The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-05-01
A Duel With Bludgeons.

In the great city of M there was
not firm more respected than that of
Goldwell, Pennydew & Co., bankers.
Nobody knew much about the eco, !"
but Goldwell was q familiar name
which commercial fathers quoted to
their clerkly sons when urging them to
be Industrious, civil and punctual, in
the sure hope of rising in the world;
and Pennydew's was name which was
also quoted largely, but in a different
way, for the owner had the reputation
of being the keenest file-the worst man
to beat-of any in Lancashire. There
was not much similarity between the
two partners, for Goldwell was hand
some, kindly, generous and mOdest-a
man of undeniable financial and admin
istrative genius, too; whereas Penny
dew was ugly, cross, close-isted and not
particularly clever, barring that ACUTE
ness above mentioned, which was but
the result of narrow-minded distrust
of the whole world. The firm could
never have prospered but for the genius
and spirited enterprise of Gsldwell, Its
founder yet it was Pennydew whoreaped
all the honors appertaining to the high
position it had secured. He was a mem
Der of Parliament, an Alderman of
M; he had been Mayor of the city,
and had been knighted. He was, again,
chairman or committeeman of numer-
GUS charitable or learned societies, an
honorary Colonel of rife corps, and a
member of the best clubs in London.
Goldwell was member of nothing,
chairman of nothing. He might have
had all the honors which fell to Penny
dew, but he had constantly refused to
accept anything. He gave literally to
charities, but would have no hand in
managing them; he would not belong to
any club; he declined to identify him
self with either of the political parties,
and did not even vote at elections.
Though genial, and evidently fond of
hospitality, he mixed as little as pos
sible with society, and seldom accom-
panied his wife and daughters to the
festive gatherings which they attended.
Some said that his health was bad
Though there was no trace of it on his
face), others that he was writing work
upon banking. which absorbed all his
time after Office hours-and this was
true-so that Mr.. Goldwell was always
able to plead his literary occupation in
excuse for his apparent want of socia.
bility at all events, nobody suspected
that Mr.. Goldwell had cloud on his
mind nobody would have believed that
his aversion from society was caused by
dark page in his autecedents, of which
he had been daily and hourly fearing
the exposure for years and years.
Pennydew suspected this less thar
anybody. He entertained a great trespect
and even, in his Grabbed way, some 1ik
ing for his hard,working partner, who
had never wronged or paiued him by
word or deed since they had begun bust
ness together. Pennydew was pious
great stickler for proprieties; sharI
detector of laches in his neighbors; and
to do him justice, he had never spiet
anything wrong in John Goldwell
Therefore, it would have shocked ant
appalled, him to the utmost had he beer
witness of a scene which took place il
his partners study one winter evening
about twelvemonth ago. The onl.
actors in this scene were John Goldwel
and a red-featured man of about fifty
an ill-clad fellow with cunning eyes
vulgar manners, and a breath tina
smelled of brandy.
"Now. sir, it's 1,0OO," said this fel
low bluntly, but not loud. "You cal
afford to pay it, for you've got on bette
in the world than 1 have"
"And if l don't give you a penny p
exclaimed John Goldwell, who was ash,
pale, and spoke in great agitation
You happen to know of an act of foil,
which I committed in my past life, an
for which suffered punishment. Wha
can you expect by publishing it? Yor
will not be believed: aud if yo1
met with some credulous hearers, no,
could they harm me? 1 have live.
here without stain on my character
owe nothing; have introduced my
self into no clubs or societies from whic
could be expelled if my antecedent
were known. In that respect I am pei
fectly independent"
"That's right enough, SIR" answere
the red-faced man dryly; "you'v
turned over new leaf, and amt know
to anybody under your old name: still
might 60 a bit hard with you if it &c
about that you were John Williams VIII
had been TRANSPORTED five years for en-
bezzlement What would your partner
Mr.. Pennydew, say to that? The
there's that pretty young lady of your
your eldest daughter. who l hear
going to be married to the son of Gel
eral Fermeroy. What do you think th
General would say if he knew you ha
been a convict?"
do you mean to say you would /
scoundrel enough to wantonly break m
child's happiness for the sake of wreal
ing your spite on mef" cried John Col
well.
al want 91, ,OOO," answered the 9th,
doggedly. You can give me a ne
start in life, and you'll find it cheap
10 ! % do so than to uarrel' with me-"
John Goldwell uttered moan. nee lie
was a lion in the power of cur. tt