Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-10-04
..Perhaps that Was why Mr. Stephens

was so attent We TO me at dinner last
week, said Beatrice placdly.
".h. nonsense 1t s mere nothing
TO them. But why should they have your
money for no hing, and lend 1t out at
seven or eight per cent ?"
However, the money lay idle and at
call, and If Horace's explanation of the
metaoI by viii h bankers make fortunes
was correct the page in the red basil
covered ledger, headed A" Beatrice Clau-
son, must have been gratifying sight
! for the Messrs furlong and the rest of
the firm.
one morning-the very morning which
| Hervey had appointed for his second inter-
view with Beatrice-a few minutes after
the respec table liveried porter had drawn
I the bolts If the outer doors, and so pro-
claimed that the bank was ready for all
corners, a'check for one thousand pounds,
payable to 'self' or 'bearer' and signed
beatrice 0lauson " was handed across
the broad mahogany cOun erto the spruce
cashier. To him, not being in county
society, Beatrice Clauson was hut a name,
and awoke mo emotions. She might be
young or old, beautiful or ugly, so long as
her ba ance covered the amount OF the
check. But all the same, being a young
man who could think, it struck him that
il was very unusual for q lady 10 send a
! thouSand-pOund check to be simply cash
ed across the counter 20 before utterng
the usual compound word query Howl
you av'-it ?' OR CASH T gave the
presenter of the check comprehensive
but inoffensive glance. All he learned
was that she was a tall woman of UNI
certain age, and was dressed in black.
There was nothing to tell him whether
she was self or merely "bearer y
10 lao, Il h., ,taV nd nslyn 1
her in the pOIitest manner If she was Miss
Clauson.
30, sir, "replied the woman.
Asking her to wait one minute he left
his 30 and telling tine clerk next to him
to keep his eye on the W man dived
through the glazed door at The back of
the bank through which such of the part
ners as chose could see that Their money
making machine was going properly. lie
showed the check and told his tale.
TIE ST mature on the check was COM
pared with Miss Clauson's standard
signature, and Of course, now that alarm
was raised, did not seem lutte right The
cashiers breast sweled. The partners
were smiling apprOvingly.
The young man returned to his post
at is rule of the bank, " he said, 'when
cashing check like this for a stranger.
q
fixed his eagle eye upon the woman.
81 did not understand that" she said.
perhaps YOU had better step out and
speak to Miss ClausOn. -
This was a terrible shock: but there
was yet hope, The Miss Clauson cut
! side might he a conte lerate AS Beatrice
! had never been inside the bank, the
cashier could not be expected to identify
her. lie reported progress TO his chiefs
and was veXed to see the approving smile
| fade from their faces.
ThereupOn Mr.. step ems a gray-haired
old gentleman OF fine banking presence;
courteous; typical of the old school; Tory
to the backbone. as al bankers ought to
( be. put on his hat and sauntered out OF
the bank door. Sure enough In a four
wheeled cab sat Beatrice and her golden
haired boy. Mr.. Stephens with the deceit
sanctioned by commerce, IL not by Chris
tianit,. seemed surprised and overjoyed
to see Miss Clauson, and sauntere back
into the bank. He did not speak to the
cashier. but no doubt n sign or token
/ passed between them, for without more
ado the young man asked Mrs. Miller
! ''HOw l-you-hav' it,
Mrs. Miller would have five hundred in
gold, and five bank of England notes for
one hundred pounds ea.h. The money
( was counted o e, but the operation lacked
! he cashiers usual spring and vivacity.
Mrs. NJ Her buttOned the notes inside her
dress. Then SIC rejoined her mistress,
and the cab carried them t. Blacktown
railway station, an they booked to Pad
dngt n.
The train started. For a while Bea-
trice sat as one in a reverie. Mrs. Miller
who held the boy watched her face. Bea-
trico sig ed, looked up and met her COM
paniOn S gaze.
''He will follow u.s." she said. She
trembleI as she spike.
ayes. il he can find us. Poor dear! il
he can do 50 he'll hunt you to death.
Well where he can't find us. There
we'll wait until he can trouble you no
more, my sweet.
"Ah, when will that be-" sighed Bea-
trlce.
when he is struck down. When my
prayers are answered. When you look
on hi It, ad face, and know that you are
| free.
Hush! hush How can you dare to
pray for mans DEATH Even j, whom
he has 20 wrOnged. could not force my
lips to form that prayer.
"Oh, my dear my dear. that is differ
ent. You would he praying for yourself
God would not listen; ut lpray only for
you. and he will"
Sarah, be silent, " said Beatrice. She
had always set her face sternly against
her maids religious lights. But Mrs.
Millers excitement had now reached u
pitch which resisted even Beatrice's com
mandS.
see she said in thrilling tones,
which made even the child open his eyes
in wonderment, last N ght a sign came
to me, a dream. ] looked down from
somewhere, and saw myself as must be,
as it was fixed ! should be before the
world began, where the worm dieth not
'My poor Sarah, be calm
where the fire is not quenched.
saw myself, and | saw him. He was
close at hand. oh, God means to strike,
and soon, very soon.
Her voice had such intensity, her eyes
such wild look in them that little Harry,
who had wat he'd her in that spell-bound
manner common to reflective children,
came to the conclusion that som thing
was wrong, and set up lu,ty roar.
"See,' said Peatrice, repr achfuly,