The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-11-27


which was great, and which, believing
that l had to deal with an honorable
man-nt least one possessing the
gratitude he professed-L in my
trouble, and flight left in your charge
For ten years your remittsnces of the
little l, hopeless, heartbroken man,
required were regular. Then they
ceased. The sums that left in your
hands to carry on the business as my
secretly acting partner must have grown
immensely by this time, Nicholas
Hayes. have come to demand them"
Again the merchant laughed
"What wild absurdity is thisp he
said. 1.-THE business of Hayes & Co.
has been made by my own means-my
own toll"
do you intend to deny" remarked
Maurice Northcott, leaning forward,
but yet quietly, "that did not enter
into any agreement with you to leave
my fathers wealth in your hands to
trade with for me ?"
Most assuredly," rejoined Nicholas
Hayes, rising, and standing before the
CRATE This is the first time I have
heard syllable in referanee to so pre-
posterous an idea Your fathers estate
was realized, and duly forwarded to
you. At risk of Drawing the Govern
ment, took upon myself. for the sake
of the son of my old friend and masters,
that money you have squandered, and
now you would extort from me and
my honestly acquired WEALTH."
Honestly CONTEMPORARY cried
Maurice Northcott. "At one time,
Nicholas Hayes, believed you honest,
else I would not have trusted you. But
my suspicious were aroused when,
thinking of the past, lying sleepless by
a camp fire, I recalled your readiness in
aiding my fight-the suggestion that,
to save my fathers estate from con-
fiscation. I should leave it in your
hands to use for my benefit-or rather
my wifes l toll you I suspected
Time but confirmed my doubts. But,
hopeless, dispirited, an outlaw from my
native land for crime of which I was
guilty but by accident, 7 lacked the care
or energy to see into the matter. My
wants were smal-my means sufficient
Besides, I knew that when 1 chose I
cauld compel you to restitution or over
whelm you with disgrace"
REALLY! A well-concocted tale, bat
one you surely cannot expect to receive
credence in court of justice, much
less from /" was the cool rejoinder.
can imposition, Maurice Northcott, to
extort money And how do I know but
that you are an imposter yourself? That
however, l can soon prove p
And ne extended his hand to the bell
Maurice, rising caught his arm.
"What do you intend?" he asked,
composedly.
"To have you arrested as tie man
who slew Arnold Wentworth When
you leave this house, if you be Maurice
Northcott, it shall be as a prisoner !"
"You do not imagine" said the other
never losing his composure, "that [
made known my presence to you with
out preparing for the result you
threaten +? But before acting upon it,
for your own sake bid you reflect. I
may be hanged or imprisoned-wh
matters either to man without hope
and alone in the world? But you will
not escape This splendid name for
honor, justice, and integrity that you
have built up shall be trampled in the
dust, and your very clerks shall scorn
while they triumph in your DOWNFALL"
What do you mean ?"
"Simply that I hold paper signed
by you, Nicholas Hayes, that will con-
firm all that l have stated-a paper that
proclaims you thief, defrauder, and an
alder and abettor in my flight from
justice p
The merchant grew very white his
hand dropped at his side.
cit is false !" he exclaimed. "That
paper no longer exists p
"Pardon me-" replied Maurice, re-
Stunning his seat. "When 1 began to
suspect your honesty, Nicholas Hayes,
Iresolved to test you and entrap you
For that reason / wrote that while in
Australia I had been attacked by BUSH
rangers, and robbed of everything
especially 1 mentioned my papers, say
ing there was, indeed, only one of value
among them, but It's loss was not of
much consequence, rs knew your pro-
bity was never to be shaken. You
caught at my meaning, and from that
time my remittanees grew less frequent
and finally stopped. Have me arrested,
and place that paper in my lawyers
hands to be acted on for the good of the
charitable institutions of Manchester.
~ L l. %