Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-23

all the world, proud of the prosperity
that was the work of his own hands, but
he became very grave and quiet, even
sad, absorbed in papers, and evidently
| deeply troubled. Nell worried over
| the change, but waited to know the
cause.
The knowledge came one evening
when Walter Grantly was making call.
True to his promise, Uncle Charles was
trying to be friends with the young man,
and that he was succeeding was proved
by his speaking in his presence.
'tBad news, Nell," he said heavily.
am ruined man -
"You, Uncle Charles ?"
Nell's arms were around his neck,
while his hand was taken in a cordial
grasp by Walter.
"My dear sir, Walter said, in tone
of warm concern, "I hope it is not SO
bad as that
''But it is, was the broken reply;
eff do not see my way out of the
muddle in few days, the old house of
Baldwin must go into bankruptcy"
"There is my money, Uncle Charles"
said Nell.
"God bless the child Do you think
I will touch that No, no. I am past
seventy, and if [ must go down, will
not drag your young life with me. But
can't understand it all. Everything
seems to have gone on well, and yet we
cannot meet our obligations. %
"Fraud?" suggested Walter.
"But where? Nelson is as puzzled
as am"
Walter Grantly frowned little, but
by few questions and an unfeigned
| interest soon drew from Mr.. Baldwin a
long story of his perplexities and the
gravity of the danger menacing him.
| Nell sat silent, her heart swelling with
pride as she noted her uncle's gradual
| growing respect for his companions
opinions, as the clear, searching ques-
tions revealed his intelligent compre
hension of the state of affairs. It was
late in the evening when they separa-
ted; but, early in the morning, Walter
received little note from Nell. ri
"Uncle Charles is very i'll. He wishes to see
you. Can you come -- NELL"
In answer to the summons, Walter
was soon at the bedside of the invalid.
He was very i'll, gradually losing con-
troll of his own thoughts, but he seemed
to wish Walter to examine his business.
By great effort he wrote paper APP
pointing the young man his representa-
tive until he was better, and before
noon delirium held him fast. For
many long days Nell scarcely left the
| sick room, save for few hurried inter-
views with Walter The old man, ex-
hausted by his unwonted anxiety and
application to business, after years of
comparative idleness, lay between life
and death, fighting violent attack of
fever. Even when the raving was over
and he knew Nell again, he lay in a
state of pitiable weakness, unable to
keep up settled train of thought for.
two minutes together, and still in danger
OF sinking into a death sleep.
Walter came often at night to take
Nell's place in the sick room, and give her
some hours of sorely-needed rest, and
friends were plenty to help in nursing.
Still, it was more than six weeks after
the evening when he opened his heart
to Walter Grantley, before Mr. Bald
win seemed to remember his business
perplexities. But one night, when all
the household slept, the invalid seeing
Walter seated beside him, said, in allow
weak voice. s....... "a, .E. a.
els the warehouse closed ?"
"Closed No, indeed. Business was
never more prosperous,
'sBut howe" "-
&C Are you able to hear about it +? You
have been very i'll, aad n24st be patient
Will it not be enough Tonight to know
that all iS ooinC on uo11 90
81 am stronger than you think Tell
me how you saved the old ship from
wreck"
81 took control at once, as you gave
me authority to do. Before my grand
fathers death, and the legacy that
made it necessary for me to work, was
bookkeeper in large warehouse sim
liar to yours, for six years, and had
knowledge of the business. An exam
nation of your books soon convinced
me that they had been falsifed to
frlghtful extent, and that checks drawn
upon your bank, in your name, had
been used for other purposes than the
payment of the obligations of the bus
mess.
Chow could that be? James Nelson
alone had signed checks
Exactly SO; and James Nelson has
been systematically defrauding you for
about fifteen years.
Impossible !"
"Quite true. When he found was
searching the matter to the bottom, he
pocketed his ill-gotten gains and alb
seconded. AS you were too ILL to give
the order for any pursuit, I let him
60"
''But the money? How can all be
going on we'll if he has taken it with
him? There was deficiency of thirty
thousand dollars for immediate obliga-
TONS"
"And having this sum idle in the
bank, took the liberty of investing it
in your business.
You threw in your fortune to help
sinking ship?"
"The ship was not sinking, but fairly
afoat, and consider the money well in
vested. have long wanted to buy