Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-07-12
A $4,000 CHEQUE.
Chambers Journal.

of doubt, which haunted him in spite Of
his faith in Lake. A merry, sober ole
trader of long experience had said thai
Lake was too young to fill the important
position which he held. But Mr.. BranG
had never found his trust in Tom mis-
placed.
Having heard rumors concerning &
house with which he had extensive deal
ings, the merchant had dispatched Lake
to London, telling him to make inqui
ries, and in any case, to get the partners
Of the firm in question to settle theil
account.
So Lake had gone from Liverpool to
London. The time appointed for his re-
turn 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 tremor in the
music Of her voice, as she said:
"Do you think he will be here to.
night, dear papa?"
Il hope so, Mary; but it is now very
late"
is there no other train?''
"Only the night express, and that does
not stop, except at the central sta
tions."
Perhaps he will come, papa: he will
not mind coming ten miles, even if he
has to walk"
"He should not haye missed the
train said Mr.. Brand, sternly; pune
tuality 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 pleader was silenced-her
father was angry, and we'll knowing his
strictness Of principle, and how inveter-
ate was his dislike to any breach of dis
cipline Of 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
when the night express went whirling
by; and from the depths of her heart
there went 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 his
time through any 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 mo-
ney that would be in his possession
should the London firm have paid him.
And Mary, reading her fathers counte-
nance, felt chilled and panied by the
slur cast on her lover honesty by his
suspicions-her very thought was a de-
NAL to his doubts, and as the rapid clat-
ter of horses feet rang out, she ran to
the window.
Look she said, dashing the cur
tains aside with eager hands; ''look, pa
pa, l said he would come-I knew he
would"
The merchants stern features relax
ed into smile of pleasure; he was not
emotional or demonstrative, but his
daughters gladness pleased him."
There were a few moments of expect
ancy, and then Tom Lake came in. He
went straight to Mr.. Brand, only motto
ing with a bow the lovely face whose
glance thrilled his soul.
" They have paid, he said quietly, as
he placed 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
" 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 fear?"
No. but l was glad to get the mo-
ney; f12,0OO would have been heavy
loss"
"And yet" said Tom, gravely, this
morning the odds were considerable
against its ever reaching you"
"How?"
Tom took two chairs, placed then
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 now was Mr.. Brands pros
pective son-in-law and partner.
Is | had an adventure" he said; Il was
the hero of strange story in ride by
express"
Mary bent forward to listen-Ton
clasped her hands in his own, Mr.. B
sat opposite them, interested by th'
speaker manner, as he began:
When l got the cheque had al
idea that all might not be we'll, so tt
make sure presented it at the banker
There was, as l told you, a consultation
before they cashed it, and while tn
consultation was going forward Inotice,
stranger looking at me intently.
knew the man in my younger and wilde
days.. had met him often at the rae
course, billiard-rooms, and in other pla
ces more or less respectable. Now h
was changing cheque for some petit.
amount, and was evidently astonished a
the immensity of the order ! had pre-
sented. / left the bank with my pocket
book full Of notes. and found that ha'
lost the train. The next would be tn
night express, so / strolled into bill
liard-room. A man is just as safe wit
fortune in his pocket as if penniless
so that he is wise enough to hold hi
tongue. There was some clever playin
going on. and | stood watching the play
ers till some one challenged me to hav
game. If have one special vanity
is science with the cue. [ accepted, an
as l did so a strange feeling which ha
been growing upon me, took sudde
turn which startled me.
My challenger was the man whom
had noticed at the bankers. There wa
nothing strange in the fact of his bein
in the rooms, one of his favorite resort.
but l was possessed by the vague shad
ow of single idea | had read some
where of a man being followed an
plundered in a train, and somehow | as
sociated the story with the man befor
me. 1t was the first time / had eve
paid any particular attention, but CAV
him full observation now. The more
looked at him the less | liked him. H
was handsome, gentlemanly, with fai
form and elegant figure, full Of supple
ness and strength. His manner wa
singularly unassuming, his face fran
and genial, but by looking closely at hi
you could see something sinister lool
ing in the depth and softness of h
eyes;
never liked stranger to be affabl
and prepossessing, and my friend VIZ
the very pink of affability and grace.
I'VE played for an hour with alter