The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1882-03-17
And 1t is gone p

And 1t is gomez
Noel sank on chair near the doc
, Wall went up to him. He was "a power
fully-built man, and he lowered owe
Louis who was but puny young fe
low. Bring me that money! he sale
Noel pushed him away steadily
Keep your hands off of one. l mus
think-this means more to me than +
YOU
Wall drew back. There was me
ment's silence. 1T means ruin to you
Look at me, Noel. This will not SUI
prise the firm. They have long sus
pected you. You cannot pass it off a
an accident. Now listen. If tina
money Is not within my hands in al
hour, 1 must return tonight and max
all known. Even if Freyteau will no
consent to your arrest you will be dis
charged He lowered his voice. Mis-
Page will not be likely to marry pen
niless vagabond and a-thief.'
What of Miss PageY said clea
voice behind him.
Louis stood up. Wall turned an(
faced her, slow heat of triumph rising
in his heavy jaws and half-shut blu'
eyes. There had been some softeninl
of pity in his tone just now, but now
he remembered that this man was his
rival, and was in his power. James
Wall was not the man to delay using
that power for one remOrseful mo
ment.
Monsieur Noel is in difficulty he
said, gravely looking down and rubbing
his well-kept nails as though in embar
rassment. His returns to the firm
there is deficiency of several thousand
pounds.
Hester went quickly up to Noel
There was something wholesome and
invigorating in her decisive step, in
the keen common sense lighting in her
brown eyes.
You can set this right of course ?
she said
81 have not spent the money. 1t
was in my desk yesterday"
She looked at him moment, then for
the first time i'll her life laid her hand
on his arm.
Monsieur Noel, you are not your
self You have been robbed. Why
do you stand herep Why do you not
make search ; arrest the servants?'
Noel avoided her eye. i will not do
that he said. They did not take
it,"
He does not understand of what you
accuse him. she said impatiently to
Wall, who laughed contemptuously.
i do understand. / will search for
the money again He turned to Wall:
The boat will not be in for an hour.
Give me that time
The stupOr was shaken off. SOme-
thing of his usual gusty awkward We
hemence was in his manner as he went
out. But when Wall said He knows
he will not bring the money back,
Miss Page secretly felt that he was
right. She took up her netting and
and seated herself by the window.
we will wait here until the hour is
over, she said quietly, and Wall recog-
nized himself as prisoner. A stronger
will than his had resolved on justice
for Noel. He could not 60 out as he
intended to published the theft in Ia.
dOusac.
Unfortunately he said, suspicion
has been directed against this young
man for some time. A charming fel-
low, too! A thousand pitiesp
Hester's fingers steadily went in and
out Of the blue web, but she remained
silent.
Noel on the upper floor halted at the
door of chamber next to his own.
Within the French horn sounded a
wailing cry. He stood minute, drew
a long breath of gathered strength and
went in smiling. NJ. Noel, seated by
the window, rose quickly to meet
him, laying down his instrument care
fully. He wore velvet jacket, and
cap on his long white hair. Noel took
as much fond pride in devising pictur-
esque costumes for his father as a wo-
man would for her baby. His features
were sensitive and fine as those of Lou
is, but the eyes were shallow and glas-
sy and there was a perpetual deprecat-
ing smile on the mouth.
is it time for our walk, my sonP he
said, speaking the pure French of the
old families of Quebec.
Louis with the smile still on his face
placed a chair. We will talk little
first, father Standing behind him, his
hands on his shoulders, he glanced at
the clock. Not an hourl Yet if lie
frightened the old man he could dis
cover nothing. He talked of indiffsr-
ent matters, and then said:
How did you amuse yourself to-day,
sirP
with my music, Louis, and 1 stroll.
ed across the mountains
with these, alsop' taking from a
drawer pack Of greasy cards. M
Noel started up pale and trembling as
a guilty child.
They are not minel They were lent
to me! only play little game OF
solitaire
why, assuredlyl Do you ever wager
with yourself, sirp One hand against
the otherY
why never tried thatp chuckling
delighted. Il wager with Jacques wher
we play. A triAe-bahr
And the money you play with2 Yor
hide it as you used to dop Here
there-where Jacques cannot find itp'
M. Noel nodded complacently. 'Trus
me for that. Nobody will ever find it
Why, there are places among th'
rocks
Louis looked out at the vast stretch
of mountain lodges over which hi
father had wandered that day. Th'