Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-21
1HE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.
iIondon Society. I

40 Is doubtless because my apprecis'
ton of trade in its commonest and
bsrest relations must ever be connected
with the anreyealed agencies Of dark,
mysterious crime. In the prosaic city,
in this matter.of.fact nineteenth GEN.
tury, am never to be rid Of q certain
weird, hideous, and appalling recollec-
ton, which centres and focuses itself
mentally about the Guildhsll.
Blu; let me tell my tale.
Asayoung man | entered the Office
Of Bayidge h Co., merchants, trading
With the East, chiefly with Singapore
srd Penang. | have used the plural,
but in reality the firm consisted solely
Of one--old Bavidge, as we clerks
called him. There never had been any
other member Of the firm. Old Ba-
yi6ge hsd worked his way up from
what no was accustomed TO call "the
bottom rung Of tho ladder" When he
first set up business on his own account
MS 4 commission agent he had styled
himself BAyidge & Co., and so he had
continued to do after he prospered and
became merchant on larger scale.
At the time | entered his Office old
Bavidge's business was sound and
flourishiug, and be was decidedly a
warm man. Yet he was not by any
means q man Of such worth as to rank
high among opulent merchants; nor,
indeed, were his transactions OF large
consequence. lie was simply a sub
stantial merchant, whose business was
made up Of many paltry operations
which would be desplsed by the great
firms. But his ambition made him
crave for notoriety, and he had so
pushed himself here, there, and every
where, that be had become very we'll
known man in the city, far more so
than his means or his affairs really war
ranted.
There were four Of US in the office,
and sometimes one or two more, when
press of business made it necessary.
But we we're merely clerks and no
more. Old Bayidge liked to keep
thirgs in bis own hands and made con.
fdants of no one. His clerks had no
responsibility and were not trusted with
any knowledge Of the conduct of az
fairs. In point of fact we were one and
Ali little more than old Bayidge's
writing ard cipheriug machines. The
result Of this was that VIC had no
chance Of rising in the Office beyond
not very exalted point. Few clerks
STAYED more than year or two, there
fore. They left to better themselves
elsewhere, and, to DO him justice, our
employer was always ready to aid them
in so doing.
Now, / remained with Bayidge for
more than six years, and the reasons
for that will presently appear. | was
nominally head clerk at the end of that
period, but my salary was not much
more than it had been at first, and
though | necessarily learnt a good deal
of the nature Of my employers trans
actions, yet be never took me into his
confidence or talked TO me Of the pros
uects of concerns in which he was en-
esged. 1t is necessary for me to point
this out now because Of the bearing 1t
has upon what seemed mysterious alter
ward.
Old Bayidge lived at Chaplain, in q
very nice house of the villa species.
He was a confirmed old bachelor, bat
had long ago taken to live with him a
widowed sister and her young daughter
Fmmeline. The latter be dOted on.
Even when a little thing she was the
queen of his household and the light Of
his life. AS she grew up the best gov
ernesses and masters were engaged 20
educate her, and finally she spent two
wears at finishing school near her
home. believe old Bavidge lived
with much greater pomp and luxury
for her sake than lie otherwise would
have done.
Our employer was often in the habit
Of inviting one OF other Of bis clerk
out TO Clapham. lie was kindly
man, and liked to exercise hospitality
toward his employees. These visits
were great events in the eyes Of the
clerks. They Jared sumpluously, were
kindly treated, and invariably fell in
continently in love with pretty little
Emmeluc. Need say followed the
example of my predecessors and com
panions in this last respect! Indeed,
| soon adored my employer niece, and
il was for the sake Of sometimes seeing
her that | remained on IN his service
and rejected various opportunities OF
getting into a more prospectiyely pro-
missing berth. LatteIly | had risen IN
favor, chiefly because Bsvidge had
taken UP an enthusiasm for bis garden
and lighthouses, and had in early
years imbibed a good deal Of horticul-
tural knowledge. He, who knew
nothing Of the art, was glad to find in
me some one to talk about it aud ad-
wise him. So became very frequent
visitor at Chaplain, and often enough !
WAS asked out on Saturday afternoon
to stay over till Monday.
At the time when | had been six
years in the Office Emmelne bad left
school for good, and had "cOme OUT
whatever that may mean. My passion
for her was becoming serious, and she
was so kind 70 me and so intimate with
me that had much ado 10 refrain from
declaring myself. ] knew too well that
to do that would but lead to my dis
missal from the house. Bsvidge was
not likely to encourage a sutton who
was merely his clerk, and whose
means consisted solely Of el2O a year,
paid monthly. But | was young and
would not despair. cogitated deeply
over ways of getting on and rising III
the world, so that | might some day
reach position such as would warrant
me in asking Emmeline to become my
wife. But my love affairs are no part
Of this true narrative.
1t was about this time that sn event
happened which, looking back by the
light Of later experience, my memory
reyerts to as the first link in the chain
Of evil of which | have yet to tell.
One day bad been out for an hour or
two during business hours, and on re-
turning TO the office was jocnlarly con-
doled with by my fellow-clerks.
"You'ye missed something" they
said, We've had a real Penang law
yer in the office"
o. ~