The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-10-02
Misfellaaeuas.
No. O7,4S2.
A STORY.
CONCLUDED.
III

The SHARP evening air and brisk walk
homeward stimulated reflection and j DO.
gan To 20 over the scene had just wit.
messed, and to decide upon my next action.
Events had conspired TO elucidate the mys-
terry Of number 07 7.4S2, but much remained
yet unrevcaled. That Wylde had never
received the note or any equivalent for il,
was pretty certain from the first. That old
Graham was cognizant Of sone fraud which
had kept Wyhle out oi the noney-and
perhaps had originated the fruud-was ev-
hient from his manner, un,l from the hold
which Murdon possessed over him. The
riddle that remained was, 10 what extent
was Gmlam implicated? Ho had not
stolen the money, for il lay in my pocket.
lie could not have hid,lea IL in place
where Il was SO likely to bc found ind to
bctray him. Then. ngain, Murion had
spoken OF receipt which oil Graham had
seemed anxious To regain. and tho delivery
OF (which was To I've made contingent on
Murtion's marrying ka,c. That receipt
was evidently irregular, aud its irrcgulari,y
in some fashion compromised the o'dcierk'
So long as il remained in Murdon's possess
sion, the cashier held an engine by which
ms could force the feeble old man into CON-
pliancs with his wishes.
The next question was, how could cN-
oneute Graham and release Kate! By
disclosing tho manner in which had iound
the bank note, Graham would he cleared OF
the suspicion Of robbery, which susp'cion'
however, was known only to the cashier.
An srposs would certainly not benefit Ora.
ham with the firm, who were Ignorant ot
any irresularity, and believed the money
raid. And my handing over the note
would not clear the difficulty orthc receipt;
Il would, on the contrary, provoke an in-
vestigniion which might be awkward ior
Gm,,am. II, as ! Was forced TO imagine. ho
had forged tho receipt Truly the obsta-
cl. in this direction was harl to surmount.
Walking briskly nnd thinking deeply, !
cau,e upon dingy public.house. which l
rrmembercd as the haunt OF WyIde, the
place where had seen him in company
with Tom. determined to satisfy myself
fully on point upon which ielt morally
convinced already namely. that Wytie
had never received the money intended for
hum by Theophilus Langbrace, esquire, our
client. With this view entered the Four.
in.hand, by which name the house Of call
L
for actors was known.
Making my way into the bar.pcr'or, l
recognized through haze OF tobacco.
smoke nv FOSTERING tricnd Tom, engaged
i'm What he was wont to term cultivating the
siuses-in other worls. keeping up smok.
ing aud drinking intercourse with nall a
dozen very shady ''utility" actors.
That ardent young gentleman hailed me
bois,crousiy. "hallo, George, my p.pp'n
come to see life, eh' Sit down. AMI have
spider"
Declining the chronological beverage ro-
fered to, contented myself with ordering
a less elaborate liquid, and asked Tom q
he had seen his friend wyldc.
.Vvhat, Gugliclmo:" :" answered Tom
"tion be here presently; he's on in the
second piece, to night as n Cory Ruffian
lie gets murdered IL the fourth aci,and vii
probably drop in then"
IN about an hours time no appeared, no.
m drunk as usual, for the night wus com
parntiyely carly hardly eleven O'Clock
| lie had only taken sufficient To- produce th,
first Of many stages of intoxicatiou through
which that accomplished artiss was night.
wont to pass In his first stage he was Ju
bilant and loquaeious. ..,.. ,,
On recognizing us, Mr. William Wyd
struck dignifed attitude, and burst Int
auo.a,ion, after tho manner Of his trib<
cye;ng me sternly. and then liiling his eye
bfows up to his hair, he asked dsna''ea'
y- ,-,r
srrom both, my Lord; Bellano greet
vorr grace" answered that imp Tom, read
iy. l,
Mr.. wylde smiled loitily, and closed hi
ewes. "Which - he inqairesl which
the merchant here, and which the Jewr
I modcs,ly replied that ior myself ! IA
cIincd TO mercantile pursuits in preference
Mr.. WyLle waved his hand. go,
.Tben must tho Jew no merciiaI
whcreupon ho took seat and ordered ~
frrshmcnts.
II is unnecessary to relate BY what de
grres Mr.. Wylds attained his u''er'os con
di,iou Of intoxica,iou, how he passed iroo
The jubilant to tho noisy Stage, thence
the desponding stage. thence 10 tho nefee
ly morose STAGE. Suthoe Il to say Una.
kept him well supplied with his isvon'
refteshment and NO grow coa6deniiaL :.
"l'u tell you What, my boy" aid III
WyLie, when no had reached tho depths Q
melancholy if ever you think OF embra
eng our profession, think well. Thinl
twice. LII n aick anin1 ill., (soniua uHay