Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-16
1SELF OR BEARER"
BY WALTER BEsANT.
author of eau Sorts and Conditions Of
Men," ''Ihe Captain Room.'' etc.
81 Continued from last toeek. L.

"iTen, who toog your"
Daft hestated and turned red again. No one likes
to tell tales.
You must tell us. It is for Norahs sake"
"Well, them Dick took me-"
Dick is my most regular member" said the sfgnor
Is II it was credit to him. HE begins with the
first. and he pays as long as he stay. My most
regular member Tht ra is no more regular than
Dick. He should have been Russ an"
Every good. Their il only one other question
want to ask YOU Did Dick, to your knowledge ever
ask any one else to cash a check for him?"
"Once he asked Norah."
How do you know?'
"Norah tod me. We were talking and she told
DICK Die ''' ono ''' ~ 'DS'AsSS 70 fun er'an0' i0l
"Now, sir" said Hugh I'll hope you understand the
reason which prompted Norah to refuse any other
answer, or TO conduct this inquiry. She knew be-
torehand.'
There is vfIlainy somewhere" said Mr. Murridge
harshly; "viilainy somewhere. How do know that
this is not conspiracy? As for you, SIR" he turned
to the signor 81 believe you be sent to pr for
corrupting the young"
signor Piranesi laughed courteousiy
Il assure you SIR" he said 1.-THE members of my
cub are quite corrupt, regards gambling, before
they come to me-"
AS for you," Mr.. Murridge shook his finger at
Daffodfl. "as for you, believe you are in the job
somehow. Villains all! villains all!'
And tooY said Hugh.
.'You have got the cir to defend"
1.-The villainy, MI Murridge, is established nearer
home. GU are really. l hope. to acquit the first
person charged"
< ertainly not-certainly not. How do know
that this is not conspiracy against my son? Where
is he? Let him be confronte with these two. Let
have more evidence Let find the last of the
stolen cheeks.
low. all this time the door had been standing wide
oien. and behind it sat the office boy eagerly drink
ing in every worI. He now. Tor the first time un-
derstood exactly what had happened. And he now
began to experience the joys OF revenge because he
had It in h IS power to deal his ngmeditated blow
on the man who had called him measy little devil.
Accordingly, he stepped from his place and boldly
entered the inner Office.
What do you wantT asked his master
Please sir. I've heard it ALL"
what il YOU have? Ali the world shall hear II all
before long"
please. sir"-the boys bearing was considerably
more humble than that invariably adopted by his
favorite heroes. but the matter more important
than the manner-"please sir. I've found something
which Mr.. Richard dropped"
'.What is it?'
The boy produced an envelope in which were two
pieces of paper One of them, pink in Color he laid
the table
at is the last of the checks" cried Mr. Murridge
The signature was only, yet in pencil very
carefully written. The rest of the check was filled
up. Like all the rest it was drawn for the Of
twelve pounds.
what is the other paper in your hand2" asked
Hugh.
MIR. Richard was always writing things and tear.
ing them up On dav he spent all the morning in
writing over single sheet of paper. Then he tore
it up into little pieces. picked them up and pieced
them together"
He gave Hugh the result It was half sheet of
fooscap. 1t had been torn into hundred pieces
and was now put together like ch1ld's puzzle and
gummed upon another paper Across it was writ
ten over and over again, like of Coutts che cks
the name of John Murridge-John Murridge-John
Murridge, all exactly alike, and all In exact tmita,
ton of Mr.. Murridge- usual signature. Hugh placed
this Def, re Mr.. Murrldge.
Are you satisfied now, sir?" he asked