The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-13
THE BANKERS CRIME
Diamond Cut Diamond.
By NATHAN D. URNER.
CHAPTER x.

buu LIS SUI pul IN Va 49, eAS-Sb
with the exception of Miss Winford pre-
siding at the coffee-urn and tiay, though
seldom eating anything in their presence,
and usually with one of the other do
mestics in atten dance as waitress.
A mingling of economy and preten SION,
with growing tendency in favor OF the
former. had for wears been the main
characteristic of the household, the
aproned coachman and green-grocers
small boy of the evening before having
constituted an addition of os!entat!on
but seldom attempted.
The breakfast Of the Sunday morning
under consideration WIS not at variance
with it's predecessors.
True, Mr.. Marlowe was looking so
haggard and preoccupied as to attract the
attention of Noel, who asked, with some
anxiety, about his nights rest, but with
out eiiciting other than an Indifferent
reply; while the housekeeper, after ponr-
ing out the coffee, kept her eyes demurely
covered, as was her custom, and the ser
want fitted here and there, as occasion
demanded.
Mr.. Marlowe was usually blessed with
great appetite, but this morning he ate
comparatively nothing, and it was evi.
dent that he was i'll at ease.
by the way, Noel" said he, as the
young man was pushing back his CHAIR,
you found the newspaper you had mis-
laid. I suppose2"
yes; it was lying on your Office table
with q mass of other papers. However,
did not read to Adele the article
wanted to, after oil, and now it is of no
consequence" :.
The banker was aching to ask him If
l.r fnn
missing document, at the finding of the
newspaper, but he lacked the moral ceur-
AGE to do so. He shuddered at the bare
possibility of the young man chancingto
find it in one of his pockets, as conse-
quence, and, perhaps, obtaining glimpse
of its significance.
Shall you 90 to church," he therefore
contented himself with asking, as Noel
arose from the table.
Not for the morning service" WAS the
reply. Il shall stroll over to Jasmine
Lodge, after my cigar is finished. Adele
will be expecting me"
Mr.. Marlowe was not long in following
him .pt of the room. He went to enjoy
his own cigar in the garden, Noel hav-
ing selected the library for his digestive
smoke.
Though the other members Of his
household were strict in taeir religious
observances, and he was pleased to have
it 80, for the sake of appearances, the
banker himself never went to church.
He was so absolutely selfish as to be
incapable of religious conviction, or even
Of religious feeling; and, perhaps, it was
something Of glimmering offset to his
heavy and increasing account with NOR
elity that he never coupled his scoun.
~,;x ho hryp<nriov rsT Y1nuE
blance.
There is no real money in l. for tu,o, "
he had long been accustomed to say to
himself; 10 be sure, responsibility 10 q
SOFT of power in itself, and is often OBJ
tanned and cultivated by ssntimonious
shurch-going; but I've always felt more
comfortable oomrading evil Ast-footed,
and 80 I shall continue"
he had already hit upon plan For
hiding the evidences of has violent deed,
which, for the time, was naturally en-
crossing him even more than the A.ystery
of the missing document.
The gardener had been digging in the
back cellar few days before, by reason
ef an imperfection in one Of the drains.
snd had, perhaps, left the implements m
his labor where they could be made avail
able.
1t was to that place the dead body
should be conveyed, and buried away Tn
der the brick pavement and deep down IN
the stiff clay.
Such was the bankers plan, and now,
while pacing the garden walks, hc lmpa-
tiently waited for the house to be empty,
in order to carry it out.
At last the propitious hour arrived.
Noel going first, old Alworth following,
with his daughter, on the way to church,
and finally, as had long been the order
of the day, staid Miss Wiuford going out
Of the gate on the coachman's arm, fol-
lowed By the cook and two housemaids,
in their best demeanor and newest gowns.
Mr.. Marlowe waited yet little longer,
to make sure against possible interruption
by a return for some forgotten article, and
then hurried into the house.
He locked the street door behind him
snd satisfied himself that the other doors
we're equally secured.
But he was determined to make assur.
ancedoubly sure. A sneak thief might,
possibly, have secreted nlmseIr some.
where in the house; and, though such a
thing had never happened before, it would
not now do to accept tho faintest possi-
hility Of witness to what he was about
to do.
He explored every room in the house,
not even excepting the poor rooms at the
top. occupied by lhe Alworths.
At length, fully convinced that he was
the only living person there, he descended
into the back cellar to complete his prep
arations.
1t was large, paved with brick, and
irlylighted by horizontal windows high
up in the walls Of either side.
1t had long been in comparative disuse,
and barrels we're scattered here and there;
but, nevertheless, in one conner were the
evidences of the brick and earth having
been disturbed over the drain, and, best
of all, there. leaning against the mason
~, were spale and pick.
Mr.. Marlowe at once threw off his
dressing-gown, chose place directly in
the center of the cellar, and, a-ailine
himself Of the tools alternately, set to
work with the vigor and determination
that marked everything he undertook.
Though unused to manual labor, he
had, in less than an hour, effected an e1-
cavution about seven feet long by two
wide, and three deep; and then he gave
over, satisfied with what he intended
should lie the grave of his victim and the
1oncealment of his crime, and lndifeT-
ent 10 the fact that he was breathless and
streaming with persp!ration, and that hit
slippered feet were soiled with clay.
1T will answer" he muttered to him.
eelf, slipping on his dressing-gown again.
Thank good ness, the hole is easier filled
more will finish everything. and give me
chance to clean myself besides"
He went up the steps, unlocked the
~aor hol ypnpinotiDD 6Oor Of the