Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-06-16
CHATTER II

sweet fare rlouiei by n luh II anxiety
and. fan,ird. . little rspruach
CHAPTER II.
H. NY own heart was not all es
I-v'tni ~ any telegram from Harold
iiudrn setting matters straight, TN tho
contrary. hal an ininitiVe s"nse n sefi
uu- trouble coming "a me before this
mystery would ever he cleared up And
si-e tel II 81 begin aith Mr. BENJAMIN
Hunh,t. . snrt ~ silent partner - ours
who had pat o. uO0 into the business
nuI siuui good chance ~ losing u all
Il Ne wcie swampcd by my partner .
action. Ito could have affuflcd IL luaa
~ zee. 80 20 ,imca a. much but. ~ |
VII knew. was not tho man a. take any
pride Ia standing such lo-- with Chris
tan resignation. Aud tho situation
With him would be complicated by the
'act that Harold aud hts only child. An.
lic Bunker. were lovers. and hs hal
gwen hia consent Ia their marriage
within couple ~ months Would that
consideration mollify him aud dispose
him 10 hush things and prevent q scan.
ial Tor Annic'a sakci Well. u might
have that effect un som. inen. hut not
Those ~ tho iienjam bunker type. lie
would be much more likely Ia ace In
iIarulds action flight fru,n matrim my
and an IN ended slight cast upon his
daughter. which would make him fero-
eiouHly vindiriiye. Aud YET he would
haV. Ia H. Informed 20 ". All things
considered. believed u would ie pleas
snt"Ht H. break tho news Ia him hy let.
ter. and was still cugita,ing upon the
phrases should employ Ia such com
tnunica'ion when upon reaching tho
stor" the hrst IerH"n Ia PRESENT himself
b. my sight was MIR benjamin Bunker
lie was sitting on pillow beam In tho
open extension whcr" We kept the larger
| agricultural implements. mopping his
brow aud tanning himself with his wide
straw hat
"IIclloi" he shouted cheorily NJ I en-
tered. you've rot the coolest place In
town. I'm glad I've found II this early
In the Heason. for u this weather kceIm
on In the way u has started II will la
hotter than hadcs by tho Fourth. Put
ting mp this addition was grand idea.
Tho through draft Is glorious Hows
businessl Pretty dull just now. I sup
pose. Where's Haroldf'
answered his questions In their or.
der. feeling II prudent 20 give the best
news first. And fortunately I could
truthfully speak well u our trade. lie
was much pleased by my report. Then.
as cautions and gradual leader In the
direction u tho inevitable trouble.
which had now fully made up my mind
To face at once without trying to employ
q letter ~ IA lightning rod. | said;
"Oh. by the way. am daily expect
ing sight draft for some cultivators
ami plows and may have to call on you
for some ready cash TO meet II II II comes
this week"
He looked astonishcd and demanded,
What's the matter with your bank &C.
eountY'
simply that II was overdlrawn sos
this forenoon. have Of course made II
good and deposited enough 20 meet any
small necessary checks. but the draf,
will be for s,sj."
But Harold told me last week there
were over ti5. 900 standing TO tho firms
credit. which you expected to use In wool
and hops"
Yea. Quite true. But tho day 10.
fore yesterday no drew $l5 900. went 70
New York and has not been heard from
since"
What did ne draw that amount forr
II don't know"
ibid he not tell you anything abou!
itY
no.
ibid you know no was going to New
York;
mo. was out Of town from Early In
the morning until evening. when called
Oh Miss Linden and tn ,rs found note
from him saying he had gone. but I did
not know he had drawn the money until
today"
Twas not disappointed in the way Mr..
Bunker rose TO the occasion. He never
looked so big. red and vigorous before
in my knowledge or demonstrated such
an untrammeled freedom Of Language
mainly Of objurgatory varieties. That
my partner hal cleaned out the firm
and run off to Europe with his plumber
he took for granted, and his rage culmi.
mated when he recollected the fugitives
engagement to his daughter. Both as q
thief and fool" he mathematical
the young man. and it would not have
been easy TO determine in which light he
regarded him with most disfavor. Final
ly ho seemed 10 get IL into his head that
was somehow 10 blame, enough ct least
TO deserve some part Of the cursing Har-
old escaped by absence. but I stopped
HIM pretty abruptly when he took that
tone, and We parted in no good humor
with each other fancied he would be
an unplcasing person at the family table
that evening. and he was. rs subsequent.
ly learned. but after all he was n much
better hearted old fellow than gave him
credit for being. as events soon showed.
When he left me. was not only sorely
troubled about my financial position,
but very angry with him and deter.
mined that nj all costs | would be quit ~
him forever, and that In q way which
would leave him no excuse for saying
anything disagrreable about ms. So
went Ia my lawyer. Mr. McQuillop. and
directed him 10 procure for inc by mort
Fagrng INV homestead. "a fine farm near
tie town. a sum which would enable me
1" wa uut Mr. llunkers by no means
'Tii'nt interest IN my affairs and enable