Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-06
CHAPTER Nv,

wrong the moment he entered. noticed
the blood rush to his face rs his eyes
glanced from our faces to the cheque
book lying open on the table, and was
afraid at first that he would make some
admission of his guilt before Cynthia.
Above all things l wished to keep all
knowledge of his backsliding from her,
SO spoke Mt once.
"Fve overstayed my time tonight, you
see. Cynthia has persuaded me to have
some heavy tea with you instead Of get
ting back to Clayhill to dinner"
"fm afraid you'll find it bad ex-
change" he said; 1--WE don't keep tho
sort Of table you are used to-"
"Oh, shall do well enoughr' I an
swered; and then, seeing Cynthia move
towards the door, I opened 1t for her to
pass out, and turned round with my
back against it to speak my next words.
Horace had gone to the fire, and was
STOPPING with his hands held towards the
warmth; but he raised his head when I
spoke, and stood with one hand holding
nervously on the mantelpiece, looking
down at the flames with his profile to-
wards me.
'I Ihave found out everything, Horace" :"
said.
He made no answer, but his face
turned deathly pale.
at would be only waste of time to
tell you what think Of your behavior
to Cynthia,"I went on, "because you
know, without any telling, how utterly
contemplate 1t has been from beginning
t. nd. How any one having the poorest
spark of manhood in him could take
such cruel advantage Of n woman's for
bearance Is beyond my understanding.
"Did she tell your he asked sullenly,
and not raising his head.
It would have given mo unqualified
qualification to have stalked across tho
room and shaken him until the breath
was nearly out Of his body; but l remem-
bered Cynthia, and kept my anger well
under control.
"She tell mer' I cried witheringly.
"You know she did not. Now the only
question is, What am to do with youi
suppose, with your usual delicacy, you
have counted on my relations with your
sister to save you from public exposure;
but I'm not sure after all that a period
of imprisonment would not be the very
best thing that could befall you! At any
rate it would remove you from the infiu.
ence of your present circle Of acquaint-
ances."
Imprisonment" he echoed, turning q
scared, incredulous face to me. "You
would never do such thing--you would
not darel Besides, what have / done to
deserve it2"
"Done to deserve it! Why, hanging
would be too good for you if every one
got his deserts, you good for nothing
scampr whispered vehemently, trem
bling with the effort it cost me to keep
quiet. Don't mistake me, and think
I am alluding to your paltry theft from
me; it's your dastardly conduct to Gym
thia that / should like to punish you for.
But ! can't touch you for that, SO I'll
take it out by Furnishing you for this
other matter"
what other matterf' he asked, re.
suming his sullen contemplation of the
fire. ~ don't know what you mean"
'That's all rubbish!' / said, feeling
ashamed Of myself for bullying him.
"You know well enough l mean this!"
took up the book from tho table and
showed him tho blank tally. snow wait
just two minutes, and let me speak be-
fore you perjure yourself. This cheque
was torn out Of my cheque book between
the time left my office last night and
the time you returned the book to me
this morning, after having it In your
possession all night. Be quiet, will you,
and let me finish! You must see for
yourself how clearly suspicion points to
you; and, if put the matter in the hands
OF the police, you will find yourself in
the uncomfortable position of man un-
der police surveillance. But I'm going
to make you an offer. Girs me back the
cheque-if you have not parted with it
or tell me to whom you have given it,
and will prevent its being presented
for payment, and SO save you the dis
grace of bank prosecution"
"You're uncommonly kind, Mr.. Quin-
ton," he said, with mixture of bravado
and fear in his manner; "but I can't take
advantage of your generous offer, for /
neither have the cheque in my posses.
sion nor have given it TO any one; SO
I'm afraid shall have to stand the dis
grace Of a bank prosecution, after all.
But, if you do put the matter into the
hands of the police, think you'll live to
be sorry for it-that's allv
OF course this meant that my engage
ment with Cynthia would be endangered
If prosecuted him; and yet there was
something in his manner that made me