The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-09

A"tASl unccrcmOnlOCSty, aud Locked
the door after him.
FOR two hours | made Il most vgor.
Gus search for that missing document.
ransackcd the closet, ovcrtu rncd and
pred INTO every nook and corner of my
desk, and examined the top of my en-
ployer's. The inside could not sec, it
being locked. In II moment OF impa-
ucncc and despair, even tipped up the
waste-basilct and looked through its
contents. Failure met me wherever /
turned At four o'clock | gave up the
search. Going over to the front win
dow, l sat down, or rather dropped
INTO chair. My face was streaming
with sweat, due to my constant search
and the situation in which | was
placed. was completely ''rattlcd."
tried to think, but could not Every.
thing went round and round. 1t was
necessary for me to resort to Il glass of
brandy from the bankers cabinet.
After that felt better NV mind be.
came calmer, and l could face the stu
alton with little more equanimitv.
glanced ut the clock. In very short
time would have to return to Rollins,
confess my defeat, and meet the pun
ishmcnt due me.
Thus | sat. staring down into the
street, with my mind i'll no pleasant
mood, | can assure you. Suddenly /
saw carriage coming down town.
sprang up and looked moro carefully.
Good Heavens! 1t was Vautwillcr's
1t stopped ut our door, the banker de-
seconded and entered the building. My
breath actually seemed to leave my
body. understood it perfectly. Roll
Inns, rcpcntinG of his action in allowing
me moment in which TO discover the
will, had notified Vantwillcr of its
loss. And here the banker was now,
on his way upstairs. In one minute he
would enter the room, see Inc before
him, and, knowing all, would either
send me out like dog or have me ar
rested For an instant wild desire to
bolt came over me. But only for an in
slant. | heard his slow step sounding
on the corridor outside. In ten seconds
the blow came. l braccd myself against
my desk, drew four deep breaths, and
stood ready for the volley. The door
opened. Vantwillcr came in, gazcd ut
me very pleasantly, and said
why! You here, Thurston; l thought
you were going to Tarrytown this af-
tcrnoon.'
felt as though some one had struck
me. My surprise was SO great, and the
revulsion of feeling so terrible, that /
fairly staggered Vantwilcr saw it.
Are YOU i'll. sir?" said he. whats
the matter with you?'
MIR. Nantwillcr," blurtcd out, "I
have lost your will"
Lost my will. What do you mean,
sire"
Yes, have lost it. This morning,
when YOU gave it to nc, l swear to YOU
1 put it in my pocket with my private
papers. When was about to give it
to Brunson's clerk, the ="
a very queer look came into Want.
willer's face, as though he suddenly
comprehendcd the situation. THAT
will, sir, is locked up in my desk.
That's just what came back here for,
to deliver it to Brunson myself"
"In your dcsls?" humble And then
the room grew dark. The windows
began to dance, and the floor to rock.
knew that 1 was falling and then
oblivion. had tainted.
awolic in my own room with Want
willcr himself at my side, Very soon
it was explained to me. When had
gone downstairs on the errand, after
having placed the will in the pocket of
my street coat, Vantwillcr remembered
omething he wished to see in the docu-
ment He went to my pocket, took
the will out and returned to his desk
While he was looking it over, the two
friends had seen entered, and in the
hurry and excitement of the moment,
he had thrust the will in his desk.
When l left the Office he had not no.
ticcd me, and, soon after. he departed
with his guests. The fact had not come
to him that he had entirely forgotten
about it until late that afternoon. lie
at once returned down town, to give
the document to his lawyer, and on re-
turning had met me, and the rest 1
have told above.
l need hardly say that Vantwiller
rapidly grow worse. His mind con-
stantly lost its power of recalling
things, and in a short time he died.
at one time was honorcd by an invita-
ton from his sons to enter the firm,
and am now a member of that institu-
tion.-Herman Babson, in Boston Bud
get