The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-05-10
UNDER A SHADOW.


well, viciouslv. Il will make no terms
with him. What have l to do with his
wife ana children and altered fortunes?'
He gave me his bill, he had my money;
write him that If the matter is not settled
on Tuesday l will put it into ny lawyers
hands"
Il only thought that some consider
alton should be shown him on account
Of"
DO not trouble yourself to think. sir;
/ will do all the headwork there is re-
ouired for this establishment" and with
those impressive words Mr.. Goswell
took up lis hat and coat ard left the Of
fee.
Marcus Goswell was described in the
New York directory as a general agent.
He really w0s a 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 Harlapd, his chief clerk,
genial. generous young man of thirty,
with as little aptitude 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-
icatiops had been few and far between.
I, Gerald Winterley, was a young man
at the time, assisting Harland in keep
ing Mr.. Goswells books.
The offices o Boswell 4 Co. 1.-THE Co.
being a myth were situated in an old
house near the general postoffice. They
were thee 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.
1t was late when old Boswell left. and
as boarded with Will Harland and his
dear little wife in their cottage near
Brooklyn, l waited for him till his work
was done. Being fatigued with o good
deal of running about that day, l went
into the middle office and threw myself
on a sofa which was put there especially
for the comfort of lady clients.
Will seemed long time at his work,
and once pc ,ped into the room and
found him lying back in his chair in deep
meditation. | knew how distasteful the
task was 10 him, and patiently left him
to his n usings.
eveL 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. 1t was gone in an instant, and l
was assured that it was all dream, es-
pecially as opened the 1oor and found
Will alone in the room. We had been
working late and early. and therefore l
was not surprised 10 hear Mr.. Harland
say; NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
too. This night work makes one SO IN
commonly tired"
"Are you ready now?"
"Yes, in one moment"
He arose and carefully began to ar
range his papers. Suddenly he made a
start.
"Wnere is Grosvenor's bill ?"
We looked everywhere for it, but
could not find it, and finally Will came
TO the conclusion that Mr.. Goswell
had forgotten to give it to him before he
left.
On the following day we we're at the
Office betimes. Boswell 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.
1.-THE law is too tedious" he said,
sneeringly. "And at the most it is q case
under the bailee act, but will be even
with you"
That evening l hurried home to find
that the 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 Hsrland's position, which 1
only took. thinking that il might be the
means Of me rendering my friend service.
for l never for . moment doubted his in
nocence.
Ono day when was alone, there came
tap at the door, and . dainty little fig
ure stood before me. Long golden hair
vss tossed in Wild profusion over her
shoulders. She could not be more than
asvsutscn years Of age, aud looked - far
out OF character in that musty old Office
- fresh rose in the button hole Of .
sweep