Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-04
efe,OOo CHE0UE.

come in, but his messengef hal no. returned
aid the merchant was frpuoied. Troubled By
spI'e of his faith in Lake A merry, sober old
trader of long experience had sail that Lake
was too young to fill the Important position
his trust in Tom misplaced.
Having heard rumorS concerning houS"
with which he had extensive dealings, tae
merchant had despa' ched Lake to London
to get the partners OF the firm in question to
settle their account.
So Lake had gone from Liverpool to Lon
don. The time appointed fol- his retufn
passed, and still he did no: come.
A lady entered. and stole to the merchants
side her own swee, face was anxious, and
there was tremOr in the music of her voice,
as she said:
DO you think he will be here o-night, dear
papa" Man,
as there no other lrdin?'
"Only the night express, and that does not
stop, except at the cen ra: stations"
perhaps he will come, papa: he would not
mind coming ten miles, even ii ne mad TO
walk
He should not have missed the train," said
Mr.. Brand, Sternly; "punctuality Is an i'm
peratiYe duty with men of business"
But, papa something may have occurred
to detain him."
Nothing should deta1n man who has
given his word"
The fair pleader was silenced-ter father
was angry, and knowing his strictness $50, Of
to any breach of discipline or duty, she did
not venture to speak again
The time dragged slowly on; Mr.. Brand
continued his restless walk, and Mary sat SUB
dued and quiet, watching him. She saw that
he was listening as the night express went
whirling by, and from the depths of her heart
af Ths him. woud f haHe
Staked her life on his truth, and knew that he
was not beyond his time through any weak
ness or wrong. Two slow, weary hours
passed. Mr. Brand was reading the CONNER
cial news: but for the first time in his life j.
did not interest him; he was thinking of the
young clerk. and the heavy sum of mOneyth that
would be in his possession should the London
firm have paid him. And Mary, reading. her
fathers cOuntenance. felt chilled and panied
by the .slur cast on her lovers honesty by his
his doubts, and as the rapid clatter of horses
feet rang out she ran to the window.
".Lrok;' she said, daShin1g the curtains
aside with eager hands; look. papa, | said he
would ceme--I knew he would
The merchants stern features retaXe1.
With a smile of pleasure he was not emo
tiOnal or demOnStrative, but his daughters
g!adneSS pleased him.
There were few moments OF expectancy,
and then Tom Lake csme in. He went
straight to Mr. Brand, only noticing with a
bow the lovely face whose glance thrilled his
soul.
They have paid" he said quietly, as he
placed a thick pOcket-bOOk in the merchants
hand, but think we were only just in time"
"Indeed,'
There was a consultation at the bankers
before could get cash for the check
DO you think they will break?'
''H0peleSSly. They have given me an i'm
menSe order, but it would not be wise to for
ward the goods
You did not hint that we had the slightest
No but l was glad to get the money. twelve
thousand pounds would have been a heavy
loss"
1T would have done me serious injury just
now"
And yet said Tom gravely, this morn
ing the odds were considerably against its
ever reaching YOU
Tom took two chairs, placed them side by
side near the fire, led Mary to one, and sea ed
himself in the other. He had done his duty as
the merchants clerk, and now was Mi
Brands prospective son in-law and partner.
Il had an adventure, he said: II was the
hero of a strange story in a ride by express
Mary bent forward to listen-Tom clasped
her hand In his own. Mr.. Brand sat opposite
them, interested by the speakers manner, as
he began:
when got the cheque had an idea that
all might not be well. so TO make sure pre-
scented it at the bankers. There was, as
told you, consultation before they caShei it,
and while the consultation was going forward,
| noticed stranger looking at me intently.
knew the man in my younger and wilder days
had met him often at the race course, in bill
respectable. Now he was changing a cheque
for some petty amount. and was evidently
tOniShed by the immensely Of the order | had
presented. l left the bank with my pocket
book full of notes, and found that had los
the train. The next would be the night ex-
press, so | StrOlled into billiard room. A
man is just as safe with fortune in his pocket
as ii penniless, SO that he is wise enough to
hold his tongue. There was some clever play
going on, and stood watching the players til
some one challenged me to have game. II 1
the cue: accepted, and rs did so strange
feeling which had been growing upon me, took
sudden turn which startled me.
:, My challenger was the man whom had no,
strange in the fact Of his being in the TO IN
one OF his favOrite resorts, but was possessed
by the vague shadow OF a single idea. ! had
read somewhere of a man being followed and
plundered ia train and somehow l assO-
ciated the story with the man before me. 1t
was the first time I had ever paid him any par
en The oosed It hun Rs ess
l liked him. He was handsome, gentlemanly.
with fair form and elegant figure, full of
aaa sdeng M was
NAL. but by looking closely at him you could
see something sinister looking in the depth
and softneSS of his eyes.
Inever liked stranger to be affable and
pink Of affability and grace,
We played for an hour with alternating sue
cess; he was an amusing companion, Well-in-
formed, and had travelled, but 1 was Shy OF
conversation. 1 left him, and, still having
some time TO spare, went to see friend In the
Temple.
When, at the expiration of some thirty or
forty minutes, l emerged into Fleet street, al
most the first person on whom my gaze fell
was my late antagonist at billiards.
thought there was something more than
mere coincidence in this second meeting since
we stood together at the bankers He was in
cigar shop opposite.
Not hundred yards from the Temple gate
stood man whom / recognized with very
welcome feeling. 1t was George Vixen, the
detective.
He was fashionably dressed, and looked an
ariStocrat of the first water. l wen up. and
greeting him as should an old familiar friend
held out my hand and said:
Come and drink glass of wine with me,
have something to say
He shook hands in the most natural way
public bar of an adjacent hotel.
told him my suspicion, told him of the sum
IN my possession, and OF the journey had to
perform by rail.
1 saw that, watching through the glass of the
door. he was taking mental photograph of
the two men.
They mean business said Vixen, quietly,
but shall be with you. We must part at the
door, or they will see that we have scented the
game
And you,' said, how will you act?'
Il shall travel to Liverpool by the night ex-
press
He left me. 1 had no fear woodworking
him to be clever and determined fellow.
Taking casual glance across the road,