Weekly commercial herald., 1885-11-13

AeA luey arc papers OF no value Wnhl-
8ver 70 the thief, whoever be may be. But
they are OF the very greatest importance to
Us. Your master seems to have lost his
memory for a while, and cannot help us ia
finding out who has done this wicked thing.
You have been q faithful servant for 90 long
that am sure you will do what you can for
Us. Think for Us. Try to remember II any
body besides yourself has had access to this
room when your master was out Of it."
James sat down. He felt that he must sit
down, though Lala Roy was looking at him
with eyes full Of doubt and suspicion The
whole enormity OF his own. guilt, though he
had not stolen anything, fell upon him. He
had got the key; he had given it to Mr..
Joseph; and he had received 1t back again.
In fact, at that very moment 1t was lying in
his pocket The worst that he had feared
had happened. The safe was robbed
He was struck with 50 horrible dread
and so fearful looking forward to judgment
and condemnation that his teeth chattercd
and his eye gave way.
'You will think it over, James, said ris
'think 1t over, and tell US presently if you
can remember anything"
"Think it over, Mr.. James," Lala Roy
repeated in his deepest tone, and with an
emphatic gesture of his right foreiinger.
"Think it over carefully. Like lamp that
is never extinguished are the eyes Of the
faithful servant"
They left him, and James fell back into
his chair with hollow check and beating
heart.
"He told me-" he murmured-"oh, the
villainl-he swore to me that he had taken
nothing from the safe. He said, he only
looked in it, and read the contents. The
scoundrel! Ho has stolen the papers! He
must have known they were there. And
then, to save himself he put me on to the
job For who would be suspected if not
oh, Lord If not me?'
He grasped his paste-brush and attacked
his work with feverish anxiety to find re-
lief in exertion; but his heart was not in it,
and presently thought pierced his brain,
as an arrow pierceth the heart, and under
the pang and agony Of it his face turned
ashy pale, and the big drops stood upon his
brow.
For" he thought, Suppose that the thing
gets abroad; suppose they were to advertise
a reward; suppose the man who made the
key were to see the advertisement or to hear
about It'll And he knows my name, too, and
my business; and he'll let out for reward
II know he will-who it was that ordered
that key of him.
Already he saw himself examined before
q magistrate; already he saw in imagina-
tion that locksmith's man who made the key
kissing the Testament, and giving his testi-
mony in clear and distinct words, which
could not be shaken.
"Oh, Lordi oh, Lordl" he groaned "No
one will believe me, even if do confess the
TRUTH and as for him, know him we'll: if
Il go to him, he'll only laugh It me- But l
must go to him-I mustm
He was so goaded by his terror that he
left the shop unprotected--a thing re had
never thought to do-and ran as fast as he
could to Joe's lodgings. But he had left
them; he was no longer there; he had not
been there for six weeks; the landlady did
not know his address, or would not give it
Then James felt sick and dizzy, and would
have sat down on the doorstep and cried but
for the look of tho thing. Besides he re-
membcred the unprotected shop So he
turned away sadly and walked back, well
understanding now that he had fallen like q
fool into a trap, artfully set to fasten sus-
picon and guilt upon himself.
When he returned he found the place full
of people Mr.. Emblem was sitting in his
customary place. and he was smiling. He
did not look in the least like man who had
boen robbed He was smiling pleasantly
and cheerfully. Mr. Chalker was also pres.
ent, man with whom no one ever smiled,
and Lala Roy, solemn and dignifed, and
man-an unknown man-who sat in the
outer shop, and seemed to take no interest at
all in the proceedings We're they come,
he asked himself, to arrest him on tho spotl
Apparently they were not, for no ore
took the least notice of him, and they were
occupied with something else. How could
they think of anything elsel Yet Mr..
Chalker, standing at the table, was making
speech which had nothing to do with the
robbery.
"Here l am, you see, Mr.. Emblem" he
said; 81 have told you already that don't
want to do anything to worry you. Let us
be friends all round. This gentleman, your
friend from India, will advise you, am
sure, for your own good, not to be obsti-
nate. Lord what is the amount, after all,
to substantial man like yourself9 A sub.
stantial man, say" He spoke confidently,
but he glanced about the shop with doubt
ful eyes. Granted that it was borrowed to
get your grandson out of q scrape-sup-
posing he promised to pay it back and
hasn't done SO; putting the case that it has
grown and developed itself as bills will do,
and can't help doing, and can't be stopped;
it isn't the fault Of the lawyers but the
very nature Of bill to go on growing-iGs
Ikea baby for growing. Why,;after all, you
were your grandson's security-you can't es-
cape that. And when l would no longer re-
now, you gave of your own accord-come
now, you can't deny that-a bill of sale on
goods and furniture. Now, Mr.. Emblem,
didn't you9 Don't let US have any bitter
aess or quarrelling. Let's be friends, and
tell me may send away the man."
Mr.. Emblem smiled pleasantly, but did not
reply.
IA bill Of sale it was, dated January the
25th, 1885, just before that cursed act of
Parliament granted the five days notice.
Here is the bailiff's man in possession. You
can pay the amount, which is, with costs
and sheriffs poundage three hundred and
fifty-one pounds thirteen shillings and four
pence, at once, or you may pay five days
hence. Otherwise the shop, and furniture,
and all, will be sold of in seven days"
"Oh," James gasped, listening with be-
wilderment 1--WE can't be going to be sold
up Emblem's to be sold up"
"Three hundred and fifty pounds!" said
Mr.. Emblem. my friend, let Us rather
speak of thousands. This is truly happy
day for all of us. Sit down, Mr.. Chalker-
my dear friend, sit down Rejoice with u.s.
A happy morning"
trWho+ tbo do,.il =; +Lo ,,,o+tor with b;,,,s n,