Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-05-03

keep still.
At that instant a light flashed across
the street A man emerged from a
doorway opposite. stopped moment
to light cigar then walked rapidly
down the street He was little above
the medium height, and slender A
heavy black mustache and square cut
chin were all that was visible beneath
the soft cap he wore well over his eyes.
He carried his head we'll forward and
walked rapidly. with light noiseless
step.
The two men under the gaslight
CALCULATED simultaneously:
'Hammondr'
There is some thing queer about
him." observed Mr.. Lamoreaux.
Its the shadow of crime" said
Mr. Street, solemnly.
The town clock struck eleven. And
the two friends, by common consent
abandoned the lamp-post and turned
their faces homeward.
Mr.. Cleveland B. Street was con-
coded by every one to be most es-
Unable young man. The president of
the bank spoke highly of him on all
occasions. and occasionally in creased
his salary. The old ladies approved
of him and the young ladies' said he
was mice" He was member of the
Shooting Stars Dramatic Club. the
East End Dancing Club and Musical
Union. He sang tenor in the Presby-
terrain Church. He led the uneventful
life of the average business man and
was reasonably contented and happy.
There was, beside all this. another
circumstance which conspired to make
Mr. Street, in anticipation. most
enviable man. Miss Alice Wilson was
a handsome, vivacious brunette. who,
by her thousand winning ways. had
completely ensnared the heart of the
young cashier. Of late. she had been
perceptibly more encouraging. and he
felt serenely confident that when he
urged his suit she would not say him
nay.
Some such thoughts as these were
fitting through Mr.. Streets mind. as
he stood behind the bank counter, a
few days after the disclosure beneath
the gaslight And now. as his
thoughts reverted to Mr. Hammond.
he could not repress feeling of pity
for that unhappy man-for he must
be unhappy carrying about with him
such memory of hidden crime. His
ill-gotten gains. might bring him in
fiuence. but they could never purchase
him happiness. Mr.. Street thought of
Alice Wilson, and said to himself that
he was sorry for the poor fellow.
One day a dashing quipage drew up
in front of the bank. and 4 lady leaned
out to speak to another on the walk.
Mr. Streets quickened sight at once
recognized. in the occupant of the car
riage Miss Alice Wilson. But who
was ii sitting beside her and smiling
down upon her with such confident
gallantry? The cashiers eyes fol-
lowed them far up the street. but that
first look had been enough-it was
Walter Hammond!
Its queer. isn't it?' said the teller.
at his elbow, show that Hammond
got right into society here. He shot
right up like rocket, and nobody
knows any thing about him, either.
before he came here. Well, money IL
take body anywhere nowadays"
But the cashier was not listenin g.
He banged the door together and went
home to his tea, locking the door with
such for bidding face that man who
met him said he should mt wonder if
the First National had sustained loss;
he met c. B. Street coming away from
there with face as long as your arm.
That was only the beginning. Mr.
Hammond began to attend Miss w il
son like shadow. He escorted her
to parties. and theater and church.
Be he ever so assi,luous, Mr.. Street
always found his attentions to the
young lady anticipated by Mr.. Ham,
mond. There was no pleasure in
calling there any more. Mr. Ham,
mond was sure to be there. Did he
aspire to take her to place of amuse-
ment. he only had the modification of
hearing that she was 80 sorry" but
had '.just accepted an invitation"
And he would see her there with Mr..
Hammond.
Meanwhile, the cashiers face grew
graver and still more grave. The
worried lines in his forehead settled
into an habitual frown. The one lit
tie cloud which had sailed so unex-
pectedly across his sky had grown
until it threatened to obscure the
whole horizon of his happiness.
Sometimes, when he saw his mys-
terious rival lowering about Miss Will
son. he could not repress q feeling of
exultation at the thought that, with
ever from her presence. He tried to
rid himself of this feeling. which he
knew was unworthy of him, but it
would come at times in spite of him.
self
1t seemed as if he was at a sensa-
tional play. in which the deep-dyed
villain stalks about in safe disguise,
only the whole community were the
ready dupes, and / alone was the en-
lightened audience. The baleful secret
began to haunt him like a nightmare.
Like an avenging spirit. it rose be-
tween him and the recreations of his
leisure hours. 1t confronted him from
the face of his ledger at the bank. 1t
walked the streets with him and sat
down to dinner with him. 1t whisper
ed to him in his dreams. Every MORN
ing he awoke with the inquiry: What
ought l to do about it?'' and every
night he went to bed with the ques-
ton still unanswered.