Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-06-29
without losing q day."

without losing day."
"Well, we shall talk it over. Yor
may be sure of that. But here we are
at the station, so I will just see you into
your carriage and then home to see what
my wife says to the matter"
AS he trudged homeward, thoughtful
and perplexed, he was surprised to heal
a shout behind him and to see Harold
running down the road after him.
why, dad," he cried, 81 have just
come from town, and the first thing
saw was your back as you marched
away. But you are such quick walker
that had to run to catch you"
The admiral's smile Of pleasure had
broken his stern face into thousand
wrinkles. "You are early today" said
he.
Eyes, I wanted to consult you"
Nothing wrong2"
''Oh, no; only an inconvenience"
"What is it, then?"
"How much have we in our private
account"
Pretty fair. Some esOO. think"
"Oh, half that will be ample. 1t was
rather thoughtless of Pearson"
"What, then?"
"Well, you see, dad, when he went
away upon this little holiday to Havre
he left me topay accounts and so on. He
told me that there was enough at the
bank for all claims. had occasion on
Tuesday to pay away two checks, one
for $50 and the other for e120, and here
they are returned with bank notice
that we have already overdrawn to the
extent of some hundreds"
The admiral looked very grave.
whats the meaning Of that, then?' he
asked.
"Oh, it can easily be set right. You see,
Pearson invests all the spare capital and
keeps as small a margin as possible in
the bank. Still it was too bad of him to
allow me even to run risk of having q
check returned. 1 have written to him
and demanded his authority to sell out
some stock, and l lave written an ex-
PLANTATION to these people. In the mean
time, however, have had to issue sever
al other checks, SO had better transfer
part of our private account to meet
them"
"Quite SO, my boy. All that's mine is
yours. But who do you think this Pear
son is? Heis Mrs. Westmacott's brother
"Really2 What singular thing Well,
can see o likeness now that you men,
ton it. They have both the same hard
type Of face"
''She has been warning me against
him-says he is the rankest pirate in
London. hope that it is all right, boy,
broken water"
Harold had turned little pale as he
heard Mrs. Westmacott's opinion of his
senior partner. 1t gave shape and sub
stance to certain vague fears and suspi-
cions of his own which had been pushed
back as often as they obtruded them
selves as being too monstrous and fan.
tastic for belief.
HE is well known man in the city,
dad" said he.
"Of course he is-of course he is.
That is what told her. They would
have found him out there if anything
had been amiss with him. Bless you,
there's nothing so bitter as q family
quarrel. Still it is just as well that you
have written about this affair, for we
may as well have all fair and above
board"
But Harold's letter to his partner was
crossed by letter from his partner to
Harold. 1t lay awaiting him upon the
breakfast table next morning, and it
sent the heart into his mouth as he read
it and caused him to spring up from his
chair with white face and staring eyes.
"My boy! My boyr
~ am ruined, mother, ,ruined-ruinedw
He stood gazing wildly in front of him,
while the sheet of paper futtered down
on to the carpet. Then he dropped back
into the chair and sank his face in his
hands. His mother had her arms around
him in an instant, while the admiral,
with shaking fingers, picked up the letter
from the floor and adjusted his glasses
to read it.