Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-06-29

"fes. BY the by, wo don't dino un-
I'll y; shall bo having pretty square
lunch at 2 o'clock. Will you have some
with me, Horacey
shall DO only too glad n you will
make IL all right with old Levens; he's 20
awfully down on us juniors II ws're Ave
minutes over our time"
I'll SEQ to that" said, as the cab
drew up. "l'll tell him want you."
I remember wo were very busy that
day, as We always were after a vacation
of nearly week. Indeed myself was
90 much pushed for time that, had Il
not been for my appointments with Hor-
ace, should have had some food sent
In from the nearest restaurant and eaten
is in the pauses Of my letter writing.
However, In the circumstances, that
arrangement was not to bo thought of,
so I managed to get out for an hour
somehow, and made up for Il by stick
ing TO my work until the last minute.
At n little after o'clock Horace came
Into my private Office with some letters
for mo to sign, and Immediately after.
wards his special bogey, Ievens, came
came to ask mo for chcQue had prom
ised to some charity.
took my private cheque book out OF
tho table drawer In front Of me, filled in
the cheque hurriedly, passed II to him,
and then went on signing Horace's letters.
~ say, Horace" said, when I had
nearly finished, "you might wait and
help mo TO get into my evening coat; I'm
90 pushed for time, It's just as much a.
shall do to save my character for
punctuality; and they are so precious
particular"
"All right" no answered. "Pll como
back as soon Ms I've given Richards
these-he's waiting to run up TO tho
general with them."
Tell him to tako hanson, or he'll be
late" I called after him; "and he can
bring II back for me-"
Then ! began 10 clear my table as
quickly as I could, and, while I was
doing so, heard tho clocks chime tho
half hour after 9.
Without stopping to finish my task.
dashed up stairs and began to dress as
fast as could.
Horace followed mo in few minutes,
unpacked my bag, and helped mo into
my things
Richards. who lived on tho promises,
was back again by the tune was
dressed, and was waiting In tho hall,
with the keys In his hand, to lock up.
After Office hours wo went In and out by
small side door, which led into the
dwelling part Of tho house, from which
tho offices wero separated by heavy doors
have way down the hall. When these
doors were locked there wns no commu-
nication between tho business and the
private parts Of tho house. So Richards
waited to let mo out Mt the front door,
because tho cab could not get up TO
the narrow alley leading to the side en-
trance.
"W:ll you como as far as go upon
your road, HoraceY" I asked, as slipped
on my overcoat.
"No; won't bother to stop you to set
mo down." no answered. "Bcsides, I
have to get my coat. Ta-tai I hopo
you'll be In time"
As tho cab moved of saw him turn
back into the dark doorway Of the outer
Office again, and Richards behind him
reaching up to light his taper ut the hall
bracket, evidently with the intention OF
giving Horace light TO find his coat.
had hardly realized this to myself when
! suddenly remembered that Ind left
my private cheque book lying on my Office
tablo. ! was certain Of lei When I
heard tho half hour chime had waited
for nothing, and know had not put II
away before. In fact had left IL on tho
table on purpose, intending TO fill In IN.
other check to take with mo as my do
nation to tho Masonic school; but had
forgotten all about II In my hurry.
However, there was no great harm
done, l assured myself; no ono would go
into the room between now and to-mor-
row morning except Richards and his
wife, and they were trusted servants Of
many years standing. In spite Of all my
efforts at feeling comfortable, however,
there was lurking sense Of uneasincss
In my mind as often us recalled that
glimpse I had Of Horace Debenham
plunging into the darkness Of the outer
offlco-which led through into mine
and slow, steady old Richards stopping
TO light his taper at tho hall bracket bc-
fore following him.
II was In vain that, rs often rs this
idea presented itself TO me, brought
myself up sharply and mathematical
my narrow minded prejudiccs, and 80
on. Tho thought would recur md I
could not get rid OF IL, bully myself as
much as liked.
1t was quite relief when my solitary
drive was over to find myself among q
number Of friends and acquaintances,
and to be able to put the ugly suspicion
out Of my mind. Having once got rid Of
it, 1t did not recur until tho next morn
ing,when. oddly enough, my first thought
was Of the cheque book.
! looked ut my watch and found II was
half past 8. SO rang my bell and asked
Richards II he had seen anything Of the
book when ho had shut my room up the
night before.
II did not go into your room, SIR" he
answered; ~ locked the door without
going inside. Mr.. Debenham went In TO
fetch his knife from your table, and I
locked the door as soon as no came out"
"His knifeT' queried: and then re-
membered he had used it to erase q
wrong initial ON one of tho letters he
had brought mo to sign; but the rcmem-
brance did not bring me much satisfac.
ton. "Is Mrs. Richards in the offices yeti"
asked.
"Yes, sir, this half hour past"
"Then just run down and see IL my
cheque book is on my table-there's q
good fellow"
! lay in state of unpleasant expecta-
tion until his return--an expectation that
was fulfilled to the letter. There was
no cheque book there!
l got up and dressed, feeling much too
worried to keep still, and was down in