The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-10-22
CHASING A FORTUNE.

oot'I az BCuOOl anu Ut tDllfRt, DClI-
ard Hooker had been one Of the widest
YOUTH imaginable. He had been the
terror OF meek companions, the aversion
OF order-loving dominies, the triumph
ant outwittcr, on more than one occa-
sion, Of even that great man, the proc.
tor.
But these halcyon days were past.
Any particular exuberance Of spirits, in
Bernard's present position, would have
been as phenomenal and incoDgruous
with his surroundings as the presence
OF English hedge.blossoms in Eastern
desert. He was chained to the oar OF
daily toll as tightly and as hopelessly as
any galley.slaye. The sturdy symmetry
OF his figure, the humorous east Of his
frank, open countenance, the twinkle OF
his light blue eyes, were ali that out
wardly remained Of the idiosyncrasies
that had made him the idol Of his COM
rades in class and on college walk. The
pressure Of adverse circumstances hal
put al iron curb upon his viyacity, il it
had not altogether crushed it.
He had looked forward to reading for
the bar, with the prospect, il he displayed
ability, Of a capital start in his chosen
profession by reason Of his fathers POI
sition and influence. Instead OF this,
Bernard Hooker found himself at the
age Of two-and-twenty, merely nj insig.
nifcant unit in the already ovcrcrowded
ranks Of professional quill.drivers.
His father had become the dupe Of an
unprinciplcd business partner, and had
lost everything. Even Edwin Hooker's
hitherto fair fame had suffered aspersion,
for it had been hard to persuade the
great careless world that the villainy,
which had made the trading name OF
Hooker & Cleaning by-wsrd in the
city, was the work OF Archer Glennin0
alone. Yet it was so, and the criminal
trial which followed the crash told tale
OF forged signatures and stolen securi.
Ties which set the elder and vctimized
partner free, aud would certainly have
relegated the junior to the keeping of
prison. ardens for n long term Of years,
had he remained to face the storm. He
had fled and carried with him Edwin
HOoker's fortune.
Thus il came about that the son was
earning his daily bread in the Fcmbury
branch bank Of Kenworth & Co. That
he was located in the country, with open
skies above him and pleasant fields
around him, was the one mitigating CIR
cumstance Of his hard and drcary lot. In
other respects even the average London
bank.clerk was better off. Mr.. Hollis,
Messrs. Kenworth's Fembury manager,
was an iradnible little man, who believed
as firmly as m Egyptian task.master, in
getting the very utmost in tho way Of
effort out of his subordnatcs. The bank
hours might nominally be from 0 to g.
but he had trick of piling on extras,
which materially heightened them.
II would he, "These letters cannot DO
left, Mr.. Styles" or "This ledger re-
quires attention. Mr.. Hooker" To
have refused, or even expostulated. was
to court instant dismissal, for Mr.. Hollis
was as passionate ms he was naughty and
knew himself to be invested with pie.
nary power within the bank precincts.
There was no resource but to obey.
1t was bright May morning, fragrant
in the Fembury lanes with the scent of
early wild flowers and vocal with the
melody of birds. 1t was market day in
the little country town, and the clink of
gold in consequence frequently resound-
ed on the bank counter. As rule Der.
nard Hooker paid little or no attention
TO the fitiul procession of clients that
passed the door on tho right. He was
not cashier, and the burden OF his own
duties was sufficient for his oftentimes
weary shoulders. But rs the surly Office
clock announced the quarter before tho
luncheon interval the sound Of voice
he surely knew mingled with its dull
bass. An instructive tremOr ran through
every fiber Of the young mans body.
He looked sharply up What he saw for
the moment puzzled him and seemed to
reipte the evidence OF his ears.
The voicp Was cmphatically that OF
Archer Glen1inP; the outward present.
ment OF the speaker was that of m abso-
lutte stranger. But closer scrutiny and
the recollection OF the fact that the oc.
complished swindler was of necessity
fugitive, explained the phenomenon.
Edwin Hooker's absconding partner was
of truth there in the flesh before Ber-
nard's eyes, but so cunningly disguised
that the cleverest Scotland Yard detect.
i've might have been pardoned for a
blunder. Tho shapely mustache and
heavy beard had both vanished; the light
auburn locks of the "Hue and Cry" de-
scrlption were now raven black; the
very eyebrows had discarded nature and
applied for protection to the artist in
desh and hair tinting.
In carriage and in attire the revolu-
ion was equally striking and equally
complete. The stately, upright gait OF
he Lombard street merchant was OK
changed for STOPPING shambe that
would have provoked the ridicule OF
many clodhopper. The trim dress
invariably on the model Of the latest
node in past days-was superseded by
hybrid makeup Of turf and stable cos.
;ume.
And yet Bernard was sure Of his man.
That crisp, metallic utterance was in it.
'eh well-nigh sufficient clew. 1t
Weakened bitter "reminiscences with the
snunciation Of every syllable.
"Wil you be good enough TO cash
this check, please2"
The cash was shoveled out on the
cleaning mahogany, and an instant
later had found q new resting.place In
the strangers purse. He turned, and
'or second caught the half.stupefied
ylance Of the young clerk. The effect
vas magical-a scared, terror.stricken
leaped into the furtive, shifty
yes, and every vestige of color forsook
he sallow cheeks. Bernard Hooker was
ecognized in his turn.
With the sharp click OF tho closing
DOR, Bernard's sense returned 10 him.
[ere, when least expected, was the op.
ortunity Of recovering lost hopes. The
nmor that.the scoundrel had sailed for
outh America was plainly false. He
as still within reach OF British Justice,
id, Y captured, might be compelled to !