The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-14


ton. They SPOKE in low, cautious tones ana
their faces, beneath the pickering light, were
grave unto sol, unity.
In the tall, slim young man, VINO leaned
against the lamp post IN such traSicai nIc-
tude, and VINO seemed TO he DONG al Ine
talking almost any one might have recog-
ni2ed the cashier of the FIRST National DahN,
AR Cleveland g. Street, while the broad
sbouldercd, pie isant faced gentleman, stand
ing with folded armsand head bent forward
to listen, was equally well known as MI
George IamorcauX, real estate agent ana
chosen friend Of Mr. Street.
Past them IN gay procession filed the people
returning from the theatre over the way :
md more than one turned to comment curl
ously upon the untimoly conference. But
the t.yo mon Needed them not; and the pleas
ure seekers, rs they passed on to their homes
and straightway forgot all about the occur
renee. III. la dreamed of the dark secret that
was being ntolicd beneath the gasllght
For il was dark secret No wonder Mr.
Streets voice grew deep and impressive rs tie
uroceeled TO lag it before his friend.
six years ago. began Nh Street, II was
teller in the kcrriu Savings bank. One
NIGHT it was broken into and robbed Of
$4,000. lscpt in the bank at The time, and,
of coursp | tried to defend the property. !
had an encounter with burglar, but he was
stronger than |, and might have Jared
badly if the police hadn't come to my rescue
The robber heard them and made his escape,
and he has never been heard of since
Here Mr.. Street paused for breath
"Wellp SAID the other, booking mystiiied
"Bnt." continued the cashier, I'm the
struggle got good sight OF the man lace,
and Eve always declared should know that
face if ever saw 1t again
"Well - from his friend still more mysti-
fed
1.-TWO month, ago saw that face; met
that man and talked with him meet MN
every day
At length Mr. Iamoreaux was interested.
And you know him, too" pursued Mr.,
Street.
Tr
Eyes, Won: everybody knows him; he"----
"Ohl come interrupted Mr, l.amoteaux,
imoat,ently, wv aat's tho INNS nance
ale is known here ~ Waiter Hammond.
Not the new partner IN hcsprns works. y
"'fhe same"
Mr. Lanoreaux uttered "A low whistle.
''Wcll. that beats mol" no ejaculated. The
high toned Mr.. Hammond, that everybody 8
running after! Why, Street, You must he
mistaken"
Mistaken | know that face as if | had
seen II hut Yesterday. Why, man alive, If
Won had lam on Your back and looked mp
into that tar, h,ilo,nS over YOU, knowing
that il rnight W. the last face Spn would ever
look u,nn ia thi, woiid-if You had seen it
under the circumstances did lhlhk you
would rcIncuih'i that face!'
There was II painful silence, broken by Mr.
IamureauS.
We'll he said. "wi,at arc you going to do
about itF
Goodness knows, don't returned Mr.
Street, heplcssly What would you do"
Mr.. LamoreaLx gdzed effectively out into
tho darkness.
I'm tell you, Street, he snil, slowly, II
wouldn't do anything. I'd keep nm eye on
the man and say nothing. N"n >e" he's so
prominent here, Y would makea terrible sem
sation Aud if you have no evidence bus
your memory you couldn't prove anything,
anyhow
eyes and his acromp'ices nigh, aSSassi-
nate me, or something, too"
That's so,N promptly nSscnted his friend.
TITS clearly your duty 20 h"op stili.'
Al that in,tantu light flashed across tho
street. a man emerged from doorway OPP
posite, stopped u moment Ia lgh' "lgar,
then walked rapidly down the street fls
was little above medium height aud slender,
A heavy black mustacEe aud square cut chin
were all that was visible beneath tie soft cap
he wore well down over his eyes. He carried
his head slightly forward and walked rap
idly, with light, nCiseless step
The two men under the gasiioht ojaculatcd
simultaneously:
Hammond
There il something queer about him." oh
served Mr.. Lamoreaux.
Its the shadow of crime said Mr.
Street, solemnly.
The town clock struck H. And the two
friends, by common consent abandoned tn,
lamp post aud turned their faces homeward
Mr.. Cleveland b. Street wns conceded 10y
every one TO DC mos, estmable young man
The president of the bank spoke highly o.
him on all occasions, aud occasionally IN
creased bis salary. The old ladies approve,
OF him, and the young ladies' sad he wa
mice" He was a member Of the Shooting
Stars Dramatic club, the East En-,
Dancing club and Musical union. III
sang tenor in tho Presbyterian church
He led the uneventful life Of tn
average business man, and was REASONABLE.
contented aud happy.
There was, beside all this, another circum
starce which conspred to make Mr. street
in anticipation, most enviable man. Mis-
Alice Wilson was handsome, vivacioU
brunette, who, by her thousand wirninl
ways, had completely eEsnared the heart o
the young cashier, or late she had been per
ceptibly more encouraging, and he felt sc
renely confident that when he urged his sui
she would not say him nay.
Some such thoughts as these we're flistint
through Mr.. Streets mind, as he stoot
behind the bank counter. q few day
after the disclosure beneath tho Ga
light. And now, as bis thoughts revertes
% Mr.. Hammond, be could not suppress [