The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-08-19
TIE BANKERS CRIME ;
-OR--
Diamond Gut Diamond.
BY NATHAN D. URNER.
CHAPTER XIII.

, tA0ucCAfcb INV OAOC1S IuolAoWO ptAFol0
Office, as Noel was quitting it to 60 up
such ss were calculated to cause the
banker and his legal confederate species
Of panic.
One, indeed, was q gaunt, keen-eyed
man, Of taciturn, business.like air, whom
they did not recollect to have seen before;
+, but the two principal figures were Jasper
I Harlowe and his wife, and they were &C
companied furthermore by no less q
parsonage than Mr.. Hartwell, whose
ability and gh standing at the London
bar had achieved for him something of q
national reputation.
Croak was the first to recover his self
possession, and he at once set about
fscing out the affair boldly.
~Ah, Mr.. Hartwell, how are you2" he
exclaimed, stepping forward briskly. Il
don't happen to be acquainted with your
companions, but of course a visit from
you must be esteemed high honor both
by Mr.. Marlowe here, and myself" And
he extended his hand with q smile that
was meant to be of engaging frankness,
! but was, nevertheless, more suggestive of
. hyenas snicker in place of skulls.
You can't really expect me to shake
hands with you, sir3" said the great law
f .JSGS WoNi2k 6b1bo I2O 0otot&OtSoSo pu3&9
With contsmptuous SURPRISE; and then,
rs his companions and he proceeded to
eoolly help themselves to seats, he turned
20 the banker, observing grarely:
= ~Y6u, sir, doubtless fss55c....sct me,
though it Is eighteen years since we met.
md, Of course, this gentleman and lady,"
with bland gesture, indicating Mr.. and
. Grs. Jasper Marlowe, ARE well known
i 50 YOU"
n mo such thing; and I don't care for
them, or you either, sir!" spurted the
banker, purposely taking refuge in bad
temper, the better to rally his demoral-
lied forces to the support OF his sur
prised assurance:
But what I do insist on knowing. Sir.
3 "a the meaning of this piece Of impu-
dence, siri Your conduct in thus making
your way, unannounced, into my house
: and my presence is scandalous, sir!
Zounds! shall demand an explanation
. Of my servants at once"
Red in the face, he fairly danced
scross the Office toward the door, which
had baen left open, but before he could
I, reach it Miss Winford made her appear
ancethere, and calmly confronted him.
You need 60 no further than me for
!, IN explanation, Mr.. Marlowe," said she,
quietly, but with peculiar ring in her
voice tn It was quite new to him. i al
ticipated the visit Of these worthy per-
sons, and was on hand to admit them
. without announcement. You may even
oxpect another visitor upon less cere-
mony presently"
& Her unexpected assurance almost took
his breath away.
!. -Insolent creature! are you crazy or in
ebriated?" he managed to gasp out. Quit
(: the room, or may not answer for myself!
Z Consider yourself dismissed from my SER
vice at this Instant"
s. Not 80. sir; and if you can not answer
for yourself, can and shall answer for
myself at the proper time, be sure OF
that" said the housekeeper, still without
) more than implied defiance, and she cool
IL swept past him. And as for consid-
ering myself dismissed, I confess !
s should have done SO from the moment
discovered you as the villain that you
are-and that vas sufficiently long ago
only have had certain ends Of my own
In view, which are now rapidly culmina:-
ing"
She then deliberately crossed the floor,
inclining her head to Jasper, mir. Hart
9 we'll and the stranger, and exchan ging a
friendly kiss with Mrs. Marlowe, after
which she seated herself slightly apart
from the rest, with her back to the window
I that stood between the side of the money
vault and the dividing rail, and looked
out upon the garden.
This is mopstrousi Woman, quit the
{ room!" thundered the banker, almost
beside himself with fury. but with new
md vague element of fear creeping oTef
him.
Mise winford slightly shrugged her
Z shoulders, and no longer even looked at
! him.
THE end is not just yet, but it is COM
ing, surely" she murmured, composedly.
1t will be we'll for you to be seated,
y Mr. Marlowe," said Mr.. Hartwell, slightly
rising, and motioning the irate banker to
the chair he had vacated. which was next
30 the one now occupied by Croak, and
facing the visitors, who were in a line,
with their backs to the dividing rail.
The grave charges that have to prefer
against you will require your utmost
oalmness to combat. Your lawyer and
3 confederate in the alleged crimes yonder
will be meet associate for you.
He, he. he! This is rich, decidedly
fich!" chuckled Croak, who was, none the
less, feeling very i'll at ease. "Wly not
make it regular melodrams, with g price
4 set for admissior2"
I don't choose to be seated" snarled
y Ine DanKer. Inere are no charges that
( >can be pr sferred against me-"
ITO prove to you, then, that We are at
least in earnest. perhaps had better in
troduce this gentleman to you" said Mr..
5 HartweI. turning partly around to the
= gsunt stranger, who slowly arose, with
stiff sort of bow, as though psItly un-
hinging himself.
Mr.. Dalhousie, let me make you
known to Mr.. Gilbert Marlowe, the we'll
known banker OF Highcombe, and to
! Mr. Crosk, equally we'll known, and per-
haps even less enyiably notorious in legal
Z circles. Mr.. Marlowe, MIR. Croak, this is
Ar. Dslhousle, the present head of the
secret police service Of Scotland Yard,
London. Pray, do not stand on ceremony
.-i.ow each other. beet
Croak nervously changed the cross1n 6
Of his knotty little legs, while the banker
suddenly sank into his chair, growing
white and red by turns.
-Ha, ha, hal This is push ng the joke
30 extremities, he st .mmered forth, with
forced laugh.
-Ah be unco glaid to know the pair
sons. an to keep the twa O. them in my
6 cen, Master Hartwell, solemnly ejscula-
ted Mr.. Dalhousie, in the brosdest OF
Hebridean accents. and with another for
mai bow he slowly unhinged again into q
sitting posture.
Before proceeding formally with my
charges" said Mr.. Hartwell, suddenly as.
sum ny a brisk, bpsiuess.lLke tone aud
dtlneanor. 4 NAV deem it requisite to