The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-04

thor IN tho line Of his dofalcations. and kseI
ing back large sum OF money that beiobel
to It But ut that moment Northwick did NJ
consider that this money necessarily belonst|
to the company any moro than his dAustifeiI
house and farm belonged to Il. To DO surSX
was tho fruit OF money he had borrowed or TIL
from the company and had used in an end|
mously successful deal: but tho company I'd
not earned It. and In driving him into oorne|
In forcing him to make instant rostitution 4
all Its involuntary loans II WINS justifytng ~
In Withholding this part OF them. Northw1H
was man Of too much sense to reason y
plicity to this effect, but there was sophislz1
tacitly at work in him to this efroct. Will
made It possible for him to 10 on and stsQ
more where no had already stolen 80 muct
In fact 1t presented tho further theft as 81
OF duty. This sum. large as It was. rcaiil
amounted to nothing In comparison with ON
sum he owed the company: but It formed ri
only means Of restitution. and IL no did n
take It and use It to that end no might DO hot;
recrennt to his moral obligations. He cofs
tended. from that vcstibule Of his soul whey3
he was not thief. with that self OF his inmoH
where no was thiof. that 1t was ali most FOL
tunate. II not providental. as 1t had fallon os3s
Not only had his broker sont him that lArfl
check for his winnings In stocks the day III
foro. but Northwlck had. contrary to his ctit|
tom. cashed tho check and put the money Il
his safe instead OF banking It. Now lie couI|
perceive leading in tho Whole mattel
though Mt tho time It seemed fragrant dej9
ance OF chance. and sort Of invitation II
burglars. He seemed 10 himself like burx
lar, when he Ind locked the doors and pullet
down tho curtains. and stood before tho sa}t
working tho combination. He trombled. and
whom ut last the mechanism announced III
effect. with slight click Of withdrawing
bolt, he gave violent start. At tho saaiN
time there came O rough knock at the d0tS
and Northwick called out In the ohokinxsf5'
coherent voice OF ono suddenly rousod fr5je
sleep: "HeIloi Who's there2 What u itHsis
Its me-" said Elbridge. nd
oh. yesl Welt All right Hold on min
utel Ah-you can come back in ten or ffte0ls
minutes I'm not quito ready for you ystss /
Northwiok spoke the first broken sentsnosa
from the safe. where he stood in frenzy H
dismay: the more collected words weretuji
tered from his desk. where he ran to get Iii,
pistol. He did not know why no thought ri
bridge might try to force his way In; perhaH;l
1t WIS because any presence ON the outside 81
the door would hive terrified him. He ha4s
time to recognize that he was not afraid fops
the money. but that no was afraid for himsel,
in the act OF taking It.
Elbridge gave a cough on the other side a
the door. and said. with little hesitation. "AH
right" and Northwick heard him tramp aWa5
and 60 down stairs.
He went back to the safe and pulled opet}
the heavy door. whose resistance helped hid
shake of his nervousness. Then he took tlif
money from the drawer where he had laid m
counted 1t, slipped it into the inner pocket al
his waistooat, and buttoned II in thera -H}
shut the safe and locked 1t. The succession n
these habitual acts Gained him more anj
more. and after no had struck match AMI
kindled the fire on his hearth. which he hal
hitherto forgotten. he was able to settle agaitf
to his preparations in writing.
10 be C0ntinued) -r ~