Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-03

TAGGARTS GHOST.

clerk. II think tnat Will DC. uaNe
good copy early tomorrow. Hulloa.
I'm Just too late to catch the Q o'clock
train. Guess I'll take my dinner in the
CITY,"
He rose and stretched his arms with q
long drawn yawn. Then he changed his
coat, pu. on his hat and went out, leav-
ing the weary clerk transcribing bis
notes. After walking few blocks
down Broadway he turned into narrow
street near Trinity. He was wondering
what friends he would meet at the res
taurant, when he CHANGED TO look across
the street. At an open window In the
second story sat man with his hat
tipped back on his head-his hands ap-
parently clasped in front OF him.
'Hulloa, Taggarte exclaimed Mr..
Drake, bowling and smiling.
The man in the window smiled back
family, but said nothing. lie looked in
quiringly at the lawyer and gestured
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
he meant to say by his beckoning that
he wanted the lawyer to reserve 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
the suppressed Great God!' that burst
from his pale lips.
Mr.. Drake tipped up chair at his side
| when he had selected a 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 discussion of the
latest sensation of the courts. The waiter
| was about to serve dessert before they
thought Of Taggart again.
"By Jove." exclaimed Mr.. Drake, -!
wonder where the man is! If you will
excuse me u 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 me come.
| When he reached the sidewalk he
looked up 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 to the fur
ti,er corner of the room. Mr.. Drake
hurried up the stairs and opened the
door without ceremony. The man al
the window sprang up with u start, and,
rushing forward, seized tho lawyers
hands and gripped them hard.
"Thank God, you've come" he ex
claimed in a weak voice. Il was afraid
you did not understand me-"
''Well, / certainly did not, and do moi
now" answered the lawyer. Why
what is the m2tter-you are all OF &
tremble, and your hands are like ice:''
Come this way, Mr.. Drake, to the
window where it Is light, and l will tel
you. That's it; sit down there and car
see your face plainly"
Tie trembling mani voice choked ant
he sank into chair, covering his fac'
with his hands. The lawyer looked q
him anXiously.
Come, Taggart," lie said, soothingly
there's nothing new wrong. Is there
You've been brooding over that rascal,
partner of yours too much. Come, come
that will be all cleared up in time; don
worry."
MIR. Drake" said the other, unstead
lily, I'm not Il man to break down I'm
der business cares. have brooded owe
my trouble somewhat, admit, for whei
man is played false by an associate
who has been his life long friend, it goe
harder than the loss OF money and tn
temporary loss of confidence and credit
Ruin can retrieve. but the wound mad
by nv partner never can be healed. Blu
there is something more. What it is
do not know; dare not think.
He turned his head and glanced fur
lively at the safe in the corner of tn
room. The Office was in its usual OF
DERBY condition. and Mr.. brakes keci
eyes. following the fearful glance of hi
friend, could discern nothing in tn
shadow cast by the massive safe agains
the wall.
Go on, Taggart," he said, quietly
"what is it,
Mr.. Taggart turned his pale face ono
more to the light, and, looking the lawye
straight in the eyes, continued:
1T is now twelve days since my part
ner disappeared. You remember that
came to the office unusually early o.
that morning, and found the safe opel
and all the cash end securities gone
? Harding and were the only men in tn
a world who knew that combination. TIL
3 safe had not been tempered with; til
: proper combination had been worked
) that was clear. You know ! refused
believe that anything was wrong.
tried to persuade myself that Hardin
had been nervous about the money, som
$50, coo that had been received the da
before too late for deposit; l said tina
Harding had come down early, as did
with the idea of seeing that the none
was deposited as soon as the banks shout
open. | thought his nervousness ha
caused him 10 forget to lock the sal
q again. But all the easily convertible &
, curities were gone, too. Well, stage
here all day waiting for him TO return
The next day his own family put deteo
tives on the case. Not a sign of him ha
been found. lie was traced from hi
house on that morning to this office, an
there every ciew vanishes. Strange, wa
it not?
Since that timo l have been in tn
: Office throughout every day, and hay
remained until long after business hour!
as did tonight. l cannot say why
r have done this; it seems. somehow, as
Harding would turn up. and II though
he might rot come unless | was alone
Mr. Drake. Harding-has appeared.
$ Dir. Taggart shuddered violently an
( then covered his face with his hand:
His agitation began to tell on the Law
yer, who nevertheless inquired with
, show of ealmness, well, Taggart. no,
was it,
: 1T WIS about ten minutes before 20
came along" said Taggart, huskily. g
had been sitting here brooding for NOR
i. than an hour Almost all that time
' had been looking at the safe. Still thinl
/ ing deeply and wondering what had b
come of Harding. turned my head h
xr-ar I'd fhc OF I lcoEol ont n hcanfIy
did not notice what was before me, an
in few seconds turned my head agai
toward the safe. Oh, God, Right theI
in the shadow stood a man, haggard, pal
terribly emaciated. in such an attitud
= that it seemed as il he must tottef and ia
, forward would have thought it w
some decrepit beggar who had entere
stealthily had | not recognized uner
ingly my partners features. Harding
cried, starting up. and then-God bel
: me, Drakc.-he was not therew
/ "Oh, come, Taggart," exclaimed ii
lawyer, hastily. his blood chilling
spite of himself at his friends dramat
!, recital. 81 told you you had been thinl
! ing too much of this matter"
. stop, Drake" interrupted Taggar
! "that is not all. / sank back in my chat
+! not knowing what to do or think. WI
e absolutely certain of the testimony I
my own eyes. and yet doubted. kne'
0 what had seen, but what was the 81,
nificance of it? | dared not look agai
until | could reason myself out of IL
tremendous excitement that stirred m
. Just then you passed. tried to call o,
l to you, but. in spite of everything,
. could not open my mouth. wanted 20
. to come up at once, for, to tell the trutl
IL think was frightened. After 20
went on turned about and looked agai
at the safe. As sure as l sit here no
Harding stood there. He seemed to |
back Of the wall a bit and leaning. "A