A RED LETTER DAY
The following morning was very damp and depressing.
Lowering skies and a drizzling rain made a combination that must have
its effect upon even the cheeriest nature; and while Dick laughed as
usual up to the time he left home for town, it was not long before his
spirits began to sink to a lower ebb.
The situation that confronted him was far from reassuring.
Even though there were germs of truth in the suggestion that Mr. Winslow
had seized upon with such alacrity, how could they ever hope to prove
it, since there seemed to be no way in which either of them could enter
the home of Archibald Graylock, and make a search for the missing
securities.
He had to pass the big department store on his way to the bank; or
rather, having a little time to spare he went out of his way a few paces
in order to ascertain what the crowd that he saw standing around meant.
Something out of the usual run must have happened, for a score of people
with umbrellas over their heads could be seen in what seemed to be
attitudes of curiosity, necks being craned and eyes turned toward the
store.
Among them he saw several whom he knew had held positions in Mr.
Graylock's employ, and this was a very suspicious fact.
Seeing a young fellow he happened to know very well, and who had been a
clerk in the place, Dick asked the usual question:
"What's going on here, Dud?"
The other shrugged his shoulders as he replied:
"The old man is in the hands of his creditors. They've shut him up, and
I understand that it's a bad business all around--may not pay twenty
cents on the dollar. Meanwhile we're out of a job, and they do say the
store may never go on again."
Dick looked surprised, as though he were hearing news; for it was hardly
policy to let it be known that the failure of Archibald Graylock had
been discounted at the bank for several days.
He stood around talking for a short time, until he was nearly due at the
bank, and then hastened to his work.
If anything it seemed even more depressing there than on the street.
The atmosphere was so dense that lights were actually needed in the
bookkeeping department in order that business might go on unimpeded;
while the employees kept their heads bent down over their work, and not
one had a smile to spare.
Indeed, it seemed to Dick as if every one purposely avoided saying good
morning to him as usual, though the chances were his imagination
deceived him there.
The truth was every one felt a weight resting upon his shoulders.
A calamity had befallen the bank in the loss of the securities, and
until this mystery was made clear suspicion must attach to every man in
Mr. Gibbs' employ.
Already the president was in his room, a most unprecedented occurrence
at this early hour, and from time to time other gentlemen gathered
there, so that it was evident that to a limited extent the bank was
bound to feel the fall of the leading merchant of the town, having
doubtless granted Mr. Graylock favors from time to time.
Mr. Goodwyn dodged in and out, a look of deepest concern on his smooth
face, as if the cares of a great State rested upon him.
Who could be cheerful under such conditions?
Dick sometimes felt a lump rising in his throat as the thought of his
being positively accused of stealing the lost papers came before his
mind's eye; and it was with more or less difficulty that he carried on
his work.
Everybody was nervous, and surely he had cause to feel so.
To cap the climax there was a stranger in the bank, and at first sight
of him Dick felt a chilly sensation, the man looked so keenly at him;
for he really fancied that Mr. Gibbs had put his threat into execution,
and brought an officer of the law into consultation, in order to clear
up the mystery.
Presently, however, he noticed that the stranger was looking over the
books, and seemed to have free access to the safe, as though his
authority to do just as he pleased was unquestioned.
And when Dick also noticed how ungrudgingly the bookkeeper waited on
him, and was only too pleased to be called into consultation, he
suddenly grasped the truth.
The government bank examiner, to be sure!
Mr. Winslow had said they expected a visit from one of these officials,
who make periodical visits to all national banks, to see that they are
complying strictly with the government requirements.
It seemed too bad that he should time his visit just when there were so
many things happening to cause anxiety among the bank officials; but
that was the way it often happened.
Of course he had nothing to do with the fact of the securities being
gone; since that was a private affair between Mr. Gibbs and Mr.
Graylock, and the bank could not be held accountable unless it was
clearly shown that one of the employees were guilty.
About ten o'clock Dick's bell rang, and he went into the president's
room.
Here he found half a dozen gentlemen, all connected with the affairs of
the bank, sitting about the directors' table as though they had been in
serious consultation.
Mr. Gibbs was at the head.
The others looked very sober, but Dick rejoiced to see that the
president apparently was as clear-headed as usual; and whether his smile
was forced or natural it certainly gave the messenger boy new hope that
the affairs of the bank could not be in such grave peril after all.
For that was what he was beginning to fear from the grave looks of so
many people around him.
"Richard, I wish you to go to the stable where my horse is kept, tell
Jerry to hitch him up for you, and then drive as fast as you can to my
house with this note. Give it to my wife, and wait until she hands you a
package. Be very careful, my boy to get that safely here without delay.
I would send the porter with you but he is sick, and the others are very
busy, with the bank examiner in charge. I can trust you to perform this
service promptly, Richard, can I not?"
Dick felt his heart in his throat, so to speak, as the president thus
publicly announced the faith he had in his integrity; coming as it did
on the heels of that strange disappearance of Mr. Graylock's securities,
and the suspicion that for a brief time had fallen on his shoulders, it
almost unmanned the messenger, so that there were actually tears in his
eyes as he looked straight at Mr. Gibbs and said as resolutely as he
could:
"Yes, sir; I would do anything for you."
"I believed as much, Richard, or I would not send you, for it is very
important that you get the package to me without loss of time," said the
president, kindly. And Dick, as he hastened after his cap and umbrella
was saying to himself that Harvey Gibbs could read a boy's soul better
than any man in the world.
"Where away, Dick?" asked Mr. Winslow as he saw the boy pass his window.
"On an errand for Mr. Gibbs, sir," replied the boy.
"Can you take these notices with you, Dick?" asked the bookkeeper,
holding up a bunch of papers, such as the bank messenger was in the
habit of delivering on his rounds.
"Not just now, sir. I am in a great hurry."
He waited no longer to explain things, but hastened around the corner to
the livery stable where, as he knew, Mr. Gibbs kept his horse whenever
he drove in alone; sometimes his wife or Bessie came with him, and when
this occurred the vehicle of course, was driven home again.
Dick knew the livery-stable keeper well, and Jerry, understanding that
he was now employed in the bank had no hesitation in giving him the rig
which Mr. Gibbs had driven to town that morning.
In a few minutes Dick was off, and hurrying the animal along as much as
seemed consistent; fortunately the boy loved horses, though he had very
few chances to exhibit his skill in managing them, and when he found
that the animal between the shafts was capable of putting up
considerable speed his pulses thrilled with satisfaction.
Many a time had he tramped over that road while going out to his
favorite fishing hole; but never did it seem one half so short as when
he dashed along behind that high stepper.
One of the first persons he met on the road was Ferd Graylock, who
stopped to stare after him; he also called out, but Dick was unable to
hear what he said, so rapid was his pace--he could only wave his hand
backward in recognition, and continue to urge the horse along.
In this fashion he reached the fine country place of the banker, which,
as has been said before, extended over quite a number of acres, and ran
down to the river at the point just above the fishing hole Dick so
dearly loved.
He sprang out and tied the steaming horse to the hitching post.
Then he ran up to the front door, which appeared to be wide open, as
though one of the maids might have been doing some cleaning that
morning.
Dick reached out his hand to press the button that would summon a
servant to the door when he was thrilled to hear a sudden scream from
some portion of the house. It was so full of terror that the boy did not
hesitate an instant about entering without an invitation.
The screams continuing led him in the direction of the trouble, which
seemed to be on the second floor.
He passed a maid as he ran, who seemed to be fairly paralyzed with fear,
for she stood there like a post, with her hands clasped, and her lips
moving, as though calling on her patron saint to take care of her.
Dick chanced to be a boy who in an emergency acted first and then
considered afterwards; and it proved that he had need of this
characteristic just then if ever in his whole life.
He scented smoke even before he burst through the half open door of a
room and saw Mrs. Gibbs frantically slapping at the garments of her
daughter with a wet towel, while the window curtain and shade were
burning fiercely.
[Illustration: DICK SPRANG FORWARD.
_Dick the Bank Boy_ _Page 164_]
Dick sprang forward. He never once considered that this might be an
opportunity to distinguish himself; but only remembered that human life
and the home of his employer seemed in jeopardy.