The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1888-11-15
CHAPTER XXVITI.
CHANCE CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM.

IIdllol rose next morning DetlmeS, after a
night OF titful and unrefreshing slumber. In
his dreams he had sought Trilllon in vain;
that substantial person seemed to have be-
come new Proteus, and to escape, when
nearly overtaken, by taking refuge in some
unexpected transformation. Sometimes the
scene changed and it was the dreamer that
was flying, while Norcross, shod with swift
ness, pursued him, swinging a lasso, and as
often as the fierce hunter whirled the deadly
coil Trainor awoke with suffocating sensa-
ton, and a cold sweat trickling from his
forehead. At breakfast his wife noticed
with intense anxiety his sharpened features
and his evident preoccupation of mind. He
hurried off, snatching kiss from the baby
and from the mother who held it, and walked
coward Trillion's Office He knew Trillon
was an early riser and he felt sure of being
able to see him before the usual hour of COM
menclng business. But the Office was not
even opened, and, looking through the glass
door, he saw that there was no fire in the
CRATE. What was the meaning of thiss
Golng into the street, he met Sponsor near
the post office. At the first sight Of the
brokers' face Tranor's heart seemed to stop
beating.
"Good-morning, Trainor. Bad business,
this. suppose you've heard Trillion went
to protest yesterday Hope YOU got wind of
it in time, and made all safe"
"TrilliOn failedw exclaimed Trainor.
through his chattering teeth. "Then I'm a
ruined manw
But a sudden thought struck him, and he
asked eagerly:
But, the money have you got it still?"
"NO-paid it over Yesterday
"Well, the shares then?"
"No-sorry to say, Trillion's clerk came for
them not ten minutes before [ heard of the
protest"
20 God!" groaned the unhappy man, athere
IS no hope! But you, Mr.. Sponsor, you are
my friend; help me out of this! You can
raise the money"
/. "Ten thousand dollars It's or city large
/ sum. I'm afraid l couldn't get it,"
"Try, my friend-you shall never regret
| it,"
Sponsor hesitated, and Trainor's spirits
rose. He watched the brokers' composed
face with eyes that might pierce a mum
my.
"What is the collateral" asked Sponsor,
slowly raising his wrinzled eyelids.
"Trillions notes for $17,00O."
"And Trillion gone to protest?"
"Hell come up again."
Perhaps; but while he is down. can't do
| anything with his paper. The truth is:
Iralnor, you ought not to have advanced the
money for him. Remember I warned you
when yon were about to do it."
Trainor did not look as though he found
the "Balm of I-told-you-so" very consoling.
Sponsor continued
"Now, if I were in your place, would go
and make clean breast of it to Major It
was wrong, though I know you didn't mean
any harm. He may be angry, but he won't
touch you. You can't raise SO, 900 in these
tlmes-not to save your SOUL"
keep your advice, and your money, too,r
said Trainor, in sullen despair II ask for
bread, and you give me a stone. Your
moral lecture won't pay my debts"
He turned away abruptly and went again
to Trillion's Office It was still closed De-
termined at all hazards to see the man for
whom he had risked so much, he went to his
house on Fifth avenue. The servant said Tril.
lion was not at home. Trainor did not believe
it, but the door was closed in his face be-
fore he could send a more urgent message.
and with sinking heart he retraced his steps
towards Wall street.
The horror of his position was now fully
before him. He could not conceal his defal-
cation, and there was no longer a shadow of
hope of replacing the money Many time
ne had taken the risk of lending large sums
to brokers and others; but who would trust
him, man without estate, in a time like
thiss In his terrible anxiety about the new OBJ
legation, he had forgotten the old, until he
CHANGED to observe Norcross on the opposite
sidewalk, strolling leislrely towards the bust
ness quarter of the town. The sex-secretary
made barely perceptible bow, and, drawing
out his watch, significantly turned the face to.
ward his debtor. 1t was enough: there was
no need of words. 1t was a little after 10
o'clock; the fatal letter would be delivered
at IL! Trainor crossed the street and accosted
Norcross, though without trepidation: for he
shuddered like swimmer within reach OF
shark, as he encountered those cold and
pitiless eyes. ga
"Come to the Office, Mr. Norcross. at H..
he said. "The affair will be settled then and
forever"
Mr.. Norcross nodded and walked on.
Trainor, meanwhile, quivering with agony
hurried to his employers office. He scanned
each face sharply as he entered, and felt sure
that the loss had not yet been discovered
Going to his desk, he wrote and sealed a let
ter, and then went out, saying he had some
business with a lawyer overhead.
Mrs Irainor grew 1nomentarily more I'M
easy, after her husband left the house. A
vague sense of coming evil oppressed her
until at length she could bear it no longer.
she left her child with the servant, and
walking to the nearest stand, took car for
Wall street On the way she recalled again
and again the muttered words she heard dur
ing the night; she thought OF the silent, com
fortress breakfast, the hurried good-by: she
lett again the pressure of his trembling lips
upon her own Full Of apprehension she
asked the coachman to call her husband to
the door, Answer was made by clerk that
! Mr. Tainor was out on business. but was
expected back presently. So she waited.
looking out Of the carriage window-a sad
face to see. The hands of the clock rnintAd