Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/300

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286
CHEATING THE GALLOWS.

night at some hotel. I daresay it will be all right." He began to whistle as if in restored cheerfulness. At eight o'clock there came a letter for Roxdal, marked "immediate," "scotland yard opened the letter." but as he did not turn up for breakfast, Tom went round personally to the City and Suburban Bank. He waited half-an-hour there, but the manager did not make his appearance. Then he left the letter with the cashier and went away with anxious countenance.

That afternoon it was all over London that the manager of the City and Suburban had disappeared, and that many thousand pounds of gold and notes had disappeared with him.

Scotland Yard opened the letter marked "immediate," and noted that there had been a delay in its delivery, for the address had been obscure, and an Official alteration had been made. It was written in a feminine hand and said: 'On second thoughts I cannot accompany you. Do not try to see me again. Forget me. I shall never forget you."