The sun., 1891-07-09

"All right, said Crutch; "then just
put your name to this piece OF paper,
and Pll write you u cheque."
Driver was overjoyed. He put his
name TO what appeared to be an
ordinary acknowledgement of money
received, and in return was handed IL
cheque for fourteen pounds.
II asked for twenty" he said, feebly.
"Oh! it's all right" replied Crutch,
airily; ave always deduct the inter
est"
The fly had no moral courage to
speak Of and he c4ved in to the spider.
"After ALL" Driver argued to him
self, as he hurried homeward, 81 have
fourteen pounds, and perhaps | can
make up the other six in the morning"
He made it ACKNOWLEDGMENT, in
sending off the twenty pounds to
Bolter e Co., urged them to return at
least half his profits without delay.
A fortnight later William Driver left
the Office weary and sick at heart.
He had, according to BOIter & Co,
made some profit, which had been in
vested for him in q thing "aImOst
sure, which, ,unhappiy had not turned
out trumps.
But they could make amends for
one mishap by putting him on some
thing better than all. They were
not intaIible, and did not profess to
be. All they promised was success II
their clients were p"rscVerIng.
"How can persevere?" he mutter-
ed. "There is only one way
lie hurried on as if to fly away from
some dreaded foe. Arriving home, he
saw before he entered the house some
thing was wrong.
ArabelIa was waiting him, heard
his footsteps rushed out to meet
him.
"Oh Will, Will; u bailiff's in the
house What does it mean?
1t simply meant that Mr.. Crutch,
holder of bill OF sale upon the furni-
ture, had foreclosel, and unless he
was paid forty pounds within twenty
four hours would clear out the
house.
$50 | signed bill OF saIc?" groaned
the poor devil, "But forty pounds
how do you make that out?"
The man in possession didnot make
it out lie held his documents, and
that was enough for him. Mr. Crutch
had kindly sent letter to give the
party time, not wishing to press him
too closely. He would allow him un-
til the next evening to get the mon
ey.
It's all right" said Driver to his
wife at is all a mistake. | will put
it right tomorrow"
"And is that horrid man to stay i'll
the house till then?' asked ArabeIla.
81 am afraid So" groaned William.
The horrid man stayed, and in the
morning, on his way to the office,
| Driver called upon friend who held
q good position in 1irSt-clasS lawyer S
office.
From him he learned that he would
have to ''pay the money or lose every
stick he possessed" The Innocent
looking piece OF paper he had signed
at Mr.. Crutch' s office was all-powerful.
"More fool he, you may say, but
fools there have always been and
always will be-with knaves to prey
upon them. That night he brought
home the money, paid the man out
and the next day went into further
specuations under the guidance o.
BoItcr and Co.
The summer passed, and winter
came. Matters were all right at home
better, indeed, than they had ever
been. William was restless at times
but always in the highest spirits. HI
gave ArabeIla good winter dresses, anC
came out with a fur-cOllared coat tOl
himself. 1t was remarked by the
neighbors that the Drivers were getting
along in the world.
Arabella had never been so happy
since her first child was born. There
were four of them now, the eldes
seven years of age-pretty children
sunshine to the house.
Occasionally Arabella went tC
meet William at the station, to wall
home with him and tell him stories O
the wonderful things the last baby
had done during the day.
One evening she met him half way
but instead of going with her, to hel
great surprise, he stopped short.
"ArabelIa," he said, II don't thinl
I will come home Just yet"
ooh! Will, where are you golng?'
she asked with dOWncast face. g
hope you are not getting into fas
company"
"Not at ALL" he replied GO along
dear, and put the youngsters to bed
Kiss them for me-"
He kissed her, although it was il
public thoroughfare, and hurryin!
off, was lost in the darkness, never il
this world to be seen by her again.
What had happened that he should
thus desert his wife and little one
whom he loved so fondly? The story
is very simple.
He left the office at noon to ge
some luncheon, and, on returning {
little before his time was up, found al
the books in his charge had been tax
en- away.
A garrulous junior told him tha
Binder and Winder, accompanied b.
stranger who ."lOoked like an &C
count" had taken the books, anC
were at that moment examining then
in the private office of the firm.
Driver made no remark, but turn
ing on his heel left the office. An hou
OF 50 ldleG, IL NdS MIllSptIeu dl
over the place that he hac
been falsifyin his book
to cover the misappropriatiol
ofconsiderabe sums ofmoney ofwhicl
he had robbed the firm.
1t was the old story-a little takel
at first as a loan ''to be paid bacI
when luck turned" but "luck" KEEP
) on its wrong course for him, and h
followed it, getting deeper and deepe
into the mire, increasing his 'loans
as his losses multiplied, in the vail
hope of being able to pull all thing
right in one grand coup.
The police were sent to his hous
. that night, and as gently as the,
could told their errand. The shoe
to Arabella was tremendous.
, All though the dark hours she knel
by her sleeping children praying 70
them and her lost husband.
"Oh! to see him again-to share hi
lot-whatever it might be! Woman
like she reprOached herself with bein