Wichita eagle., 1889-11-12


Hunsdon, and tell her what good luck there
is in store for me, thanks to you, sir. And !
! will call on you at the address you gave me
in New York on Thursday, at 9 O'Clock In the
morning"
Hunsdonl That was a good way of. It
would be nearly morning when we reached
Hunsdon thought And while I was think
ing
Afford! All out for AKord!"
Could it be possibles Here was the bright
sun shining in at the curtained window, the
porter's jolly face close to mine.
''Make haste, sahI Afford, sahl Amt no
time to lose!"
/ made a dab at rny ulster, caught my bag
and made rush for the door, wondering as I
did 50 how and when could have gone to
sleep, and how lucky it was that had not
lay down IN the Deodora-
l glanced at my watch-an inexpensive
silver timekeeper-and found that it was
little past Z.
"EarlyI" said l. to myself; ''but old Met
calfe expressly said I was to lose no time
I'll go direct to Farboro's place"
AS the thought courssd through my mind
involuntarily clapped my hand on the
breastpocket in which carried the precious
package containing, as had been told, 1000
In bills of large denominations.
1t was not therei
In vain l searched; in vain I turned the
lining inside out. 1t was absolutely empty
staggered up against the nearest lamp post
with deadly sinking Of the heart.
Oh, that foul traitor with the starveling
face and the hollow eyes That fatal slun-
Der in the rocking arms of the Deodora
I could see it all now es in the clear deeps
of mirror. I had been duped, deceived,
ruined!
In the midst of my CONSERVATION realized
that had not an instant of time to waste.
hurried back to the station, telegraphed
to the next stopping place Of the express, in
terviewed the local police, and having done
all that there was to be done, decided that it
was best to return at once 30 New York and
make clean breast of it to Metcalfe &, Co.
Alas for my fond visions of prefermenti
The orange twilight was fading away over
the western roofs when l reached New York
1t was too late to go the ofice-the fat old
porter would have long since shut the iron
clamped doors.
1 scarcely cared to face Mr.. Metcalfe until
his after dinner glass OF old port had some
what softened the acerbity of his business
mood.
''I'il 60 home first" told myself. i've
got to break this news to Mollie-she may as
well know 1t first as last, poor grill And Til
20 to old Metcalfe afterward."
l skunk home through the byways, lurking
along like thief, and shrinking at the eyes
of an occasional policeman, until I reached
my own door.
Mollie came rushing into my arms with a
little shrek
''Oh, Toni" she cried, "did you find it
outs"
''Find what out."
"About the money, Tom. You left it
here"
| stared at her. Had she taken leave of her
sensesl
81 changed the waistcoat, Tom," she ut
tered rapidly, while you were gone for the
boots. This one had a button loose and
looked shabby, so put the other one in its
place, and l forgot to tell you OF it. never
thought of the money being In the pocket,
and here it lay, package and all, on the table,
when came back from the depot. Oh, Tom,
l haven't slept a wink since"
II haveln cried |, bursting into hoarse
laugh. 'On the sleeping car Deodoraw
caught up the package and rushed back
to the depot.
An express went out at few minutes after
Z, and l had barely time TO leap on the back
platform Of the last car.
l could have shouted and sung for very
ightness Of heart.
Altogether, it seemed as if the fates were
conspired in my favor.
Mr.. Dusantoy was In Europe and Mr. Far
bOro had only just returned. within the hour,
from jaunt to Canada fishing stream.
Every judcious of you, young man." said
he, ito wait until my arrival. This note
contains matter for my eyes alone"
Mr.. Metcalfe commended me also.
Il see," said he, that did well in leaving
matters to your discretion. Any expenses
you may have incurred during your stay in
Afford will be settled by the bookkeeper.
ooh, that WAS a mere triie, sir" said l.
And / took advantage Of my chiefs genial
mood to mention the case of Mr.. Bernard
Cushing, the pale youth whom l had hated
so heartily for few brief, agonised hours.
Mr. Metcalfe wrote his name down in a
certain mysterious pocketbook, which the
clerks, among themselves had nioknamed
''The Book of Judgment" and / knew the
matter was settled.
received substantial promotion the next
week.
Bernard Cushing was engaged under me,
and his gratitude was something touching.
AS for Moliie, she has not yet forgiven
herself for the fright she so unwittingly
gave me-
But | shall never again enter e sleeping
car without thinking of the Deodora.-Helen
Forest Groves in Saturday Night.