Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-09-21
A $4,000 CHECK.

A $4,000 CHECK.
The hour grew late, and Mr.. Brand
paced his chamber in moody silence.
The train had come i'm, but his messen-
ger had not returned, and the merchant
was troubled by a vague sort of doubt,
which haunted him in spite of his faith
i'm Lake. A merry, sober old trader OF
long experience had said that Lake was
too young to fill the important position
he held. but MIR. Brand had never found
his trust in Tom misplaced.
Having heard. rumOrs concerning a
house with which he had extensive deal
ings, the merchant had dispatched Lake
To London, telling him to make inquiries,
and in any case to get the partners Ofthe
firm i'm question TO settle their account.
So Lake had gone from Liverpool TO
London. The time appointed for his
reinrn passed. and still he did not come.
A lady entered, and stole to the mer-
chants side. Her own sweet face Was
anxious, and there was q treinOr i'm The
music OF her voice as she said:
do you think he will be here to- night
dear papa 2"
Il hope so, Mary; but it is very late
lis there no other tramp
"Only the night express, and that does
not stop except at the central Stations
"Perhaps he will come, papa; he would
not aind coming ten miles, even il he
had to walk"
He should not have missed The train,
said MIR Brand, sternly; ''punctl'alily is
AN imperative duty with Wen of bust
hess"
But papa, something may have oc
cured 10 delain him.
Nothing should detain a man who
has given his word"
The fair pleader was silenc,d; her IA
ther was angry. and. knowing his strict
ness OF principle aud how inveuterate
was his dislike 10 any breach of disci-
pline or duty, She did not venture to
speaI again.
The Time dragged sloly on; Mr.. Brand
continued his restless walk. and Mary
SIT subdued and quiet, watching him
She saw that he Was li.teEing rs the
night express went whirling by, ant
IRON the depths of her heart there went
up a prayer that Lake would come safel,
home. The girl loved him, would have
siaked her lite on his truth, and knew
TN 1t lie WAS not beyond his time through
vi NtOilSs NO SLOW
weary hours passed. Mr.. Brand was read
reading tie commercial news; but tor tn,
first tim, i'm his lite, it did not interes
him; re was thinking OF the young clerk
and the heavy sum OF money that woul,
be i'm his ross. sion should the Lon.lor
firm have paid him. And Mary, reading
her fathers countrnance, felt Chile ant
panied i.y the Slur cast on her lover.
honesty by his suspicions-her every
thought was a denial To his doubts, and
us the rapid CHATTER of Il horses feet raus
our. she ran to the window.
Look :" she id. ,lasiing the curtain.
aside with eager hands; look, papa,
said he would comc-l knew he would.
The merchants stern features rellxct
with "a smile OF pleasure; he was not en-
OiiOnal or demOnsiraliv-, but his daugh
ter's gladness pleased him.
There was a few moments of expectan
cy. anu then Tom Like cam. i'm. III
went straight to Mr.. Brand, only motto
ing with Il bow the lovely face who's
glance thrilled his soul.
"rhey have paid" he sail quietly, Il
he placed a thick pOckct-bOOk i'm tn
merchants hand, but think We wer
only just in time"
Indeed! :"
There was 4 consultation ut the bank
er's before could get cash for tn
check"
do you think they will break -
Hop, lcssly. They have given me al
immense order, but it would not be wis
10 forward the goods"
You did not hint at the slightes
fear!"
NO. but was glad to get the money
el2,OO0 would have been heavy loss"
at would have done me serious injur,
just now"
And yet" said Tom. gravely, ''thi
morning the odds were CONSIDERABLE
against it ever reaching you."
sliOw!"
Tom took two chairs, placed them sid
by side near the fire, led Mary to one
AMI seated himself i'm the other. He ha
done his duty as the merchants clerl
and was now Mr.. Brands prosperity
sOn-in-law and partner.
IL had an a,iven. ure,' he said; 81 wa
the hero of strange story in ride b
express"
Mary bent forward to listen-Tor
clasped her h.nd in his own. Mr.. Bran
sat opposite them, Interested BY th
speakers manner, as he began:
''Whcn got the check. had an idle
that all might not be SO well, so, to MAX
sure, presented it at the barker
There was, as told you, cOnsultatio
before they cashed it. and, while TN
consultation was going forward, mott,
ed stranger looking at me intently.
knew the man in my younger and wild
er days. / hal met him often at tn
race course, i'm billiard rooms, and i
other places more or less respectable
Now, he was changing check for SON
petty amount, and was, evidently, q:
Ionished by the immensely of the Ordt
had presented. left the bank wit
my pOcket-bOOk full of notes, and foun
that had lost the train. The he,
would be the night express, so strOIle
into a billard-rOOm. A man is just
safe with fortune in hi pocket as
penniiess, so that he wise enough to hol
his tongue. There was some clever pls
going on, and l stood watching IL
players till some one challenged me
have game. III have one special val
ity, it Is m; science with the cue; | a
cepted, and, as did so, strange feelin
which mad been growing upon me, too
sudden turn which startled me.
My challenger was the man whom
had noticed at the bankers. There W;
nothing strange IN the fact of his beiu
Al. NJ L.