Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-27
GODFREY DESfER'S PESASCE.


When young Godfrey Denver rcpu-
dated his signature To- check for n
large amount. drawn in favor of his
friend Captain Wrake. he did not for
moment anticipate the serious consc-
qucnces which ensued. His object was
simply to gain time to arrange matters
with the Captain, for the truth was that
no had not the money IA meet his draft.
lie was So extremely ineNpcricnccdhnd
sinbu-ines--likc that he did not imagine
ior an instant that hi, bankers. had
any cause of complaint in the matter.
lie thought they would simply return
the check 10 Captain Wrnkes agents.
with an intimation that there was an
informality In IL. And he was 81 stag
gcrcd and Mortified by the amount Of
the check that he eagerly adopted the
the suggestion II the clerk who waited
upon him from the bank. that the sig-
nature was forgery. 10y way of tempo
rarily cNtricating himself from rmbar-
rassmcnL. 10 an ordinary observer
there certainly seemed somcthincwrunr
about the signature. but Godfrey Den
YER bearing in mind the state he was
ma whom Ihe- wrurr tho check. was not
surprised That his handwriting should
have been eccentric. The transaction
Took place ut "a supper party at Captain
Nrake's rooms few nights previously.
ON which occasion young Denver dlmly
recollcctcd having played rcckleSslv al
cards for high stakes, but as TO what l,e
hadlost, and even how hc had found his
way home pftcrward. ibis memory wasa
perfect blank.
Godfrey Denycr was very foolish
young man. lie was, in fact. one of
those vain. silly. weak-minded you hs
whose chief ambition is TO lead the life
ut last man about town. UnfOrtu-
natcly he had mo- near relatives to inter-
fcrc with his tastes and pursuits. while
n = small fsrtune which liza -l.l,al inherit ,d
ON attaining his majority enabled him
Tor brief period To- indulge in every
folly and extravaganza. but hc was
not naturally either vicious or prOlli-
gate. though he aSpircd to bc taken To-
bc sp, and consequently the idea Of
having incurred debt uf honor which
We was unable to pay filed him with dir
niyN. When the bank clerk had lcft.
taking the fatal check away.
Godfrey Denycr at once set forth 10
seek Captain Wrakc. feeling deeply dis
tr,'ssed anil Inundated. hit hy me- means
conscious ~ the hcpiousncs. Of the lie
Dc mad told
Captain Wrake was not to bc found.
either at his chambers or at his club.
and after rushing about with fevcrish
anxiety To various places in search of
him, Young DcnyCr returned tu his own
roOuF tircd aud disheartcncd. A
han-Vm cabwa at the door. and rs he
eutcr'd he ran against a rather pomp-
Gus, elderly gentleman, who ut once ac-
custCd him.
Mr.. Dcnycr. I bclicvc?''
Yes replied Godfrey. g.
Z" j must ask You 10 hc good eDough
to como with mo ut once" replied the
gentleman, whose tone and manner
were unPlcasantly pcrcmpiory. - am
Mr. Grantly the solicitor for Mcssrs. y.
n Co. yOur, bankers"
what for? What do YOU want with
mc?F demanded Godfrey. uneasily. ~
Mr.. Grantly led the way Co the cab
Jump in. | will explain rs we 60
along. ] shan't dctain YOU many min
utcs. said the solicitor, taking him by
tho arm.
. Young DcnyCr entered the cab. and
Mr. Grantly got i'm after him. having
first given u brief direction 20 the driver.
As they ratified over the stones the so
hcitSr briefly explained that he was CO.
ING To apply for n warrant against Cap
tain Wrakc i'm connection with the
check, rs the bank had determined to
prosecute. -
Prosecute! What FORE" exclaimed
Godfrey Denyer startled out Of his
senses.
.sFprgcfy. II was most impudcnt
attempt, said Mr.. GRAVITY. CURLY.
"But-but Captain Wrake is n friend
II mine faltered young Dcnycr. "Ey-
Trything can bc explained.
He VIII haveen opportunity Of ex-
I laihing,f said the solicitor. i'm rather
IN ironical tone. II am. sorry to hear
icisafricnd Of yours. ! am afraid Won
nave been Keeping bad company. Young
man. - La.
Godfrey Dcnyer was too agitated and
.oniuscd To continue the conversation.
lie was not by any means clear as ..
ths purpose of this visit To the pc e
court The omipouS words prose
rtae'' and forgery" were ringing in
AiS ears. but he was too bewildered To
realize sthcir significance, and he felt
.Sss apprehcnsive on Captain Wrake' $
account than on his own, He had a
s1cuc suspicion that he had somehow
made himself amenable to the law in
connection with this wrctched check,
nod suspected that the errand ON which
.iey were bound had an unpleasant per-
\, nal bearing.
Ills uneasy meditation lasted until