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

Mr.. Bunker laughinglv.
Two! Why, Willoughby, the dentist,
and Colville. the harness maker, were
down last week. Linden only two or
three days ago. and now
Hold on" we both interrupted him
Did you meet himy'
Linden? Yes. Why"
because we're looking for him." an
swered Mr.. Bunker quite fiercely.
"Oh! Well. I'm afraid / can't help
you much in finding him. l only saw
him minute Met him on Cortlandt
street going in haste to the Jersey City
ferry"
What day was that"
Il don't remember. only he said he
was about IL o'clock when | met him,
guess. He just shook hands and gal
Hoped on. Said he had to catch train.
And that was all Alvin knew. The
next day we went over to Jersey City
and ransacked it as we had New York,
but accomplished nothing.
We can do nothing MORE" said Mr..
Bunker. Not here at all events. !
shall offer 81 900 reward for him and
put the case In the hands Of both the
regular police and detective agency
for still hunt. don't bolievo in blow
ing II through newspapers. Then we
may as well go home. and I'm thinking
that is where we will be likely to soonest
get on his track. He is pretty certain to
write 20 Annie OF his sister. and il we
watch their letters we will probably
catch him before long"
"You will Of course do MS you please
about watching your daughters core
spondence. said. land your proceed
ings will doubtless demonstrate charac-
teristio ,lelicacy and nice perception Of
prupriety. but YOU need not count on my
spying upon Miss Linden TO learn what
communication sho may have with her
erring brother would In glad if she
could have tho relief Of knowing him
alive and would not feel myself ut lib
crty IL sho told me where he was hid
den 20 use the knowledge 10 procure his
arrest. Indeed would blush to think
myself capable Of such an action"
You are too burned sentimental in
business matters" said Mr.. Bunker in
disgust. But don't see that serti-
ment has any place in this case now
anyhow Annie tells me you were Ell.
gagged TO llnrold's sister. but Of course
that Is all oil after his making such u
break as ihis
~, NJ nupk.r n - MT .nfT Harold
does seem To have been n rascal and to
have got away with my money. but l dc
not see how his sister N responsible for
that Sho no more has his possible tur-
pitude than she has his mustache."
Ny companion looked at mo with scorn.
ful pity. but debated the subject no fur
ther. aud that night we returned home.
In couple Of days. thanks to tho sue.
oessful issue % McQuillop's negotiations
was In . position to approach Mr.. Bun
her with . PR .1sition for final settle
ment on . cash basis. 10 his manifest
surprise.
Il was under the impression that your
partner had practically bankrupted you
but am gratiHed 10 know ! was mis-
taken" he remarked dryly.
offered no explanation. for was still
angry with tho old fellow for thinking
would play the spy on Celia Linden. He
took his invested capital. his percentage
Of the profits up 10 date and his checl
for t1s5. which ! had not used. pocketed
all without . word. nodded Good day
and went away In his face could read
tho expression NJ plain as could be: "Y on
and your partner are up TO some deeI
game. | don't know what IL in: but
thank God, I'm safely out Of it," But
what did care for what no thought? Tt
his daughter sent note at once:
DsAW MISS HusKIn-Your fathers possibl,
rea.on Tor prosecuting Mr.. Linden no longei
EXISTS, and Il has NOT been necessary To us.
In charge % Mr. Hogg. who will deliver then
To you personally upon your presentation o.
the inclossd rrceipt for them.
The capital had left after paying of
Bunker WAS small. but enough for me tc
10 ahead ON. though In rather cir
cumscribed way compared with what
hal hoped for less than fortnight since
No matter. l said TO myself; shall have
10 keep my nose TO the grindstone pretty
closely year or two. and then will bt
oil right. And shall have compensa
tive happiness meanwhile. for Celia and
will now marry ut once. double ouI
Joys and hAlvc our expenses. But when
10 proposed TO her that same evening
she replied;
mo, Ransom, I shall never be your
wife until my brothers name Is cleared
from the suspicious which now tarnist
It."
But" argued. Harold name is moi
furnished at all. His case is simply one
Of mysterious disappearance. Nobody
knows anything more than that about 1t.
"You are wrong" sine replied, with
tears in her beautiful eyes. MRS. With.
orwell called this afternoon and asked
mo where my brother was. ! could see
by tho malicious CLEAN in her eyes that
she believed herself in possession Of a
scandal, which she was doing her utmost
TO spread. as she always does whatever
will bring pain or shame to any one."
"Oh. you only imagined so-'
"No. for she had the audacity to ask
me II 1t was true that he had gone of
with large sum Of money belonging to
the firm."
"venomous old hagr' could not re-
frain from exclaiming.
YES. she is. and as such is generally
known. Still she gives body and color
to vague rumors. and people remember
her stories when they forget her as their
authority"
We'll, granting all that" reasoned,
"what better answer could we give to
such scandal affecting your brother
than our marriage1 Would not that
practically say to the world, We, who
have the best knowledge. know Harold
Il not guilty Of any wrongY"
But that would not be true"
Not truel What do you meanr
"Wo do not know 1t. and you do not
believe II even. would stake my soul
on my brothers innocence, but you be-
heve him guilty. lnyour heart you know
you DO. Ransom Admit it."
"l--no-why. certainly not" l STAN
mered. for the directness Of the charge
confused me for a moment. I'VE have
no real proof against him. and, at worst.
idon't believe any ground for legal action
for anything more serious than breach Of
trust could be found"
"Ah. love and confidence ignore such
nice distinctions. lspeak to you Of my
brother. and you answer me like law
yer"
But. my darlingr" demonstrated,
this Is all irrelevant. Here is all that
really concerns you and me: love you
with all my heart. and believe you love
me. We wish TO marry. and now Is the
best OF oil times for us to do so. Har-
old does not enter into the question.
We have simply to decide whether we