, 1889-01-27
TAGGART'S GHOST.

"Ah," said Lawyer Drake as he die
tated the last word of a brief to his
clerk 81 think that will do. Have a
good copy early tomorrow. Hulloal
I'm Just too late to catch the @ o'clock
train. Guess I'll take my dinner in tn
city"
He rose and stretched his arm with a
long drawn yawn. Then he changed his
coat, put on his hat and went out, leav-
ing the weary clerk transcribing his
notes. After walking n few blocks
down Broadway he turned into a narrow
street near Trinity. He was wondering
what friends he would meet at the res
t%aurant, when he CHANGED to look across
the street. At IN open window in the
second story sat a man with his hat
tipped back OF his head-his hands ap-
parently clasped in front of him.
"Hulloa, TaggartT" exclaimed Mr..
Drake, bowling and smiling.
The man in the window smiled pack
family, but said nothing. He looked in
quiringly at the lawyer and gestured
with both hands. Mr.. Drake stopped
and asked, with n puzzled expression:
what is it," The man in the window
continued to gesture. Mr.. Drake thought
ho mean to say by his reckoning that
he wanted the lawyer to reserve "a chair
for him at the restaurant. "All right"
called out the lawyer, and he continued
his walk. But he did not see the expires
sion of pain and disappointment that
came over that mans features. or hear
tho suppressed Great Godr' that burst
from his pale lips.
MIR. Drake tipped up n chair at his side
when he had selected q table and ordered
his dinner. He invited a brother lawyer,
who dropped in at the same time, to sit
at the table, saying: ''Taggart will be
here shortly" In two minutes they were
deeply interested in a discussion of the
latest sensation of the courts. The waiter
was bout to serve dessert before they
thought of Taggart again.
"By Jovel" exclaimed Mr.. Drake, II
wonder where the man is? If you will
excuse me n minute ! will step across
the street and see. | may have mistaken
his meaning. He waved his arms this
way and that, and thought he meant
he would meet me here. Perhaps he
wanted to have mo come"
When he reached the sidewalk he
looked up at the open window and saw
tho man sitting there rs he had beer at
tirst, bu now his face vas turned away
and he seemed to be looking to the fur
Their corner of the room. Mr.. Drake
hurried up the stairs and opened the
o without ceremony. The mar at
tho window sprang up with n start, and,
rushing forward, seized the lawyers
hands and gripped them hard.
THANK God, you've conner he ex-
claimed in n weak voice. Il was afraid
you did not understand me-"
well, certainly did not, and do not
now," answered the lawyer. ''Whyl
what Is the matter-you arc all of q
trcmble, and your hands are like icef"
Come this way~ Mr.. Drake, to the
window where it's light, and l will tell
you. That's it; sit down there and lean
SEQ your face plainly"
The trembling mans voice choked and
he sank into n chair, covering his face
with his hands. The lawyer looked at
him a~nXiously.
Come, Taggart," he said, soothingly,
there's nothing new wrong, is there?
You've been brooding over that rascally
partner of yours too much. Come, comel
that will be all cleared up in time; don't
worry"
Mr.. Drake" said the other, INSTEAD
lily, I'm not q man to break down IN
der business cares. have brooded over
my trouble somewhat, / admit, for when
II man is played false by an associate,
who has been his life long friend, it goes
harder than the loss of money and the
temporary loss of confidence and credit.
Kuhn / can retrieve, but the wound made
- a-J 49, 49, aNfSA SaAAA IL a III
there is something more What it is l
do not know; / dare not think"
He turned his head and glanced fur
lively at the safe in tho corner of the
room. Tho office was in its usual or
derby condition, and Mr.. brakes keen
eyes, following tho fearful glance of his
friend, could discern nothing in the
shadow cast by the massive safe against
the wall.
tsHo On T,rro h. ,o;l z.l-.
what is it,"
Mr.. Taggart turned his pale face once
more to the light, and, looking the lawyer
straight in tho eyes, continues:
lit is o twelve days since my part
ner disappeared. You remember that l
came to the office unusually early on
that morning, and found the safe open
and all the cash and securities gone.
Harding and l were the only men in the
world who knew that combination. The
safe had not been tempered with; the
proper combination had been worked,
that was clear. You know / refused to
believe that anything was wrong. !
tried to persuade myself nat Harding
had been nervous about the money, some
$50, GOO that had been received the day
before too late for deposit; i said chat
Harding had come down early, as | did,
with the idea of seeing that the money
was deposited Us soon as the banks should
open. | thought his had
caused linn to forget 10 lock the safe
again. But oil the easily convertible Sc
curities were gone, too Well, | stayed
here all day waiting for him to return.
The next day his own family put detec-
tivcs On the case. Not n sign of him has
been found. lie was traced from his
house on that morning to this office, and
there every clew vanishes. Strange, was
it not?
''Since that time l have been in the
Office throughout every day, and have
remained until long after business hours,
as l did tonight. l cannot say why
have done this; it seems, somehow, as if
Harding would urn up, and IL thought
he might not come unless l was alone.
Mr.. Drake, Harding-has appeared"
MIR. Taggart shuddered violently and
then covered his face with his hands.
His agitation began to tell on the law
yer, who nevertheless inquired with a
show Of calmness, "Well, Taggart, how
was itg'
1T was about ten minutes before you
Clmo nlOnp " said Tnppart bucEilv sI