The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-17
[From Appleton's Journal.l
A FRIEND in NEED.

WOlndu well KNOWN III Lne CITY OF B. as
dealer in diamonds and as moneylender.
She is gifted with great perceptive faculties,
and she has gained by her long experience in
nice and perilous business, deep insight
into human nature. and also gracious tact,
that enables her to accomplish her will in
spite of all ordinary circumstances:
l was sitting behind my counter in my shop
at four o'clock on a very dark and stormy day
OF January last, when a boy entered and
either of me or of my brother, who stood near
by, but he ran off at once.
The note was very prettily written upon
fashionable paper. 1t read thus:
'Will Madame R kindly obIige one who
is in very great distress by going without hes
itation or delay, to the corner of Bayard
Place and Eustis street, where she will find a
coupe with a coachman, who is already In
structed whittier to drive her? The writer is
in Immediate and terrible want of money,
and if Madame R will bring two thousand
dalars with her she will greatly facilitate the
negotiation of an unhappy but necessary
transaction"
There was a certain directness and coher-
ence about the letter, said Madame R,
that at once put me on my guard. 1t seemed
to me to be the work either of designing
man or of an unusually clear-minded woman,
and, as the latter is somewhat rare, to Judge,
at least, from the notes ladies commonly
write, l felt that TO be particularly careful in
this case was my best method.
l confess that at first was not inclined to
respond to the letter at all, but my desire to
do good stroke of business If possible, to-
gether with some little curiosity, perhaps,
made me yield eventually, and l accordingly
dressed for the expedition.
called in boy to remain in the shop with
my brother, who took my place behind the
counter. | then left the place and proceeded
at once to the spot indicated in the note, ac-
companied by the policeman whom L employ
regularly as my body-guard. 1 found the
coupe. The horse was large and beautifully
harnessed, and the coachman was well
trained.
/ asked him where he was instructed to
drive me to. He replied:
To the rear of No. = Longworth street. if
you please"
"By which way do you intend to go?'
He gave me the most direct route. asked
him to take another. He assen.ed | diI
this in order to see if his conduct had been
arranged for him, which would have been the
case had there been anything wicked in the
matter. felt treasured. Longworth street
is in the best and richest part of the city, and
though its neighborhood is secluded and
quiet, it is well protected and we'll lighted
We performed our journey in fifteen min
utes.
We drew Up in an aley-way which led in
the rear of the dwellings, and / descended
amid the snow and hail, and saw before me
high brick wall, which ran on either hand
as far as the eye could reach. 1 had no SOON
er stepped upon the walk than a small door
in front of me opened, and young maid,
with cloak over her head and shoulders,
looked out and babe me enter.
did so, and crossed a wide-faggpd court
yard, and entered at door in the basement
of a handsome and lofty house.
The entries were almost dark, aad all the
doors were closed, and 1 thought, purposely.
The girl led me up the servants stairs to the
nrst 1loor, and then up another flight to the
second floor. Here we stepped out of the
staircase into the hallway.
1t was among the most beautiful that had
ever seen. The carpets were rich and very
thick; the walls were wainscoted, and wee
hung above with Spanish leather. The air
was warm and perfumed, and a soft light was
shed downward from huge Chinese lantern,
whose parti-colored and jangling pendants
swung TO and fro, throwing moving shadows
over the walls.
"Come this way" said the maid, and she
led me, with some haste, into passage which
led to the left, and upon which there opened
two tall, dark doors.
At one OF these she knocked softly. and
then entered, directing me by nod to follow
her.
found myself in a well-ghted and luxu-
rious apartment, and surrounded by articles
and furniture OF great beauty and elegance.
Standing beside a small and delicate table
was young lady.
She was tall and slender, and her carriage
was striking for its graceful ease. Her face
was regular, and it was extremely handsome.
She at once approached me with great haste.
and Selling my hand, she cried:
''Ol. madame. how 0lad 7 an, tbat yo,,
have come! was afraid that you would be
offended because was so peremptorv. but I
did not mean it-indeed, am so sad that |
have not the courage toto ask my bird TO
sing to me'
She fixed her eyes upon mine, and I saw
that they were red with weeping.
Il am in great trouble,' she pursued. ssand
only you can assist me. Unjust sell YOU some
thlng must persuade you to take some of
my dresses and jewels-look! See them! T
have made quite collection for you to choose
FROM"
She turned her head and gazed in an in
descrlbable way, upon a heap of rich gar
ments which lay upon the floor.
felt singular compassion for nv CUSTOM
er, and INDUCED myself in some little spec
ulatlon upon the probable causes of her mis-
fortunes.
Perhaps displayed The interest in nv face
in some way. AT any rate, she suddenly al
tered her manner toward me, and treated me
as a confident.
Il have brother,n she whispered, "who
has done wrong. He likes pleasure. and he
has made us much trouble, and vet we love
him. He is the under-treasurer of the Trust
and Deposit Company of B.. You know
OF it, for l learned that you have a safe in
their vaults. Well, the president came here
yesterday, and | saw him, He told me that
II mad been discovered that Allan had con-
verified eighteen thousand dollars to his own
use ana that, as regular examination of
the books and funds of the institution was
10 De made Tomorrow afternoon. it iwould he
necessary that the money be returned at once
IL the disgrace which would accompany ex
posure was TO be avoided. He said that he
had known my father from childhood. and
that he felt it incumbent upon him to save
him from such flood of shame as would
pour upon him should the disclosure be made
He had white hair, and he wept, and he
kissed me when ne went away"
l, whose duty it was to know everything.
knew that the president of the Trust Com.
pany was a man of iron prObity, one who
would cut his best friend to the heart to pun
ish an evil-doer.
Are you positive that it was the presi-
dent?" | asked
Yes. Yes" she replied, naiyely-"yes, for
remember that he told me that he was"
AND did he come in the daytime ?"
NO; he came in the evening, aud he wore
very long coat and Undermined cloth
nat; ne had white hair and broad fore
anu you must provide eighteen thousond
dollars to save your bro.hera This is very
great sum- 10 very
"Yes, l know it; but my brother !, voru
DEAR" - very
Her gentle face became convulsei with .
spasm of grief ~"
.'And after it Is paid, what then %
"Then Allan will be secretly informed tina,
his wickedness has been detected, and he
will then be permitted to leave the country,
The matter can be hushed-that is, if il is
managed wel.'
"But eighteen thousand dollars that is
fortune.'
:, Yes; but you forget that am Fortunate
one made gesture indicating her rich sur
roundngs, and she smiled for an instant
Can you get it in money?v