespicable. I a defaulter! God knows I never wronged any man. Oh, whywas I brought out of the burning factory!"

  His weak condition showed that he had miscalculated his strength, andSenator Hamblin looking into his face, saw its deathly pallor, while thepoor man's eyeballs seemed almost ready to burst from their sockets.Much alarmed, he rose hastily, and seizing the hand of George Alden,said:

  "I pity you--God knows I do. You are only human, and I will try and helpyou out of this trouble, for I recognize you have claims upon me."

  "Thank you; perhaps I spoke hastily just now, but answer me--do youthink I am guilty?"

  "The evidence is very strong against you."

  "But have you never thought another might have desired to get me out ofthe way?"

  "To whom do you refer?"

  The cashier turned, and pointing toward the door opening into thebanking department, replied:

  "The man who once went back on _you_."

  "No, I cannot believe that--for he pities you, and to him you owe thefact that no one knows of your crime but him and myself."

  "My crime? Stop! do not call it that."

  "Calm yourself, George, and let us talk of the future. Of course, it isimpossible for you to remain in the bank. No one but Sargent and myselfknows of the affair. You are without means to make good the missing sum.I have suffered great anguish of mind since I learned of this matter,and am not indifferent to the existing relations between you and myfamily, which makes my course toward you far different than it would bewere our relations otherwise. Beside this, your brave act of last fallentitles you to consideration, therefore I will befriend and help you,if I can."

  "Thank you, sir! thank you. I--I am so bewildered, I scarcely know whatto do. I cannot realize that I am awake. I know I am innocent of anycrime; but I have no adviser."

  "Listen a moment," replied the president. "I can and will help you. Iwill replace the money, and thus make good the def
alcation--advance youfive hundred dollars beside, and you can quietly leave Cleverdale."

  "I leave Cleverdale like a criminal! Confessing by flight that I am athief! No, sir, I cannot do that."

  "You do not realize your situation. At present no one knows of thisaffair. If you remain in town an excuse must be given for dischargingyou from the bank, for it will be impossible for you to retain yourposition here. Reflect a moment. If you desire to remain and face theevidence, I am powerless to prevent you. I am your friend so far as Ican be, but should you remain here it will be necessary for me to reportthis matter to the board of directors. I wish I might do otherwise,but I cannot be placed in the attitude of sacrificing my own honor. Iknow that warm affection exists between you and my daughter; as thefather of her whom you love and respect, I will help you if you willhelp yourself, but I cannot go beyond those limits and make myself theshielder of an openly apparent criminal. Ah! I know what you would say,but facts exist that we must look at squarely. I offer to help you, butyou must leave Cleverdale at once."

  The distracted cashier fell into a chair and groaned with agony.Through his mind rapidly passing many thoughts, he fully realizedhis situation, and knew he was the victim of a base trick, if not aconspiracy, yet he was powerless to prove his innocence. Thoughtsof his young wife and sister passing rapidly through his mind, hisfirst and only consideration was to shield them from disgrace. Oncehe thought of disclosing the secret of his marriage, but rememberingthe solemn promise made his wife, and knowing that Senator Hamblinwas a cold-hearted man, he feared the disclosure might increase theirdifficulties.

  These thoughts running rapidly through his mind, he wished for his wifeand sister that he might consult them, but as they were far away, inwhatever he did he must act alone, and in his weakened condition he wasunfit to decide so serious a matter.

  He believed his innocence would be established if he prevented theconspiracy from being made public; although he was a good enough judgeof human nature to suspect Hamblin, he was loath to believe that thepresident desired his ruin. He believed that Hamblin's mind had beenpoisoned by Sargent, who had really robbed the bank and made a scapegoatof the cashier. At the same time he recognized the fact that SenatorHamblin was in the power of the teller, but desired to get rid of thecashier. The more he thought over the subject the more he saw the utterimpossibility of proving his innocence, but concluded to make one moreappeal to the president.

  "Give me time to think, sir," he replied to Senator Hamblin, when thelatter asked for his decision. "Before you drive me from home andfriends, make a more thorough examination, for I am confident you willbe convinced of my innocence."

  "No, that cannot be. This was discovered immediately after your heroicadventure. I was astonished and could not believe you guilty. I haveinvestigated thoroughly, and after due deliberation am convinced in myown mind concerning this matter."

  "But Sargent--what does he say?"

  "He pleaded for you, as never before man did for another. When it lookedas if you must die, I decided to make good the amount and let your gravecover the crime. I am entrusted with the funds of this institution. Ifyou remain in the village I must give a reason for your discharge--ifyou go away your absence must be attributed to mystery; I shall neverfollow you. If you can ever repay me the amount I advance, all right; ifyou cannot, I shall feel that I have protected you as well as the honorof a member of my own household."

  Eloquence can make deceit appear as the purest of truths. This giftaccounted in part for Senator Hamblin's great power, for he wasa natural actor. His persuasive manner and strong language had aperceptible effect upon George Alden, who gave evident signs of weaknessof mind and body. Long months of confinement left him powerless to copewith a strong mind, and gradually his will succumbed to that of hispersecutor.

  He could write to Belle and Fannie, he reasoned, and be advised by them.Yes, he would save himself and friends the disgrace that must inevitablyfollow the charge he knew to be false, yet was unable to disprove. Itwould be a terrible ordeal, but he thought it would be only temporaryand his vindication must surely follow. As for Belle, who never coulddoubt his honesty, he could keep her informed of his whereabouts,awaiting her summons to return.

  "What is your decision, George? I must know at once," asked thepresident.

  "Give me one day to decide."

  "No, you must make your choice at once--the directors will meet thisevening, and if you remain here I must tell them of the defalcation, andthen I shall be powerless to aid you. I wish it were otherwise, but itis not."

  "Well, sir, to shield those I love I accept your offer. I hope I havenot made a wrong decision, but my vindication is sure to follow."

  Senator Hamblin opened a private drawer, and taking from it five hundreddollars, said:

  "Here, George, is money--no, do not push it back--you will requireit--you need not take it as a gift, it is only lent you."

  At first Alden refused the loan, but the president, pretending to beaffected almost to tears, at last succeeded in forcing the money uponhim.

  The interview ended, Alden left the building and wended his footstepshomeward. Alone in the privacy of his chamber he gave way to hisfeelings, after which he began making preparations for leavingCleverdale. Taking up a picture of his wife that lay upon the tablebefore him, he covered it with kisses, and said:

  "I am her evil genius, and thus far have only caused her unhappiness.But she shall know all; yes, every word that passed between her fatherand me shall be written her."

  For two hours he sat beside the table, writing. He wrote of the terriblecharges against him, and placed on paper every word that passed betweenthe bank president and himself. He asserted his innocence; told of hislove, and begged his wife to do everything in her power to clear upthe mystery. He read and reread his letter, and added more, tellingher of his assumed name and destination. He then wrote another letter,containing substantially the same matter, which he directed to hissister.

  Not one word concerning his marriage, or his legal relationship toBelle, appeared in either letter. He was too much absorbed in hissituation to think of anything but his flight and the causes that led toit.

  At nine o'clock George Alden, bidding farewell to his home, wentdirectly to the post office, mailed his letters, and then turned towardthe depot. Meeting many friends, to their inquiries whither he was boundhe replied, he was "going for his sister." It was a falsehood, and hisconscience troubled him for it.

  As the train steamed out of the depot his heart was too full of sadnessto speak to any one. Although an innocent man, his sorrows must affectthe two noble women whom he believed he was serving by leaving home.

  God pity the three! Business reverses may drive a man from home andfriends, death may inflict anguish hard to be endured, calumny may castdark shadows over noble lives, but ambition alone can inflict unmeritedmisery on honorable natures; and worse than the ambition that causeswar--worse because meaner--is the feeling that political necessitiesengender and stimulate in a man until he can coolly perform deeds morefiendish than Holy Writ anywhere ascribes to Satan. In proof whereof itis only necessary to quote a word or two of Senator Hamblin's soliloquyafter Alden left the bank.

  "_I_ am the scoundrel.--Well, a man must be one to succeed in politics."