Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27
CHAPTER IL

Mr.. Lispenard sank into one of the rich
chairs. 1t CHANGED to be Venetian piece
of furniture, and his gaunt frame and
| elderly visage, both so clearly touched with
| modern meanings, made an odd contrast
with the velvet and carvings of this archaic
seat.
"You said-horrible news-Uncle Craw-
ford?''
Alonzo dragged forth the words while his
gaze wandered among the tumultuous
beauties of the room, though it possibly did
so without seeing one of them.
''Yes, my boy. The firm has gone.It's
been Chichester's work. No one knew. I
think some woman has been dragging him
into the whole horror-a middle-aged man
like that. He's drawn enormous sums and
gamblcd them away. It must have been
going on for good while You see, 1
was careless about the books 1 left all
that to Chichester; my confidence in him
was so perfect. 1 might, of course, have
suspected. 1 knew that he lived high, be-
longed to fashionable clubs, entertained
troops of friends. But there was so much
money for his share that never dreamed
he could even spend his own income from
year to year. And all the time he was
plunging into your money, into your sis
ter's, into mine. There's one Wall street
operation alone by which he must have lost
two millions. And he's been so Internally
crafty with it ell! Even in dying he showed
a certain shrewdness, waiting till the very
last enjoyable moment before he killed him
self''
"Killed himself" echoed Alonzo
Haven't you seen the evening papers?"
replied his uncle. chichester wa, found
in his bedroom at 2 o'clock TODAY, shot
through the head, and evidently by his own
hand"
There was now silence, during which
'Alonzo stole up to his uncle's side and be-
gan to stroke that gentleman gravish locks
and pat one of his shoulders with affection
ate fervor
Under Crawford, " he said, "you mustn't
let this awful thing affect you too much.
Now that 1 look at you closer see
just how jaded and upset you are. I'm so
sorry for you-indeed, indeed 1 am!''
Crawford Lispenard's eyes filled with
tears He was called by the world rather
frigid old celebate, and he was known to
live lonely and loveless life. Perhaps in
thirty years he had never really wept until
now.
You're sorry for me, Lonz?" he
murmured. "And you don't think of
yourselfA you don't think-?''
''Oh, yes, do" the nephew broke in.
He went and touched bell, coming back
to his uncle's side, with a faint, futtered
laugh leaving his lips. "That is I'M be-
ginning to think of myself But it's all so
strange, so dazing, don't you know?''
When his bell-touch was answered he said
lew words to the servant, who presently
brought goblet of champagne, which he
insisted on having his uncle sip. Then,
when Mr.. Lispenard had evidently felt the
aiding effects of the stimulant, Alonzo went
down stairs with him to his carriage 81
must turn up among my guests, ';he ex-
planned, "or they'll think this one of nv
rankest capers-and I'm always cutting ND
capers; at least everybody tells me so. There,
go home, and I'll Join you between now and
10 o'clock, surely. Don't worry too much.
Things may not be SO frightfully bad for us,
after all -
And he insisted on going with his uncle |
air, and closing the carriage door with his |
own hands. Then he returned to bis guests
who were wondering at his absence, He
heard a voice whispering in his ears above |
the gay strains of the music.
you've lost everything" said the voice:
"you and Kitty are paupers r. But when |
people asked him whittier he had gone he |
made light answers, and in the very teeth of |
a generally-announced departure he bade
the musicians strike up polka, and danced |
ut his merriest pace with two or three DIFF
ferent partners
The fareweIls now followed, and, excsnt
for Kathleen, her mother, his sister, Mrs.