Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-01-05

"Well, remember If you are not pre-
pared with the money, shall be pre-
pared to act" he said with an evil smile.
As I walked home that evening, an
idea flashed into my mind. I had tried
all honest means Of raising the money,
I would try dishonest. My credit was
good. I had large transactions with
first-class houses. I was in the habit of
discounting largely, and well, l
signed names to papers that | ought
not to have dene. / had the bills put
through. had four months and three
days in which to turn round, and I
might, by that time, be able to raise
sufficient to retire the acceptances.
In the meantime, I could face Mr..
Elmsdale, and SO / wrote, appointing
an evening when I would call with the
mcney, and take his release for all
claims on me.
When I arrived at River Hall he ha
all the necessary documents ready, but
refused to give them up in exchange
for my check.
He could not trust me, he said, and
he had, moreover, no banking account.
If I liked to bring the amount in notes,
well and good; if not he would instruct
his solicitors.
The next day had important bust
ness to attend to-, SO a stormy interview
ended in my writing s'pay cash on
the check, and his conserving to take it
to my bankers himself.
Ny business on the following day,
which happened to be out of town, de
tanned me much longer than I aptici-
pated, aud it was late before I could
reach River Hall. Late though it was,
however, I determined to 60 after my
papers. I held Mr.. Elmsdale's receipt
for the check, certainly; but I knew I
had not an hour to lose in putting mat
tiers In train for another loan, If was
to retire the forged acceptances. By
experience, / knew how the months
slipped away when money had to be
provided at the end of them, and was
feverishly anxious to hold my leases and
title-deeds once more.
arrived at the door leading to the
library. Mr.. Elmsdale opened it as
wide as the chain wonld permit, and
then asked me who was there. I told
him, and, grumbling little at the I'M
considerable hour at which [ had elect
ed to pay my visit, he admitted me.
He was out of temper. He had hoped
and expected, ] knew, to find pay
ment of the check refused, and he
could not submit with equanimity to
seeing me slip out OF his hands.
Evidently he did not expect me to
come that night, for his table was
strewed with deeds and notes, which he
! kf n
miser counts his gold.
! A pair of pistols lay beside his desk
close to my hand, as took the seat
he indicated.
| We talked long and bitterly. It does
not matter now what he said or I said.
We fenced round and about quarrel
during the whole interview. [ was
meek, because wanted him to let me
have part of the money at all events on
loan again; and he was blatant and in
solent because ne faHcied I cringed to
hlm-and I did cringe.
ST prayed for help that night from
man as [ have never since prayed for
help from God"
"You are still young, Mr.. Patterson,
and life, as yet, is new to you, or else
I would ask whether, in going into an
entirely strange Office, you have not, if
agitated in mind, picked up from the Ia
BILE letter or card, and kept twisting
it about, utterly unconscious for the
time being of the social solecism you
were committing.
"In precisely the same spirit God
is my witness, as 1 am dying man,
with no object to serve in speaking
falsehoods-while we talked, I took up
one of the pistols and commenced
handling it.
"sTake care, he said that is loaded
hearing which laid it down again.
"For time he went on talking, he
trying to ascertain how / obtained the
money, strived to mislead him.
"Come, Mr.. Elmsdale," remarked
at last, 6 you see I have been able to
raise the money; now be friendly,s nd
consent to advance me few thousands,
at fair rate, on property am nego-
tiating for. There is no occasion, sure
~, for us to quarrel, after all the years
we have done business together. Say
you will give me helping hand once
more, and"
Then he interrupted me, and swore
WILL 5 Icdt OdUH, I1o WOulu newer have
another transaction with me.
Though you have paid me-" he
said. s. [ know you ara hopelessly in
solvent I cannot tell where or how
you have managed to raise that money,
but certain am I it has been by deceiv-
ing some one, and so sure as stand
here I will know an about the trans
action within month"
While we talked, he had been at in
tervals, passing to and from his strong
room, putting away thenotes and papers
previously lying about on the table; and
as he had made his last observation, he
was standing just within the door,
placing something on the shelf.
cit is no use talking to me any
MORE" he went on. stIf you talked
from now to eternity you could not alter
my decision. There are your deeds;
take then, and never let me see you in
my house again.
/ He came out of the darkness into the
! light at that moment, looking burly,
and insolent, and braggart. as was his
wont
Something in his Ace. in his tone of