Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1888-07-24
Mr. street.s Dark secret.

Mr. Streets Dark Secret.
GA certain dark nigh, ia o;,obsr two
gentlemen nigh, have been seen stand.
ing under = s..lsh, a, the junction OF
two bu,ine. street. engaged in close con.
vs,A,ion. They spoke IN low. cautious
tones. snd their faces. beneath the ti'eksr'
ing light. wsre grave unto solemaiiy.
Ia the ,.ll. slim young man. who
leaned again., the lampPos, in such a
uagieal attitude. aud Who seemed 20 be
doing al the talking. almost any one
nigh, have recognized the cashier Of the
First National Bank. Mr.. Cleveland II.
Street. While the broad..hoaldsred, pleas.
.n,.f.esd man. standing With folded arms
and head bent forward 90 listen. was
equally wsll.known s Mr.. George
L.mortsux. real est.,e Asen, aud chosen
friend Of Mr Street
"six year. ago began Mr. Street. 81
w.s teller ia the ksuia Saving. Bank.
One nigh, IL was broken into aud robbed
Of SIS 900. .lsp, in the bank A,',he
time. and. Of course. tried 10 defend the
property. | bad an encounter With the
burglar. ba, be VAS stronger than !. aud
mish, have f.red badly II the police
bandit come 10 my rescue. In the sirus.
sle 20, a good ,ish, Of the mans face,
and I've sl~.ys declared ! should know
,hA, face Il ever saw il again. Two
mon,hs ago | saw thu, face; | met ,h.,
man and talked With him. meet him
every day"
"And yog know him. ,Oo'"
"Hs i. known here As Walter Ham
mond."
Mr.. Lsmoresux uttered low whistle.
"wsll. that beats me :" he sjseuls,sd.
"Ths high.,ohed Mr.. Hammond. that
,veybody's running after Way. Street,
you mus, be mistaken"
"rll tell you. Street." he added slow
ly. 81 woalda', do anything. Ia keep
en- eye on the man and say nothing.
You see. he's % prominen, here !, would
make terrible sensation. And II you
have no evidence but your memory. you
eouldh', prove anything. anyhow.
Al iha, instant = llsh, dashed across
the street. A man emerged from door
way opposite, stopped q moment TO light
q cigar. then walked rapidly down the
street. lie was little above medium
hsish, and slender. A heavy black
mus,aehe and a 'quAre-eu, chin were all
tha, was visible beneath the soft cap be
~ore well down over bis eyes lie c.rri.
ed hi. head slightly fOrward aud walked
rapidly. with = light, nOi.eless step.
Tie two men under the gs'lish, ej.ea.
lated simultaneously:
Hammond!
There Is something queer abou, him.
observed Mr.. LAmoreaux.
"lt. the shadow Of crime" said Mr..
Street. solsmnly.
The town clock struck eleven. and the
two friends, by common consent, aban-
doned the l.mpPOst aud turned their
faces homewsrd
Mr.. Cleveland Is. Street was conceded
TO be . mos, es,imable young man. The
presiden, Of the bank spoke highly OF him
on Ill occasions. and occasionally inereAs-
ed bis salary. The old ladies approved Of
him, and the young ladies said he was
"nics.'
There Was. beside Ill this. another cir.
eum.isnee which eon.pired TO make Mr..
Street, in anticipation. . most enyiable
man. Miss Alice Wilson W. q hand.
some. vivseious brunette. who. by bel
thousand winning ways, had completely
ensnared the heart Of the young cashier
OF late she had been percep,ibly more en-.
cour.sing. and be felt serenely confident
ths, when he urged bis sui, she would
not say him nay.
One day a da.hing tquipage drew W
in from, Of the bank, and = lady leaned
out to speak TO another on the walk
Mr.. Streets qaiekened sigh, At once
recognized, in the oceupan, Of the car
ri.ge, Miss Alice Wilson. But who wA'
| i, sitting beside her and smiling dowr
upon her with such eonaien, gallan,ry
The cashiers eye. followed them far "
the street, but tha, first look had beer
enough, was Walter Hammond!
lie banged his book together and wen
home TO bis tea. locking the door will
such forbidding face that . man Wit
me, him ..id be shouldn't wonder II ih'
First National had sustained los; h
men g. b Stree, coming away from Their
with face as long ss your arm.
Tha, was only the beginning. Mr.
Hammond began to attend Miss wil'oi
like q shadow. He escorted her e
parties, the theatre and church. BE b
ever 90 ss.iluous, Mr.. Stree. nearly al
ways found his attentions to the younI
lady anticipated by Mr.. Hammond.
Meanwhile. the cashiers face grew
graver and still more grave. The woui
ed lines In his forehead settled into al
habitual frown. That one little clou'
which had sailed 90 unexpectedly across hi
sky had grown till IL threatened to OBJ
seure the whole horizon Of bis happiness
And the cashier knsw-how could b
help knowins'-that be was not himssl