The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-07-20
JACK STEBBINS' STORY.
TOLD BY HIMSELF.

ond author said, ''there's q message fol
you from Mr.. Blacklock."
s'That's my name, SIR
t'Well, he expected you here before
noon to-day, and as you didn't put in an
appearance. you're to report at his house
tonight. There's messenger going up
in an hour or so, and you can send any
word you like
'.I'll write note if you'll lend me a
pen, L said.
And he told ME I'd find one at Mr..
Blacklock's desk So [ sat down in his
chair, and wrote that [ would be at his
house by 8 o'clock in the evening, and
hoped to make things satisfactory. 1
took care not to sign my name, or say
anything that would be used against me.
And I went off, feeling as if L had lease
of life for few hours longer, anyhow
Tom Lippincott might get home before
/ had time to see Mr.. Blackjack, and
Higginson had promised to be on the
watch for him and let me know. I
might be all right yet, [ tried to believe.
And put it out of my mind as well as I
could till night came, and L got word
from Higginson that it was all wrong.
Tom Lippincott hadn't come, and worse
still, didn't expect to come for week.
Some had got away in Pittsburgh, and
Block & Gilsey had telegraphed to him
to go on at once al d wait instructions.
This knocked everything, of course,
and gave up beat There was nothing
10 do but to go and tell Mr.. Blackjack
that I couldn't pay, and let him do his
worst. 1 was tired and discouraged and
disheartened, that didn't seem to care
much for anything except Molly, at
least. It was rough on her, poor little
woman! And there was her ring in my
pocket still, The unlucly ring that had
cost me SO dear.
/ went UP to Mr.. Blackjack house a
little before the time had named, with
logged feeling that I'd best get to the
bottom of things as quick as possible.
A servant girl showed me into beauti-
fGl library, with books all along the walls
and pictures, and easy chairs, and every
thing warm and bright, and elegant.
Nobody was there, and looked around
you.
''He needn't be so hard on poor devil
like me. I wouldn't, if could, sit down
in nest like this" I thought. s'But
what does he care, confound him ! I
wish he'd hurry along and put me out
of my misery one way OF another.
The door was partly open. and heard
movement on the stairs presently the
soft rustic OF lady's dress and the
next moment, very much to my surprise,
a lady came in and spoke to me.
''You wish to see Mr.. Blackjack - she
said, ''but he has gone out with a
friend, and viii not be in for some time.
IF you are the person who sent him this
note to-day,I will attend to this business.
I am Mrs. Blackjack"
She held out my letter to me, and I
took it and looked at it all liz a fuster,
for this was something hadn't bargain
ed for. I could stand having man
blow me up for a rogue, when there was
no help for it; but how was 1 going to
talk to this lady about my disgrace !?
The first thought was to get out of it
with a lie.
Il don't want you to think, ma'am,"
1 said,I ''that this is any Of my affairs.
l came here at the request of friend of
mine
'sThen I've nothing to say to you,
SIR she interrupted me, very quick.
eff you're not the person that wrote this
letter and brought Mr.. Blackjack a
check with false signature, two weeks
ago, [ advise you to go back to your
friend who did and tell him to speak for
himself. Mr.. Blackjack Will not deal
with any go-between.
She looked straight at me with flush
i'll her eyes that said, plain as words,
''You need not try to lie to me; know
the truth And I hung my head, my
tongue tied for shame, and my face like
fire to the tips of my ears.
She looked at mel could feel her
look all over me though L didn't raise
my head-and said presently, in gentle
tone.
81. you would be honest with me, it
would make the matter easier for us
both. Tn quite sure that what you
said just now was not the truth. You
can't look in my eyes and repeat it.
''No, l can't; you are right there !" /
cried out, hot and angry, and notsearing
now what said. ''But it's Mr.. Black
locks fault If I told you lie. He
wasn't called upon to expose me to his
lady !"
Indeed !" she answered, scornfully,
II do not see Why you should expect
him to spare your feelings. Perhaps
you will say next it was his fault that
you took the check.
mo, shan't. put that blame where
III oeloiiSS-ol the lneu THAT kept nOHeSU
men out of their due. If could have
got my pay had no need to do what /
did, and I never should have done it,
either, I'm not such scamp as yon
think me, ma am
Perhaps not, she said, coldly. But
what | think of you is Of no consequence,
Mr.. Stebbins. You came, L believe, to
return the money which you misappro-
priated. 1 am here to give yea a receipt