Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-08

nothing of Jonas, he determined to go to
New York and collect his /. o. U. He
had not q care on his heart about it until
he had searched his secretary again and
again and failed to find the paper. He
lit a cigar and sat down to think. Their
he suddenly remembered that he had
found the paper after he had looked his
secretary and that he had had It,. He
even remembered the little laugh of de.
light with which he had put 1t in such a
capital place. But what placer He
could not remember that.
The room, ss said before, was the
library, and the walls were covered 10 O
considerable height with books, the tor
of the shelves being ornamented with
busts, Indian boxes and Chinese cabinets
and jars. He looked behind all the
books, opened those within easy reach,
rifed the boxes and cabinets, and peeped
into all the vases. The search was con-
tinued half through the night, but the
paper was not found.
He tried to think that 1t was of no
consequence, but somehow his heart
failed him. Early next day he went to
the Office of Jonss Terry, but he lifted
his head with a smile, and rose heartily
to greet his friend.
"Jonns," said Charles, with a puzzled,
eager look, that |. o. u have lost
1t. Searched everywhere all night for 1t,
and can't lay my hands On IT,"
"Whst 1. o, VI"
1.-THE one you gave me for the ten
thousand dollars I lent you In June.
After you went l sat down to think
about Josie Merritt, and when 1 was
getting sleepy l found it on the table.
| was too lazy to unlock my secretary
sgaiu, and l hid 1t somewhere, or else 1
thought had 1t, and left it about, and
the servants have swept it away. How
ever, l will give you an acknowledgment
that will cover all possible claim If ever
1t should turn up. That will do, you
know"
''You must be dreaming, Charles. l
know nothing about an |. o. u, and l
don't see at all what you are drifting at"
"Jonasl You could not BIO such a
scoundreli You are joking, of COURSE"
"Mr. Day, l request you to leave my
office at once, cir. l am not to be bullied
or blackmailed in this way, l 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. Of course,
Charles got the worst Of 1t every way.
He had no particle of evidence to show
for his claim;he was fast, fashionable and
extrsvsgent, while Jonas was universally
spoken of as 'estimable and reliable"
Society turned the cold shoulder toward
him and mothers forbade their daughters
to ride In his company or accept him for
a partner In The dance. "But then,"
as Mrs Merritt shrewdly said, Ibis en-
gagement to our Josie has just become
known"
1t was remarkable that after this quar-.
rel Jonas TeIry's business grew with an
smlzlng rspidtty. Perhaps the saving
of that ten thousand had been the turn
Ing point of his fortune. We all know
how the want of a So bill can somstimes
lose us an amount amazingly dispropor-
.tionate. Socially, too, his success was
very great. He married q beautiful,
woman, who fully shared his
antlpathy 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 MIR. and Mrs, Jonas
with their grand house and ex-
entertainments and fine turnout,
we're the Mordecal sitting In the gate of
all Charles and Josie's happiness.
Many a time the two had gone togeth-
err over everything In the room, taken
every book from the shelves, an d emam-
ined every crevics Ia the clses, put all in
vain. The l. o U. was evidently lost, |
and Charles aatd, after every fresh search
and disappointment, "No use, Josie, |
tell you everything goes against honor
and virtue. If you want to be pointed
out as q pattern of all exosllencies, you
must be In secret a natural and practical
So the years went py-ffteen of them.
The l. o. U. was not forgotten. They
lived In a society where people have lit
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
lElN6 OOlob CiaShOu LAG Wutp Ohouplfciy, |
Or Mrs. Terry looked scornfully at the
shrinking couple; but they had long ego
said all to each other that it was possible
TO soy.
In the fifteenth summer after the loan
Charles went yachting, and on one mem
orable night was shipwrecked. Almost
oy q miracle and after he had sunk thrice, |
ae was rescued, The frat words he
to his wife were; 'Josie, / have
found l. o. U. Write down just what l
,ay: Shakespeare Knights Edition, vol.
". page 2l3, fourth compartment, fourth
shelf, fourth book"
Josie wrote it down; but was 30 rest
less lest anything should now happen to
the library that he returned to New York
as soon as there was the least stfety In
doing 30. When he arrived at home he
went straight to the library, and putting
his hand ON q certain volume, opened 1t
the psgs he had indicated, and there
YVES the lost /. o. U.
"When / was drowning, Josie, the last
time / sank, everything l ever did be-
came In a moments fash plain as day to
me, and l saw myself putting the note in
the place l found IL. 1t is wonderful.
But 1t Is true, and, Josie, dear, thank
God my name will be cleared at last"
The clearing of his name was Charles
thought, but after it came the very
M of making Jonas pay the