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


book lying on the table, and was afraid
at first that he would make some sdmis.
sion Of his guilt before Cynthia. Above
all things 1 wished to kesp all knowledge
OF his backslidiDg from her, SO I spoke al
once.
''Tve overstsyed my time to.nieht Won
see. Cynthia has persuaded me to have
some heavy tea with you instead of get
ting back to Clayhill to 1inner.u
Pm afraid You'll fud it a bad OK.
change" he said; 1--WE don't keen the sort
of tables you are used to.''
''Oh, I shall do well enoughr' answer.
ed; and then, seeing Cynthia move to-
wards the door, l opened it for her to pass
out, and turned round with my back
against it to speak my next words.
Horace had gone to tie 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 mantlepiece, looking
down at the flames with his profile TO-.
wards me.
II have found out everything, Horace, s"
I said.
He made no answer, but his face turned
deathly pale.
at would be only q waste of time to tell
you what / think Of your behavior to
Cynthia" went on, because you know.
without any telling how utterly contempt.
tible 1t has been from beginning to end.
How any one having the poorest spark of
manhood in him could take such cruel adj
vantage of q wOman's forbearance is be.
yOnd my understanding.
did she tell yon?' he asked sullenlv.
and not raising his head
1t would have given me UNQUALIFIED
qualification to have stalked across the
roam and shaken him until the breath was
nearly out of mis- body; but 1 remembered
Cynthia, and kept my anger we'll under
control.
'ahe tell mt?" I cried witheringly.
You know she did cot. Now the only
question is, What am I to do with YOU?
suppose, with your usual delicacy, you
have counted on my relations with your
sister to save you from public exposure
but Pm not cure after all that q period OF
imprisonment would not be the very best
thing that could befall you! At any rate
it would remove you from the influence o.
your present circle Of acquaintsnces.
Imprisonment" he echoed, turning g
scared, incredulous face to me. "You
would never do such thing-you would
not dare? Besides what have 1 done &c
deserve il?
Done to deserve it Why, hanging
would be too good for you if every one got
his deserts, you good for nothing scamp ~
whispered vehemently, trembling with
the effort it crst me to keep quiet. "Dor't
mistake me, and think l am alluding t.
your paltry theft from me; it's your das-
tardly conduct to Cynthia that l should
like to punish you for. But l can't touch
you for that, 80 III take it out by punish
ing you for this other matter"
what other mstter?" he asked, resum
ing his sullen contemplation of the fire
81 don't know what you mean"
That's all rubbish ~ 1 said, feeling
ashamed of myself for bullying him. "Yor
know we'll enough l mean this ~
took up the book from the table arc
showed him the blank tally. Now wal
Just two minutes, and let me speak be
fore you perjure yourself. This chequt
was torn ont of my chsque book between
the time left my office last night and TIT
time you returned the book to me thil
morning, after having it in Jour possession
all night. Be quiet, will you, and let mi
finish You must see for yourself how
clearly suspicion points to you; and, if
put the matter in the hands Ct the police
you will find yourself in the uncomtorta
BILE position of man under police surveil
lance. But Pm going to make you ar
offer. Give me back the cheque-if you
have not parted with it-or tell me to
whom you have given il, and I will pre-
vent its being presented for payment, and
so save you the disgrace of a bank prose
cntion."
You're urcOmmonly kind, Mr.. Qnin
tor" he said, with a mixture of bravadC
and fear in his manner, "but l can't take
advantage of your generous offer, for
neither have the check in my possession
nor have l given it TO any one; so l an
afraid l shall have to stand the disgrace o.
4 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 il
that's allr
OF course this meant that my engage.
ment with Cynthia would be endangered
ii I prosecuted him; and yet there was
something in his manner that made me
wonder for moment if it were possible
for any one elae to have got at the book.
With this idea came tie memory of Lev
ems remark that morning about the queer
company Horace went into, and the
chances of his pocket being picked.
went to the wretChed boy and put my
hand upon his shoulder.
Horace, answer me one question truth
fully" said. 'Where did you 90 while
you had the book IN your possession last
night?"
He looked up at me still defantly; but
evidently he caught my idea, for he an
swered:
81 didn't take the book out with me-
if that is what you mean. l left it al
home on the sidebosrd, and there found
it when 1 came back at II o'clock"
"And that is what you call taking ii
away for ssfety?"
Cynthia was here all the evening, u
he began, and then stopped himself alb
ruptly.
81 quite see the force of that remark, "
said, "but since you had undertaken the
guardianship of the thing you ought to
have put it under lock and key. How were
you to know who came in and out Of the
room while you were away?"
Cynthia knew it was there, and fell
surs she would look after it."
lob, Cynthia knew it was there?"
''Yes: she saw me turn it out OF my
pocket, and asked me what it was, and
told her all about it. 1t was through hel
advice that left it at home"
TO BE CONTINUED.