The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-08-14
SElect. storm.
Al $4,000 cHEQUE..

UOuDiFus AA''.A VA w ~ '1I''T ~ ..i. (
doubt. which haunted him lndPlse of hla
faith III safel pquS sfs ~ trader
II Iona q 50 Gsd tR'li 'I' .ats
WAS Too ' n D''s .p'PR' posi-
fion h4 Bshd had Rever
Iouna N A ta iaIspIaced.
y Ha9n. fd fumors concerning a
house n hich he had extensive deal
inCs, tbe 4ithapk had DESPATCHED Lake
70 Iondoh telling Liin Enquiries,
and ii any case to get the partners of
the firm il question to settle their ac'-
count.
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 a tremor in the
music of her voice, as she said;
"Do you think he will be here tonight
dear papa%
4 hope so, Mary, but it is very late.'
'Is there no other train p Only the
night express, and that only stops at the
central stations
Perhaps he will come, papa; he would
not mind coming, 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 busi-
ness But, papa, something may have
occurred to detain him.
'Nolhing should detain man who has
given his word
The fair pleader was silencej; her fa'
ther was angry, and knowing his strict
ness of principle, and how inveterate
was his dislike to any breach of disCi'
pline 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 lis
tening as the night train went whirling
BY; and from the depths of her heart
there went a prayer that Lake would ar
rive safe at home. The girl loved him,
and would have staked her life on his
truth; she knew 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 frat time in his life it did not in
terest him; he was thinking Of the young
clerk, and the heavy sum Of money he
would have should the London firm
have paid him. And Mary, reading her
fathers countenance, felt chilled and
panied by the slur cast on her lovers in
tegrity by his suspicious; her very tbo'ts
were denial to his doubts, and as the
rapid clatter of horses feet ran out,
she ran to the window,
'Lookp she said, dashing the curtains
aside with eager hands; look, papa, |
said he would come-I knew he would
The merchants stern features relaxed.
With a smile of pleasure; he was not
emotional or demonstrate 7e, but his fair
daughters gladress pleased him.
There were few moments OF expect
ancy, and then Tom Lake came in. He
went direct to Mr.. Brand, only noticing
with bow the lovely face whose look
thrilled his soul.
They have paid,' he said quietly. as
he placed thick pocket book in the
merchants hand, 'but think we were
Just in time
Indeedp
There was consultation at the ban
ker's before 1 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 was glad to get the money;
twelve thousand pounds would have
been heavy loss.'
And yet said Tom gravely, this
morning the odds were considerably
against it ever reaching you
'HowT
Tom took two chairs, placed them side
by side near the fire, led Mary to one,
and he took the other He had done
his duty as the merchants clerk, and
now was Mr.. Brands prospective son.in-
law and partner.
i had an adventure he said 4 was
the hero of strange story in 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 l got the cheque had an idea
that all might not be well, 80 to make
sure presented it at the bankers. A
consultation was beld, as | said, before
they cashed it; and during the COnsulta-
ton l noticed stranger looking at me
intently. Iknew the man in my wilder
and younger days. had met him often
at the race course, in billiard. rooms, and
in other places more or less respectable.
Now he was changing Ch6 que for some
petty amount, and was evidently aston.
ished by the immensity of the order
had presented. / left the bank with my
pocket book full of notes, and found |
had lost the train. The next would be |
the night express, so / strolled into |
billiard room. a man is just as safe with |
fortune In his pocket as il penniless,
80 that he is wise enough to hold his
tongue, There was some clever playing
going on, and I stood watching the play.
ers till some challenged me to have a
game, If have one special vanity, it is
my science with the cue. accepted,
and 90 Ibid so . strange feeling which
bad been growing upon me, took sud-
den turn which startled me.
Ny challenger was the man whom /
had noticed at the bankers. There was
nothing strange in the fact Of his being
in the room, one of his favorite resorts,
butt was POSSESSED by the vague shad.
owofR single idea. had read some.
where Of q man being followed and plum
deted in train, and somehow l associ-
ated the story with the man before me.
II was the FIRST time I had ever paid any
particular attention, but I gave him full |
observation now. The more / looked at
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