The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-08-21

trade. The firm had been Lafarge. Sons
& Co. five years before, but the Co. who
was Jules Boullet and who was very rich
had gone out when jean Bsptiste Lafargs
died, and the son Armand and Hypo!ite
had succeeded. Phil had sailed one OF
their vessels just before he got the larger
ship, the Greyhound, and he and the boys
were great cronies. On his way he pass
ed through . narrow, dirty side street
and suddenly saw before him the light,
wiilowy form, with the unmistakable
face OF Miss Tourie. She disappeared
inside Of tenement house, occupied by
the poorest people and known by the un.
favorable title Of Poverty Flats.
"By Jovei" he said, "she's gone In
there TO visit some poor wretch In dis.
tress. I'll go over TO Cassidy's" Cassidy
Kept saloon on the corner greatly fire..
Qnented By seafaring men-''and when
she comes out I'll join her. I'm bound
to find out who she really Is. Tourie isn't
her name. I'll swear to IT." Phil had q
habit of saying ''I'll swear to It," when
In point of fac. he had never been even
a witness In a suit and had never sworn
In anything in his life.
Phil got glass Of ale, which he didn't
like, and cigar, which was so bad tina,
he couldn't rs an excuse for lettering,
and having lighted the cigar, planting
himself at window commanding a view
of the door of Poverty Flats. He wait
cd nearly two hours and then gave 1t Up
1t worried him not little, for 1t was
getting dark and the neighborhood was
no place for girl as pretty and neatly
dressed as Miss Tourie to pass through
after nightfall.
| Misa Tourio ap1 Conta;n DbiI styi ,r N,
after the close of lessons and their chats
were longer, she sometimes not getting
away for a half hour, the two girls, glad
to escape from fats and sharps. leaving
the two naturals to themselves. What
they talked about don't know, nor did
they know themselves, probably. l used
to chuckle over their spooning. But as
| was just over nineteen, engaged In nurs-
ing reluctant moustache, cared moth
ing about the affair. She seemed a lit
tie old to me, my ideal of woman's age
being sweet sixteen, AMI SO the thing
went on-my mother somehow, or other,
never observing it-but went on swim
mingly.
Without intention, was present at the
elimination. had come home from the
Athletic Club, where had tired myself
with exercise and, as 1t was two hours
yet to dinner, l lay down on lounge in
the bay window recess, drew the heavy
curtains and sought rest. Somehow
got into a nap, but was awakened by
voices in the parlor near the recess. The
parties talking were Phil and Miss
Tourie.
~ am very sorry, Captain Crashaw, >
she said, THAT you should have suffered
yourself to form an attachment for me-
like you very much, indeed; hut beyond
mere friendship-well there is bar be.
tween US that can't be parted"
But" pleaded he. 81 love you sc
much. Helen; and If you only loved me
there is no bar which"
"a very strong one," She interrupted
him. $50 strong that neither you nor
could break it. l am very sorry thai
things have this shspe-still sorrier If !,
give you pain. And the worst Is that /,
cannot be-
All" said Phil, signing. "If you had
| loved the rough sailor
"Don't say that, for you are not rough
and If 1t were not for-well there is nc
one whom l."
go on, Helen. No one whom you
"Do not ask me, Philip. l have said
more than meant to-day"
movedY'
If it were should say Come. VIII
that satisfy your But this must be end
ed. Never renew the subject, or you
will drive me from this house forever
and these lessons here are part of my
daily bread, and needed for another sc
much. If you love me, as you say you
do, you will never approach this subject
again.
Never, Helen2"
Never-at least till l tell you so. Please
let me go!"
She left Philip did quarter deck fol-
awhile, and then went up stairs to his
own room.
l had been placed In perplexing posi-
ton i was an unintentional eavesdropper
To have revealed myself at the beginning
was impossible, for / was too dazed al
my awakening to realize affairs. To have
done it later on would have embarrassed
the parties, for had heard too much
The only thing left was to keep their
secret and hold my tongue about it, ever
to them; to betray no word or sign thai
l was their unknown confdant. But /,
interested me. l was the only one In the
house who did not care for Miss Tourie's
mystery, and there 1t was thickenipg a
round me. knew nothing of her visi,
to Poverty Flats, nor till afterward of the
facts to come. What was the terrible
bar? What has this woman done-she
with her frank face and great innocent
eyes?
noticed that Miss Tourie always left
after this Immediately that she had fin
ished lessons, and that Captain Phil went
incoming around devoid of his usua
chA rfuln ha
as usual; but the two apparently did not
meet.
Philip began to look out for ship.
He had changed his views and intended
to go to sea again. l thought | knew
why. He went to his friends. Lafarge's
Sons, and told them of his purpose.
81 am sorry we can't help you in the
matter just now" said Armand, "but
Wen keep our eyes open in your interest.
And now, l have something very queer
Philip expressed languid interest and
Armand went on.
"You remember the Endale defalcaton
that's the polite word, you know
about eight years since, when our firm
lost hundred thousand dollarsp"
II have some recollection. Endale
was q confidential clerk, wasn't her"
"More than that. Father had given
him tenth interest long before Boullet
bought into the concern. He had charge
of the entire foreign correspondence.
He was about the finest linguist | ever
saw. He could not only speak and write
French, Spanish and German, but was q
good hand with Italian and Portuguese.
Everybody believed in him, except But
then there was reason for that Dick
he was Dick for short with all of us
had key of the safe. One day, pack
age Of one hundred Thousand dollars In
notes was put together to buy foreign
exchange, but something deferred Its use
and 1t being after bank hours, the pack
age was left In the safe. Boullet storm
ed next morning about leaving 1t there
and said he would deposit It himself and
and draw a check against it for the ex.
change broker. He opened the package
to recount 1t, and it was nothing bu,
blank sheets Of paper. There was high
old time. Endale turned as pale as q
sheet. Well he might There were only
three keys, Father had one, Boullet one
and Dick the other. And Dick had put
the money away-after counting 1t,
That was how 1t now 1t Stood"
''It looked dark" said Philip, having
nothing else to say.
"Dark2 Black! There WAS arrow al
once and 1t ended In Dicks arrest
The Waterman At the store was arrested
too. He avowed that he had gone hi.
rounds through the warehouse that night
and while he was In the third story hs
heard . noise like the closing of the
front door. He ran down and found thu
night latch down all right. As the safe
lock was all right and had not been lamp
cred with and only the three knew the
proper work-it WAS before We had oul