St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-26

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sit is his property"
"And what is to become of us?''
Convulsiye weeping was the answer,
but the woman was hot satisfied with
the answer.
s'Beggars?"
"Beggarsw
Il. your daughter, your children"
s'Atl of you'll"
''And is this right?'
sand is this right?" This dreadful
reproach now kept ringing in the ears
of the sick man. 'tAnd is this right?"
the woman repeated ten times day.
First she whispered it; then she
shrieked it with shrill voice. Filled
with these merciless words was the
night, which brought no refreshing
slumDer to the poor dropsy-ridden man,
but only terrifying darkness, Now and
then he would raise himself from his
sick bed with miraculous strength and
steal into the adjoining room where his
youngest precious one slept, profoundly
and happily; he would crawl up to the
bed and nestle his prickly face close up
to the little, smooth cheeks and sob
softly. Sometimes the child awoke and
started in fear, for the ugly sick father
terrified him.
Then, like kicked dog, the broker
would creep back TO his couch, and
again the cruel words would stir up
every particle of rest in the sick heart,
and lacerate and torture him with I'M
speakable pain.
''And is this right?"
The next day his condition was worse.
His stomach was bloated like leather
bag; he could no longer lie down, and
he breathed with difficulty.
II have no money for the MARKET"
said the woman.
On this day the first paper security
was taken to the pawnshop. The pro-
ceeds lasted for several days. But as
they were about to take the second
paper, there came letter from the
count. He wrote: IL have heard that
you are ill. Now | must admit. Josef,
that you have served me most honestly,
but there is no knowing what may hap
pen. Ny secretary will come to you to-
morrow in order to remove the Securi-
ties"
The woman had been reading the let
ter to him.
''Well?" she asked.
"'rhey must be given to him when he
comes'
''And is this right?"
Again these words. 1t is not till noon
that the broker answers. First he lisps
it to himself:
''This is not right: it cannot be-"
In the afternoon the brown young
man calls. At the beginning of his
visits he had only been an apprentice.
The family meant especially well by
him. He was a fellOw-cOuntryman of
the hostess. The broker had procured
situation for him and later a position
as bookkeeper in a prominent business
house. He loved him as his own son.
o. hn taIy hn
allowed him in his room. Now, how
ever, he had him called in.
Wife and daughter were also in the
room.
For while his eyes rested on those
pre"ent: then he called his daughter to
himself:
johanna. do you want to become
Pau's wife?"
''Yes!" came the firm answer.
Then again there was silence. The
brokers' lids closed YEARLY, and while
he was wiping the Precipitation from his
brow, he reflected.
Lock the door" the sick man at last
began anew, and his eyes wandered
about aHxiously. Even the window
curtains had to be let down; then he
had himself carried to his iron safe.
From an inside drawer he took the
package of securities and had them
counted.
Papers to the value of $4,000 gull
den!" said the bookeeper.
LAS much to the count as a penny is
to u.s." added the woman.
The secretary of the count was re-
ceived the next day with remark that
the broker had gone away on journey.
Nobody knew where or when he would
return. The secretary returned several
times to look for him. but when he
heard that in reality the broker was in
his room on his death bed he came no
more.
In his place came the officials of the
criminal court. The broker was expect
ing them. and days before he was shaken
with the ague of the damned.
''When they dome you must diSsem-
BILE; feign Inconsistencies" Il
the wife whispered in his ear, and left
the house with the daughter. The dying
man was left to himself; and, fervently
as he longed for it, he did not lose con-
seriousness. He heard the count very
distinctly as he gently and forbearingly
gave him to understand that he had
never treated him as he had others; he
heard him almost beg: Josef, you are
a good honest man, give me
back my money"
The broker bit his lips and was silent,
although some terrible power seemed to
prompt him TO say: The money is in the
hands of my daughters betrothed; |
gave it to him: wished to steal it for
my family. Iregret it; take it back; /
want to die an honest man!'
In his breast honesty and the blind
love for his family fought hot and saw
age battle. The second triumphed. He
closed his eyes, and not syllable was
to be forced from him.
The count was seized with sudden
wrath:
:sGentlemen I want my money! I'll
see if there no way to get at my
money! Drag him hence! Away to |
prison with him!"
He could not be taken away. The |
official physician decided that the broker |
could not be transported without en-
dangering his life. Investigations were
made in every direction; the count sus-
pected all the business men of the capt. |
tai, dragged all the relatives of the broker |
into the affair, demanded that GRIM |
inal suit should be brought against the |
whole world. Only of the intimate |
friend of the house, the young book |
keeper. not soul had any suspicion.
of the betrothal that had shortly pre-,
coded the embeZZlement, not a word |
had reached the outside world. And |
the bookkeeper did not enter the house |
at all for time. The wife of the |
broker informed MIN personally of what
was going on. And much indeed had |
been going on within few days.
The attempt was again made to bring |
the accused invalid to confess. The |
examining magistrate tried with gentle |
words to touch his heart. The count |
also told him that he would voluntarily |
make over to him one-half of the secur-
tiles if he would confess where he had
put them. and how the place of conceal
ment could be found. He appealed to
their business relations of many years,
which had come to be almost friend
ship. The woman did not dare to leave
the sick man to himself, for she was
afraid that he would suddenly confess