The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-07-22

siderable height with books, the top of the |
shelves being ornamented with busts,
Indian boxes and Chinese cabinets and
lars. He looked behind all the books,
opened those within easy reach, rilled the
boxes and cabinets and peeped INTO all the
vases. The search was continued half
through the night, but the paper was not
found.
He tried to think that it was Of no CON
sequence, but somehow his heart failed
him. Early next day he went TO the
office of Jonas Terry, and found him
there Jonas was busy writing, but he
lifted his head with a smile, and rose
heartily to greet his friend.
"Jonas," said Charles, with n puzzled,
eager look, "that |. O. u have lost it.
Searched everywhere all night for it, and
can't lay my hands on it"
"What |. o. up
"rhe one you gave me for the ten thou
sand dollars lent you in June. After you
went | sat down to think about Josie Mer-
rift, and when was getting sleepy found
it on the table | was too lazy to unlock
my secretary again, and hid il somewhere
or else | thought hid it, and left it about
and the servants have swept itaway. How
ever, | will give you an acknowledgment
that will cover all possible claim if ever it
should turn up. That will do, you
know"
"You must be dreaming, Charles. know
nothing about an |. O. T., and ] don't at
all see what You are drifting at"
"Jonasl You could not be such scoun-
drel! You are joking of course"
"Mr. Day, request you TO leave my
Office at once, sir | am not to be bullied
or blaclmailed in this way, assure You"
Then Charles struck the scoundrel, and
there was such an uproar of words and
blows that the police were called in, and
the affair became sufficiently public, and,
indeed, went into the courts. Ofcourse,
Charles got the worst of it every way. lie
had no particle of evidence to show for his
claim; he was fast, fashionable and ex-
travagant, while Jonas was universally
spoken of as "estimable and reliable" So
ciety turned the cold shoulder toward him,
and mothers forbade their daughters to
ride in his company or accept him for
partner in the dance. "But them" as
Mrs. Merritt shrewdly said, "his engage
ment to our Josie has Just become known"
1t was remarkable that after this quar-
rel Jonas Terry's business grew with an
amazing rapidity. Perhaps the saving of
point of his fortune. We all know how
the want of Il S5-bll can sometimes lose
us an amount amazingly disproportionate.
Socially, too, his success was very great
He married beautiful stylish woman
who fully shared his antipathy to the
Days, and who never lost an opportunity
of Notifying them; and social Sights are
bitter enough to those whose whole life
turns upon social success. In fact, Mr..
and Mrs. Jonas Terry, with their grand
house and exclusive entertainments and
fine turnout, were the Mordecai sitting in
the gate of all Charles and Joses happi-
ness.
Many time the two had gone together
over everything in the room, taken every
book from the shelves, and examined every
crevice in the cases, but all in vain. The
|. o. u. was evidently lost, and Charles
said, after every fresh search and disap-
pointment: "No Use, Josie, ! tell YOU
everything goes against honor and virtue
If you want to be pointed out as n pattern
OF all excellenccs, you must be in secret a
natural and practical villain"
So the years went by-iifteen of them.
The |. o. u. was not forgotten. They
lived in society where people have little
else to do but remember the anteCedents of
its members, and Charles Day and his wife
very often felt the influence of Jonas
accusation. The two men never spoke.
If they passed each other on the drive
Jonas cracked his whip Extensively, or
Mrs, Terry looked scornlully at the shrink
| inf lint hn1 4
to each other that it was possible to say.
In the fifteenth summer after the loan
Charles went yachting, and ON one mem
orable night was shipwrecked. Almost by
Il miracle and after he had sunk thrice, he
was rescued. The first words he uttered to
his wife were: Josie have found the |.
o. q. Write down just what say: Shaks-
peare, knights Edition, vol. w., page 2lS,
fourth compartment, fourth shelf, fourth
book"
Josie wrote il down; but was so restless
lest anything should now happen to the
library that he returned to New York as
soon rs there was the least safety in doing
so. When he arrived at home he went
straight TO the library, and putting his
hand ON acertain volume opened it at the
, page he had indicated, and there was the
lost |. o. u.
"When | was drowning, Josie, the last
time | sank, everything ever did became
in moments flash clear as day to me
and saw myself putting the note in the
place found it, 1t is wonderful But il
is true, and, Josie dear, thank Godl my
/ name will be cleared at last"
/ The clearing of his name was Charles
/ first thought, but after ii came the very
/ satisfactory one of making Jonas pay the
principal and interest due him. "AnC
after that is done, Josie, shall she hin
for defamation of character, and make
! him pay for every insolence,"
This was no idle threat. The mex
morning Charles lawyer confronted the
4, iulse-hearted scoundrel with his |. o. L.
and entered proceedings at once to re
| cover, Jonas ut first tried to compromise
= but this offer Charles Indignantly rejected
II want the world to see" he said, "tha
y though punishment for cowardly, wickeC
deed be long delayed, it is sure to come
f And perhaps the social and commercial
a world in which these two men moved nevc
= had a more vivid illustration of this truth
a The business that had been built upon
+ fraud and wrong crumbled away as i
4 touched by some whitening blight. TIN
g Court awarded Charles Day principal an,
full interest, and subsequent action 70
defamation gave him, in PREPARATION for hi
# fifteen years slandered name, $4,000,
But by that time the firm of Jonas TER.
), was unable to meet such claim lie Shu
q his doors in dishonor and fled in the dark
# ness of night from the thousands whom h
), had robbed,
= "lts great punishment" said Josie
= sorrowiully, "and he has four little boys,