The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-12-19
A NARROW ESCAPE.

1ue lOuT grew late ana MT. Brand
paced his chamber in moody silence
The train had come in, but his messen ger
had not returned, and the merchant was
troubled-troubled by a vague sort Of
doubt, which haunted him in spite of his
faith in Lake. A merry, sober old trader
Of long experience had said that Lake
was too young to fill the important posi-
ton which he held, but Mr. Brand lad
never found his trust in Tom mis- placed
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 of the
firm IN question to settle their account
So Lake had gone from Liverpool to
London. The time appointed for his re-
turn passed. and still ne did not come
4 lady entered, and stole to the mer-
chants side. Her own sweet face was
anxious, and there was tremor in the
music of her voice as she said:
"Do you think he will be here to,
night, dear papa!"
81 hope so, Mary, but it is very late
as there no other trainl'
"Only the night express, and that does
not stop except at the central stations.
"Perhaps he will come, papa; he would
not mind coming ten miles, even if he
had to walk"
" He should not have missed the train, '
said Mr.. Brand, sternly; 'punctuality is
an imperative duty with men of business
But papa. something may have oc
CURED to detain him
"Nothing should detain a man who has
given his word
The fair pleadcr was silenced; her
father vas angry, and, knowing his strict
ness of principle, and how inveterate was
his dislike 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
subdued and quiet, watching him. She
saw that he was listening as the night ex-
press went whirling by, and from the
depths Of her heart there went up a PRAYER
that Lake would come safely home. The
girl loved him, would have staked her life
on his truth, and knew that he was not
beyond hi '1mH 'h'Ou~h anv weakness or
wrong. Two slow weary hours passed,
Mr.. Brand was reading the commercial
news; but for the first time in his life it
did not interest him; he was thinking of
the young clerk, and the heavy sum Of
money that would be in his possession
shoald the London firm have paid him.
And Mary, reading her fathers counte-
nance, felt chilled and panied by the slur
cast on her lovers honesty by his suspi
cions-her every thought was denial to
his doubts, ard, as the rapid olatter of
horses feet rang out, she ran to the
window.
Look she said, dashing the curtains
aside with eager hands; "look, papa, /
said he would come-I knew he would"
The merchants stern face relaxed with
a smile of pleasure; he was not emotional
or demonstrative, but his daughters glad
ness pleased him.
There were a few moments of expect
ancy, and then Tom Lake came in. He
went straight to Brand, only noticing,
with bow, the lovely face whose glance
thrilled his soul.
'They have paid" he said quietly, as
he placed thick pocket-book in the mer-
chants hand; "but | think we were only
just in time"
"Indeedm
"There was consultation at the bank
er's before l could get cash for the
check
DO you think they will breakf"
"Hopelessly. They have given me an
immense order but it would not be wise
TO forward the goods"
You did not hint that we had the
slightest fearl"
NO; but l was very glad to get the
money; 10000 would have been heavy
loss.n
1T would have done me serious injury
lust now"
And yet" said Tom, gravely, "this
morning the odds were considerably
against it ever reaching YOU"
"Howf"
Tom took two chairs, placed ITEM side
by side near the fire, led Mary to one and
seated himself in the other. He had
done his duty as the merchants clerk, and
was now Mr.. Brands prospective sou-in-
law and partner.
II had an adventure, he said: "I was
the hero Of strange story in ride by
express.
Mary bent forward to listen; Tom
clasped her hand in his own. MIR. Brand