The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-28
TAGGARTS GHOST.

"Ah," said Lawyer Drake as he die
taicd the last word Of a brief to hi
/ clerk. 81 think that will do Have
good copy carly tomorrow. Hulloa
/ I'm Just too late TO catch the G o'clocl
train. Guess I'll take my dinner in th
CITY"
lie rose and stretched his arms with
long drawn yawn Then be changed hi
coat, put on his hat and went out leav
ing the weary clerk transcribing hi
notes. After walking few blocks
down Broadway be turned into a marrow
street near Trinity. He was wondering
what friends he would meet al the res
taurlnt, when he CHANGED 10 look acros
the street. At an open window in tlH
second story sat a man with his ha
tipped back on his hcad-his hands ap
parently clasped in front of him.
"llulioa, Taggart" exclaimed Mr.
Drake, bowling and smiling.
The man in the window smiled bach
family. but said nothing. lie looked in
quiringly 40 the lawyer and Cesturcd
With both hands. Mr. Drake stopped
and asked with a puzzled expression
"What is it, The man in the window
continued TO gesture. Mr.. Drake thought
ho meant 10 say by his reckoning that
ho wanted the lawyer % reserve d chair
Tor him al tho restaurant. "All right,
called ont the lawyer and he continued
his walk But he did not see the express
sion OF pain and disappointment that
came over that mans features, or hear
the suppressed Great God! that burst
from his pale lips.
Mr. Drake tipped up chair at his side
when he had selected tablea and ordered
hisdinor lie invited brother lawyer,
who dropped in al the same time, to sit
no the table, saying "Taggart viii be
hero shortly" ln two Minutes they were
deeply interested in a discussion of the
latest sensation of the courts. The waiter
was about 10 serve dessert before they
thought of Iacgart again.
by JOvcI exclaimed Mr.. Drake, 81
wonder where the man Isl If you will
excuse me a minute i viii 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 lie
wanted % have me come"
When be reached the sidewalk he
looked mp at the open window and saw
the man sitting there as he had been at
first. but now his face was turned away
and he seemed To- be looking 10 the fur
ther corner of the room Mr. Drake
hurried up The stairs and opened the
door without ceremony. The man at
the window sprans mp with start, and.
rushing forward, seized the lawyers
hands and gripped them hard.
Thank God, you've Gomez he OK
claimed i'm "a weak voice. Il was afraid
you dad not understand me-
"Weu certainly did not, and DO not
now answered the lawyer. "Why!
what IS the mattcr-yOu are all AZ a
ucmblc. and your hands are like ice|
"Come this way. Mr. Drake, TO the
window where it is light, and 1 will tell
you That's it, sit down there and can
see your face plainly"
The trembling mans voice chOked and
he sank into chair. covering his face
with his hands. The lawyer looked at
him anXiOusly.
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, come!
that will be all cleared up in time; don't
worry"
"Mr Drake" said the other, instead
lily, "I'm not a man 10 break down un-
der business cares. / have brOOded over
my trouble somewhat, / admit, for when
"a man is PLAYED false by an associate,
who has been his life long friend, it goes
B. q l.. -
temporary loss OF confidence and credit.
Ruin l can retrieve, but the wound made
by my partner never can be healed. But
there is something more. What it is ]
do not know; / dare not think.
lie turned his head and glanced fur
lively at the safe ia the corner Of the
room. The Office was in its usual or
DERBY condition, and Mr.. brakes keen
ewes, following the fearful glance OF ms
friend, could discern nothing IN the
shadow cast by the massive safe against
the wall
Coo on, Taggart," he said, quietly
"what is it5'
Mr.. Taggart turned his pale face once
more 10 the light, and, looking the lawyer
straight in the eyes, continued:
"lt is now twelve days since my part
ncr disappeared. You remember that ]
came TO the Office unusually early on
that morning, and found the safe open
and an the cash and securities gone.
Harding and 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 10 persuade myself that Harding
had been nervous about the money, some
$4,000 that had been received the day
before too late for deposit; l said that
Harding had come down early, as l did,
with the idea of seeing that the money
was deposited as soon as the banks should
open. / thought his nervousness had
caused him 10 forget 10 lock the safe
again. But all the easily convertible Sc
cuIites were gone, too. Well, l stayed
here an day waiting for him to return.
The next day his own family put detec-
uvC5 on the case. Not a sign Of him has
been found He was traced from his
house on that morning to this Office, and
there every clew yanishes. Strange, was
t notY
"Smce that time ] have been in the
office throughout every day, and have
remained untiLlong after business hours,
ls ] did tonight. ! cannot say why
nave done this; it seems, somehow, as if
Harding would turn up, and IL thought
he might not come unless ! was alone.
Mr. Drake, Harding-has -- appeared"
Mr. Taggaft shuddered violently and
hen covered his face with his hands
Ills agitation began to tell on the law
yer, who nevertheless inquired with a
ew Of calmness, "Well, Taggart, how
vas it,
1T was about ten minutes before you
anne along said Taggart, huskily. Il
lad been sitting here brooding for more
han am hour. Almost all that time |
lad been looking at the safe. Sull think
ng deeply and wondering what had be-
.ome of Harding, l turned my mead to-
ward the street. | looked c,d absently,
iid not notice what was before me, and
IN a few seconds turned my head again
oward tho safe. Oh, Cod Right there
"a th0shadoW stood a man, haggard, pale,
eTibly cmaciated, in such an attitude
hat II seemed as If he must tOtter and fall
1 q f..tt..l.f a.