Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-10
| N FA TU A TION; +;
OR, THE FORGED CHRQUR.
WHO DREW THE cHEQUE.
CHAP TER TX

The most able counsel in the land were on
gagged TO defend Charles Cleyland, but that gen
tlemAn provoked them very considerably. Th
| old saying, 'Iell your whole case TO your law
yer and your doctor" is essential advice, bu
Charles would tell nothing, neither truth no
laisehood In vain Serjeant Mowham protest
ed, with tears in his eyes, "a stock of which, 81
the Bar affirmed, he kept in Teadiness,) that b,
was working in the dark, that without some clue
or hint to 80 upon, he could make 20 defens,
that had chauce Of success, even if he told al
the untTuth that ever serjeanns tongue gave ut
terance to. The prisoner was imnioyable; tb,
lawyers were in despair.
One day, the Farl Of OAkton had slice o
lack He had backed certain horse, at pre
vincial race meeting, and the horse won
Amongst other moneys that changed hands il
London on the settling-lay, was ESQ note
An hour after the eall received it, he made hi.
way into his drawing room, in haste, where sal
his daughters, Grace, and Mary Cleveland. Th,
latter, with her husband and infant, havinf
been staying IN town, at the earls, since The
outbreak Of the unfortunate business
''Msry,' cried the earl, "what were the mum
bers OF the notes paid over to Charles CIevelanl
by Glyn's!"
"Mr. Cleveland has them, IbeIieve, answer
ed Lady Msry. "But the thing has given IN,
by far too much worry, papa, for me to retain
the numbers in my head"
II havo them" interrupted Lady Grace
Chenevix. Il copied them the other day
There was no knowing, l thought, but they
might prove useful
"Quite right; Grace, girl, - said the Earl
Lets see them. %, 0, 2, 5, 5,"' continued Lort
OaktOn, reading one of the numbers which
Lady Grace laid before him. / thought so
One of these notes has Just been paid to me,
Mary by young WatefwaTe"
''Where did he get it," eagerly inquired
Lady Grace CheneVix.
al did not ask him. thought I'd first ascer
tain whether twas right in my suspicious. III
get it out OF him by-and~by."
SAT once, at once, sir, rejOined Lady Mary
"NO impatience, Mary. Where the deuce am
to pick up Waterware at this time of day?-
Tonight shall know where to find him -
Chance, however, favored the earl In stroll.
ing up st. James street, not ong afIarwar,s B
he met Lord Waterware.
Il say, Waterware," he began, linking his
arm In that Of the younger peer, "wheTe did you
get that fifty pound note you paid me over this
morningl"
"Where did get it! Let's see. Oh, from
Nile. He was owing me a hundred, aud he
stumped up, yesterday. That fifty, two tWen-
twenties, and ten. Whyl IL's not forged, ]
suppose" " cried the young nOblemAn, with q
| yawn. .-. .t.
''Not exactly. I wish l had handful Of
them. Coed nlOEning! I'm geinE on to Miles,
Colo .el Nile was at home, in his chamber.
A middle-aged man and batchelor, essentially
"a man about town" Possessing very little
income of his own, he yet cOntriVed to live
lluxuriously.
1.-The fifty pound note paid over to Water
wsrc," repeated Colonel Nile, cautiously, and
somewhat surprised at the question. why do
you want to know where got it?"
because it is one Of the noles that Charley
Cleveland's in quod for the first that has been
traced. You must give the information, Nile,
or / shall apply for it publicly"
"Oh, have no objection in the world" cried
the colonel, determined TO afford all that was in
his power, and so wash his hands of any un-
Pleassntness that might turn up. 81 received
tat Lady Sanely's NOTABLE, frOm-egld from
your own daughter, Lady Adela"
"From Lady Adela" echoed the surprised
noblsman.
''From Lady Adela, and nobody else, repeat
cd Colonel Nile "She paid another fifty to the
old DoWauer Beck, the same evening"
"Wl at was the number Of that ln inquired
Lord OaktOn.
''How should known retOrtsd the Colonel
1T is not my business TO pry into notes which
don't concern men
The Esrl of 0akton proceeded straight to
Lady Beck's; and, with much trouble and per-
suasion, she was induced to exhibit the note
spoken Ofby Colonel Nile, which was still in
her possessiO. The old dowager was veTging
on her dotaRe, and could not at first, be con
vinced but that the earl was going to take law
proceedings against her for winning money of
his daughter. The earl soothed her, copied
the number by stealth, went home, and COM
pared it with Lady GTace's pocket book. IL
ipas another Of the notes."
what do You think of it, Graeel" cried the
Earl, in peplexity. "Can Cleveland have been
owing money TO Adela!"
II should imagine moi" replied Lady Grace:
at wears q singular appearance" said the
earl. "To tell you the truth, Grace, don't
like the fact of these notes being traced to
Adela It looks--after the rnmor of that alb
surd Irritation they carried on--almost as if she
and Cleveland had gone snoOks on the spoil
What now, Oracle Are you going to fiy!"
For Lady Grace Chenevix had bounded from
her chair in sudden agitation, her arms working
as she passed up and down the room. "Sir!
father the thing has become clear to me. That
should not have suspected il before know
ing what did know"
tOhild," cried the earl, gazing at her amaze
ment, "whatever is the matterl q
sAdela did this. l see it all. Charles Cleve-
land was only her instrument, and, in his infat-
uated attachment, he has taken the guilt on
himself to shield her Well, he may have as
serted his innocence to his father Well may
his conduct have appeared 10 US, all, SO
ineomprenhensible.
''Why, Grace, you are mad!" gasped the earl.
"Accnse your sister forgery,
Do you reflect on the meaning of your wofdsl'
"Father, do not look so sternly at me
know / am night. ] assure ypV il is es if sgme
power Of might had torn scales from nay eyes,
ior see it perfectly clear. Adela wanted
money to play; she had been drawn in, far
deeper than you suspected, sir at Lady SAM
eIy's gaming table, 1t was Mr.. Grub's inten-
ton to refuse her funds s-"
''HOw do you knOw!" ...t
~ do know it sir, never miIsd how. No
doubt he did refuse her end she, when his
cheoue-book fell into her bands"
''Dont continue, Grace" sharply interPosed
Lork Oskton; ''you make my blood run cold
You must prove what you assert, or Tetract it.
If-i-it is proyed"-the earl drew long
brsath-nCleveland must be extricated. What
a laundering fool the fellow must bel'
HIst me haye time TO think" said Lady
Grace. "Extricated Of course be mgst be, Rqt
without exposing her. Dontsay yet sIF' eeyen
to Mary, that you have compared the numbers
Ofthe nOtes." -.a ... ......-.
Lady Grace sought an interview with Mr..
GFnbb. She went to his house that evening,
but she iornd he was gone to his club, and her
sister to the opera. So Grace DISMISSED her
wrote word to Mr. Grub, asking him 70 come
home. The thought crossed her, that, perhaps,
it was not quite the thing 70 do, but Lady
Grace was not one to stand upon ceremony.
HsTeturned ct once, full d hustle and egFi.