Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-08-18

"All rightw ne answered. I'll come
back as soon as I've given Richards these
he's waiting to run up to the General
with them"
"Tell him TO take hanson, or he'll be
late" I called after him, land he can
bring it back for me-"
Then began to clear my table as quick
" as could, and, while l was doing so, l
heard the clocks chime the halt hour
after 6
without stopping to finish my task, I
dashed up stairs and began to dress as fast
as 1 could.
Horace followed me in few minutes,
unpacked ny bag, and helped me into my
things.
Richards, who lived on the premises,
was back sgain by the time l was dressed,
and was waiting in ths hall, with the keys
ia his hand, to lock Up. After Office hours
we went IN aud out ny small side door,
which led into the dwelling part Of tie
house. from which ths offices were separa-
ted by heavy doors half way down the hail.
When these doors were locked there vas
no communication between the BUSH ess
ard the private parts of tbs house. So
Richards 57aited to let NE out 81 the front
door. becsase the cab could not Let up to
tss narrow alley leading to the side en-
trance.
evil you come as far as 90 upon your
road Horacs?n l ssked, as l slipped on
NO: won't bother to stop you to ct
ma down - he answered. Besides, l
have to get ny coat. Ta-ts 1 hope
you'll be IN time"
As The cab moved of l saw him turn
hack into the doorway of the outer Office
egsin. and Richards behind him reaching
mn 10 LIGHT his taper at the hall bracket,
evidently with the intention Of giving
Horace a light to fad his coat. had
hardly reslizsd this TO myself when l sud
denly remembered that had left my pri-
vats cheoue book lying on my office table.
I was certain ofit Wnen heard the half
hour chime had waited for nothing, and
/ knew had not put it away before. II
fact had left it on the table en- purpose,
intending to fill in another check to take
with me as my donation to the Masonic
school; but had forgotten sll about it in
my hurry.
However, there was no great harm done,
I assured myself; no one would 90 into
the room between now and tomorrow
morning except Richards and his wife,
and they were trusted servants Of many
wears standing In spite Of all my efforts
at feeling comfortable, however, there was
a lurking sense Of uueasiress in my mind
IS often as I recalled that glimpse l had Of
- - ,rTr rr,ro na - arfr
ness Of the outer office-whica led through
into mire-and slow, steady old Richards
stopping TO Eight his taper at the ball
bracket before following him.
Ii was in vain that, as often as this idea
presepted itself to ms, brought myself up
sharply and mathematical my narrow
minded preiudices, and so on. The
tbought would recur and could not
get rid of it, bully myself as much as l
/ liked.
1t was quite relief when my solitary
drive was over TO find myself among a
number of friends and acquaintance, and
to be able TO uut the ugly suspicion out OF
NV mind. Having once got rid of it, il
did not recur until The next morning,
when, oddly enough, my first thought was
of the cheque book.
I looked al my watch and found it was
half.past :. so I rang my bell and asked
Richards if he had seen anything of the
book when he had shut my room up the
night before.
i did not 90 into your room, sir" he
answered; 4 locked the door without
yoinq inside. Mr. Debsnhsm went il to
fetch his knife from your table, and
locked the door as soon ss he came out "
His knife?' I queIied; and then l re-
membered he had used it 20 erase wrong
initial on one Of the letters BE- had brought
me 20 sig1; but the remembrance did not
bring me much satisfaction. SIS Ms
Richards in the Office yet?' asked.
Eyes, sir, this half hour past"
"Then inst run down and see if my
cheque book is on my table-there's a
god fellow"
lay in a state of unpleasant expectation
u1til his re,urn-an expectation that was
fulfilled 60 the letter. There was no
chsCque book there
got up and dressed, feeling much too
worried 10 keep still, and was down in the
onter office when the first clerk-Mr
Lsvens-arrived He looked very much
sstonished when he saw me; bat, before
ne had time to say more than good morn
ing, Horace Debenham came following
on his heels. He too, looked astOnished
at my unusual esrliness-and confused,
too, I thought, when l told aim I wanted
10 speak 10 him for few moments in my
room. As We passed in was conscious
OF LsJens' keenly curious glance following
- ofr 81 80 ha
ace" knew, and possibly he hoped that
the yOuugsler was IN for reprimand.
As soon as Horace closed the door be-
hind hin, 10 my untold relief he took my
chCque book out of his pocket and gut it
upon the table.
THAT was what you wanted me for,
wasn't il?' be said coOlly. II saw it ly-
ing here when came in for my knife last
night after you had gone, so thought
he'd better take it home with me for safe
Is. I expected to have been here before
yen had time to miss 1t.
None but those who have gone through
similar experience can understand how
thankful I felt. 1t would have been bad
enough 10 have lost the book in any eiI
cumstances, bat to have lost it in such a
way that suspicion pointed to Cgnthia's
brother rs the thief would have been in
suppOrtable.
Thanked him for his fOrethought; and
was still standing with tine book in my
hand when Levens came in with the first
batch of letters, having just unlocked the
letter box.
He glanced at the check book curiously,
and under the impulse of the moment,
made more communicative by the relief to
my feelings, told him what had hap
pened. never saw 4 man so affected out
Of all proportion to the cause of his emo
ton as ne was.
And Mr. Dabenham had it in his care
all nightr he said, in a tragic tone.
We'll, think you're lucky TO have got
il back safe, Mr.. QuintOn-nOt that /
-. 80 1oA