The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-04-28
UNDER A SHADOW.

4
sue! SueI Suep' hissed Marcus Cos
we'll, viciously. ST will make no terms
with him. What have I to do with his
wife and children and altered fortunes?'
He gave me his bill, he had my money;
write him that if the matter is not settled
on Tuesday 7 willput it into NY lawyers
hands,"
g I only thought that some consider.
alton should be shown him on account
Of"
"Do not trouble yourself to think. sir;
I will do all the headwork there is re-
quired for this establishment" and with
those impressive words Mr.. GosweH
took up his hat and coat and left the Of
fee.
Marcus Goswell was described in the
New York directory as general agent.
he really was money lender and bill
broker, and one of the hardest old men
who ever dishonored their gray hairs by
deeds of rapacious usury.
The person to whom he had been talk
ing was William HarlaDd, his chief clerk,
q genial, generous young man of thirty,
with as littlesaptitude for the life he was
leading as was possible to imagine.
The unfortunate person of whom they
had been speaking had been friend of
Harland's once, but Will Harland and
Albert Grosvenor were not men OF the
same mould, and latterly their commun-
icatioDs had been few and far between.
I, Gerald Winterley, was young man
at the time, assisting Harland in keep
ing Mr.. Goswell's books.
The offices Goswell & Co. (the Co.
being myth were situated in an old
house near the general postofice. They
were three in number. An outer one for
general business, middle one for clients
to wait in and an interior one, sacred to
the use of the great human spider, Mar
Gus himself, in which he wove his web of
iniquity round the struggling humanity
who unfortunately fell into his merciless
meshes.
It was late when old Goswell left. and
as I boarded with Will Harland and his
dear little wife in their cottage near
Brooklyn, waited for him till his work
was done. Being fatigued with good
deal of running about that day, went
into the middle Office and threw myself
on sofa which was put there especially
for the comfort of lady clients.
Will seemed long time at his work,
and once pesped into the room and
found him lying back in his chair in deep
meditation. knew how distasteful the
task was to him, and patiently left him
to his musings.
/ even closed my eyes and fell into a
pleasant doze. Suddenly light noise
awakened me, and looking up, saw the
blind of the glass partition between the
two rooms, the shadow of man with big
luxuriant mustache and long, pointed
beard. It was gone in an instant, and I
was assured that it was all a dream, es-
pecially as opened the door and found
Will alone in the room. We had been
working late and early, and therefore /
was not surprised to hear Mr.. Harland
say
IT do believe I have taken forty winks
too. This night work makes one so un-
commonly tired"
"Are you ready now ?"
''Yes, in one moment"
He arose and carefully began to ar.
range his papers. Suddenly he made q
start
"Wnere is Grosvenor's bill ?"
We looked everywhere for it, but
could not find it, and finally Will came
10 the conclusion that Mr.. Goswell
had forgotten to give it to him before he
left.
On the following day we were at the
Office betimes. Goswell had given Har-
land the bill, and was furious at its loss.
He discharged him on the instant, and
threatened him with all the persecution
his small nature was capable of.
''The law is too tedious" he said,
sneeringly. .'And at the most it is case
under the bailesact but will be even
Nith you
That evening I hurried home to find
that tho Harlands had suddenly left the
cottage and gone, no one knew where. A
letter for me, left In the charge of lady,
containing brief apology for their dis
appearance, was all.
Three weeks passed by. had been
promoted to Harland's position, which I
only took. thinking that it might be the
means of me rendering my friend service,
for never-for o moment doubted his in
nocence.
Ono day when [ was alone, there came
q tap at the door, and dainty little fig
ure stood before me. Long golden hair
was tossed in wild profusion over her
shoulders. She could not be more than
seventeen years of age, and looked as far
out of character in that musty old Office
as fresh rose in the button hole of a
sweep.
Where's Will p she asked, as her big
eyes opened wider in wonder.
"Win? What Wil?"
Why, my William HarlaDd, stupid.
What other Will would want?''
stood in blank dismay. Her Will
Then there was woman in the case after
all, and for the first time doubts of Har-
lands innocence flashed across nv
mind.
''Mr. Harland," / said severely. sis. ]
suppose, with his wife and little boy,
BE has gone away from here"
"Gone r
'Yes. gone; and may I ask who you
are, Miss?"
''I? why, I'm Ethel, of course"
sHis sister from Ohio? I have otter
heard him speak of you" said I, consid
erably relieved.
"And you are Gerald Winterly?"
81 am.
And then found myself breaking t,
her, as gently as could, the terribi,
news of her brothers trouble. Th
young lady was in terrible dilemma, a
she had come to New York intending Il
stay at Wills house. Luckily hat
found pleasant boarding place; and
did not take me loEg to escort the charm
Ing young lady there, and leave her il
charge of the landlady.
When I got to know Ethel Harlan'