The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-10-12

Old Merwhyn was not long in making his APP
pearance, closely followed by his wife
81 have come on most unpleasant business,
Mr.. Merwhyn," Holden began, without any
further prelimiuaries, "and only pity and my
strong regard for you has prevented me from
Immediately placing the whole matter in the
hands of the police"
"The police ?" stammered Mr. Merwhyn.
YES" Holden went on, as IL he had pre-
pared his speech beforehand. care you aware
that your son has not been at the office for
three daysY"
Mrs. Merwhyn here produced her pocket
handkerchief, aud Mr. Merwhyn remained
silent
81 see by your looks" continued Holden,
THAT you arc aware of the fact. l will explain
further. On Monday he came to Westminster
street for about an hour, was there alone, hay
ing sent the boy on a fallacious errand for
cigars, left the Office before he returned, and
has not been seen since. Pray do not interrupt.
had myself been out of town for a few days.
This morning, going as usual to business, l as
certaned the above details, and although Justly
angry at Ralph's gross neglect of duty, l had no
suspicious, till going to my safe saw that it had
been tampered with Securities had been re-
moved, with a sum of fT00 in notes and cash,
making total of $1,000. No one has had ac-
cess to the safe except your son, who has a
duplicate key. The evidence is conclusive
against him, and l am here to tell you that un-
less the whole sum is refunded to me within
twenty-four hours by him or by you shall have
him arrested as thief and felon."
Mr.. Holden stopped. He was out of breath,
and wiped his forehead as if he had gone through
some severe eXertion, but in spite of uncompro-
missing menace his tone had a certain lack of
vindictive animosity which emboldened the
panc-stricken father to say: sin my sons name
formally repudate this charge"
But just as Mr.. Holden's denunciation had
been Unconditional Mr.. Merwhyn's defiant denial
had no convincing warmth. The architect, in
stinctyely conscious of this, resumed with more
determination. "You have heard my ulti-
matum. l am sorry for you, but the sum 1
mentioned must be paid to me at once, Or"
''You said in twenty-four hours" hastily in
terposed Mrs. Merwhyn.
81 don't say did not, querulously answered
Mr.. Holden. ''What do you decide ?''
The old couple exchanged troubled look.
After slight pause Mr.. Merwhyn said hesi-
tatingly: Tomorrow by IL you shall have our
answer
The architect bit his lip. He seemed about to
moved toward the door. Before opening it he
stopped, turned, and, without looking at Mr..
Merwhyn, said hurriedly: 81 may as well add
that L have already ascertained where Ralph is
at present."
The old people started
eyes" continued Holden, "from source on
which l can depend, information has reached
me that he is in Boulogne. If the money is not
paid-not returned-he shall be arrested there,
or anywhere he may think fit to hide himself,
and be brought back to trial. He is watched.
Good morning.
When he had disappeared Mr. and Mrs Mer-
whyn looked at each other with incredulous
despair.
''What we knew was bad enough, John"
said Mrs Merwhyn, in trembling voice. "but
that it should come to MiS-our boy to rob a
safe %
"Hush, Susan, hush ~ said the old man impa-
tiently; don't put it into words-nobody need
ever know-we can pay it back-we don't want
TO save money at our age-we have only our
good name and our reputation to think Of, and"
his voice broke, 'our only child''
at can't be true" said the mother
yesterday would have sworn that it was
not but, by his own confession, it looks ugly.
Read his letter again, Susan; we may under
stand it better now"
The old lady drew from her pocket an envel-
ope with foreign postmark took out letter,
and, putting on her spectacles, read aloud:
BoULoGNE-sUR.MER, May25
DEAR FATHER, DEAR MOTHER: Don't be un-
easy at not seeing me. | must keep away from
England for while. but things will soon right
themselves never fear. You must explain nv
absence somehow @ % and not reveal to any one what
love with lovely and admirable woman Sheis
married to brute who does not understand her
ana makes her life long martyrdom. She con-
nded in me; we agreed to set the world at defiance
she consented to leave her miserable home and
to put herself under my protection till such time
as a divorce Will set her free to become my hon
ored Wife. charge you to keep my secret-any
indiseretion might bring ruin and disgrace upon
us. Let no one even suspect that am here A
letter or telegram addressed to M. Smith, l5 Rue
des Pipots. will find me. Do not Judge me too
harshly. Your loving son,
RALPH MERwHYN.
Seen by the light of the revelations of Mr..
Holden, this letter filled the parents with new
terror. The fact of Ralph's appearing abso-
lutey free from any fear or anxiety respecting
money seemed confirmation of his guilt.
Bowed down with sorrow and shame, they at
last agreed to wire to the address at Boulogne,
using the false name given by Ralph, and com
posed the following message:
mands instant restitution of el000, for which r.
h. is made responsible Wire if s. H. entitled To
payment of such sum.
Mr.. Merwhyn despatched his telegram at a
distant office, of which he gave the address, and
having prudently paid for the answer, he waited
patiently for three hours till it came. 1t was