Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-10-07

out OF his torpor The junior part.
ner had drawn out large sums stand
ing to the accouAt Of the firm, pre.
sumablv for his private use Sir
Peters suspicious once aroused, all his
energy returned. He took the arst
train to Smokeford and drove
straight to the office. His Junior
partner, however, was not at his
desk. In answer to inquiries made
OF one of the clerks Sir Peter was in
formed that Mr.. Fitzsharp was ex-
pected later In the day.
REFRESHING his lmpatience ana in
dignation as well as he could, Sir
Peter made up his mind To- wait at
the Office and occupy his time IN 60
ing over the books Of the firm. They
had been sadly neglected since his
elevation to his new dignities, and he
pored over the neatly kept ledgers
with an anxious brow and a sinking
heart He was prepared to find that
his partner had acted the part of the
dishonest stewart, but he was not
prepared for the truth. Going back
over the transactions of the past six
months, he found that Fitzsharp had
robbed him with both hands, and,
worst Of all, that very large sum
ESQ large that the unfortunate baro-
nets florid complexion turned CHASTITY
pale as he read the 0gures) had been
drawn out of the bank on the pre-
vious day.
Following the large outlay the pur-
chase Of his townhouse and Lady
Macbrag's numerous entertainments
during the season had involved, the
loss OF so considerable sum meant
something very like ruin.
THE ungrateful rascal! The
thieving scoundrel!'' burst out Sir
Peter, forgetting the dignity beflt-
ting baronet and the head of the
firm. "I'll prosecute him, rll-''
He checked himself abruptly re-
membering that a couple Of clerks
were in the Office, and that, however
great the provocation to anger, there
were reasons which made it absolutely
imperative that he should keep his
temper.
Leaving the Office, he jumped into
a cab and drove to Mr. Fitzsharp's
private residence-a neat villa on the
outskirts Of the town. The servant
who opened the door informed him
that Mr. Fitzsharp had gone up to
London on the previous evening, add
Ing that he had not intimated
whether his absence would be long or
short. !,
Sir Peter turnedaway with heavy
heart He fOresaw the worst. Moth.
Ing, however, was to be gained by re-
naming at Smokeford, so the bar
onet drove to the station and in an
hour was speeding back to London
Everybody was astonished that Sir
Peter Macbrag did not prosecute his
Ascending junior partner, especially
as the large defalcations compelled
the baronet to 20 through the bank.
ruptcy court. Some were loud in
their praises Of Sir Peters magma
nimity. Cynics on the other hand,
shook their heads and SAID there was
something queer about the business.
Which OF these views was right may
be best judged from the following
letter which the baronet had found
waiting for him after his return from
Smokeford:
When this letter reaches you shall have
left England for the contln emit to establish
myself in post OF responsibility and honor
at -. II you attempt to follow or inter-
fere with me or call in question my conduct
at Smokeford. I shall instantly write to head
quarters and tell the true story Of the aerial
cockboat affair: Once you made a scape.
goat OF me. It's my turn now.
SIMEON SLEEK.
London Truth,