Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-08-22
CHAPTER VIII.
PENNIE pENNIKLEss.

| fENNlE FEN ME LESS.
WHEN Mr.. Hargroye left Eastwood tina
night, after his interview with MIR. Johl
Hutton, he drove home to Allan Bridge a
fast as his horse could lay legs to the ground
1t was nearly ten o'clock when he got there
His clerk, who had hidden to wait his re
turn from Mr.. Wynyard's funeral, was doz
ing over dusty fire in the office when hI
entered. He staggered up,from his chat
yawning, and holding out telegraph,
message, which had come in the lawyer
absence Mr.. IIargrove read it, and con
founded it vlciously. He could not go tt
Norminster on the morrow; he had an ap
pointment to keep with Mr.. John Huttor
at eleven o'clock, he said, and tossed the
envelope on the desk. He appeared to bt
out of humor, cold, and tired, for he stood 8
minute or two staring absently at the dull
fire; and when recalled to himself by sig.
niicant cough of the sleepy clerk, which
inquired, as plainly as SO many words,
whether he was wanted or whether he was
at liberty to 60, he told him laconically that
he could go. The next moment the lawyer
was alone. His first act was to replenish,
the fire, his second to summon his house.
keeper, who answered SO promptly to his
call that it was plain she had been waiting
for it near at hand.
"Mrs, Jarvis" said he, ''put change OF
linen into my bag, and bring it down here
before you go to bed. must walk to Kirk
gate, to catch the train that passes through
at half-past three perhaps I may not he
back until tomorrow night, or it may even
be Saturday."
Wax, sir, and it such bitter bad wealth
er?' demonstrated his old servant. ssWon't
you take some breakfast before you start ?"
''No; shall get breakfast at my jour
ncy's end. I'll walk, because the moon will
be up, and it is both shorter and safer across
the fell on foot, than it is driving by the
road in this frost"
Mrs. Jarvis, only half satisfied by his ex-
planation, retired to pack her masters bag.
When she brought it into him, he bade her
good night, and told her not to disturb her
self any more on his account for he would
let himself out, and take care the spring Of
the door was fastened behind him. Eskdale
did not stand in much dread of burglars.
As the woman left the office, she observed
that her master threw himself wearily into
his.grcat leather chair, and disposed himself
as for a nap. No sooner was she gone,
however, thnn he arose alertly, shut and Sc
cured both the inner and outer doors, turned
the gus higher, stirred up the fire, and sci
TO work with the rapid energy Of work
man whose time will hardly suffice for what
he has TO do. Amy one watching his pro-
ceedings might have thought that he was
preparing for final quittance of Allan
Bridge; preparing for flight rather than fol
an ordinary business journey; and this was
indeed the case. He had got to the end ol
his tcthcr; investigation of his affairs with
Wynyard was become inevitable; and thank
ing his stars that he had made provident
arrangements for his comfort in another
quarter of the world, he began to make
away with the evidence of his peculationl
in this. -.
From his desk, from the drawers Of ,
great bureau, from the boxes Of his client
on the strong-roOm shelves, and lastly from
an iron safe, sunk in the thickness of thu
wall, he selected mass of documents
which he cast in portions on the fire, ant
turned over and stirred up to quicken thei
destruction, until his yisage was scorchet
and crimsoned with the blaze. The pile o
embers grew and grew leaves here ant
there escaped the fire, and still he heapot
on more. While they smouldered, lie tool
other papers from the safe, and slowed then
in bulky red morocco case; and notes an,
gold, which he thrust into his pockets
When the house clock struck one in tn
morning his work was approaching its com
pleiion. few times again he poked tn
ashes about, and where white fragmen
caught his eye, he took care to kindle it, AM
sec it blaclsen into tinder. He had still al
interval left to scrape up the light flutterin
relics from the hearth, to lay Goals on them
to relock and replace everything in order
and when this was done he went pryingl
about the office, to see that he had droppe
nothing, and that nothing had escaped him
After that he washed his hands and face
which had contracted some CRIME at hi
work. and finally wrote u note of caution
explanation for his clerk, giving him th
same notice when to expect him back as h
had given to Mrs. Jarvis. This done, Ii
put on his great coat, wound plaid abor
! him, and taking his bag in his hand, left til
!, moon lit market place. A woman wa
! knocking at the doctors door as he passct
and from an upper window, noisily fun
/ open, he heard Mr.. Buckhurst calling o,
to know who wanted him for Buckhur
was the sole surgeon of Allan Bridge now
sole acting surgeon, that is. DIR. Grey sii
e lived, but since his paralytic seizure he ha
n given up practice. The lawycrremembere
= this old alienated friends condition at th
!, moment, and was thankful.
!, After passing the bridge, Mr.. Hargro,
n turned short off into the fields, where IL
g snow lay pure and untrodden in the mool
" light. 1t Itwas,windy and singing cold, b.
O the air was clear, and the way plain that
had togo. He reached Kirkgate in suf
b cient time, and got into the train, which
y left again at the next junction for Liverpot
/ About the hour when Mr.. John HUT,
l. walked into Allan Bridge to keep his a
/ pointment with the agent, the agent. W
:, studying the advertising boards at the Ian
ir ing stage with view of taking his passa
1t in the first vessel bound for the States. tt
" Ariel, a swift screw steamer, which was
= u sail on the following Wednesday for N,
ID Orleans, was the earliest and having de
IS ded that he must risk the delay, he went
e. the shipping office, and engaged a'first-cl,
. passage forthwith. Meanwhile he judg
" it advisable to keep himself close at
hotel. Az "a '-'