The Bessemer indicator., 1893-03-18
ayes, Van.v.ller has made M,


Where In tho deuce can it be? Let
me see, now. I'll go over the pack
age again. No! My heavens, man,
the will is not there"
1t was even so. Twice went over
that packet OF documents. and twice
I failed to find the object of my
search. My heart seemed TO give a
great drop, and n violent th,obbing
began in my throat knew l must
have turned pale, for Rollins came
forward and exclaimed:
What are you going to do about
it?" asked Rollins in very cold,
busincsslike tone which went straight
through me.
-I-don't-know Why
man do you realize what has happened
to me?"
al think do, Thurston," this with
q sickly smile. you have lost one
of Nantwillers important documents;
| probably his one most So" lie hesi-
tated II moment, looking steadily at
his finger nails. "Of course he will
have to be notified of this. Thurston
at once. must send message to
him."
no. don't! Not YETI interrupted,
speaking quickly and excitedly.
"Give me one chance at least, Brun-
son will be away until morning, and
| Nantwiller is out of town. Give me
this afternoon and evening to hunt it
up. Perhaps nfter all l didn't put it
in my pocket, but left it on the desk.
| If | don't find it-why then-well-I
suppose must take the consequences.
Say. old man, you'll grant me this,
won't you? 1t may save my reputa-
| ton"
"Well, l will do as you say, but it's
only for you that would DO il. Go
back to your office, do what you can,
and report to me Mt tonight !
will be waiting here for you. After
that, if you cannot find it, of course
you know what must be DONE
Somehow or other, | got down into
| the street, and back to my office. As
l ran upstairs my manner must have
alarmed The cflice boy, for he followed
me into tho room.
"ls anything the matter with Mr.
Vantwillor, sir?n he asked, advanc-
ing to my desk.
mo, nothing" answered, n good
deal more sharply than was ncces-
sary. At the same time showed fjr9
out rather unceremoniously, and
locked the door after him.
For two hours | made most vigor-
Gus search for that missing document
| ransacked the closet. overturned
and pricd into every nook and corner
of my desk and examined the top OF
my employers. The inside could
not see, it being locked. In II mo-
mcnt of impatience and despair even
tipped up the waste bnsket and looked
| through its contents Failure met inc
| wherever | turned. At 4 o'clock
gave up the search. Going over to
the front window | sat down, or
Father dropped into Il chair. My
face was streaming with sweat, due
to my constant search and the situa-
tion In which was placed. ! was
completely 'rattled.n l tried to
| think, but could not. Everything
went round and round. 1t was neces-
sary for mo to resort to u glass of
brandy from the bankers cabinet
After that felt better. My mind
became calmer, and | could face the
| situation with u little more equanim-
! ity. glanced ut the clock. In n
very short time | would have to re-
turn to Rollins, confess my defeat
and meet the punishment due me.
Thus i sat. staring down into the
street. with my mind in no pleasant
mood | can assure you. Suddenly
saw carriage coming down town.
/ sprang up and looked moro cnre-
| fully. Good Heavens. 1t was Want
willer's. 1t stopped at our door. the
banker descended, and entered the
building My breath actually seemed
to leave my body. l understood II
perfectly. Rollins, repcnting of his
action in allowing me Il moment iu
which to discover the will, had notl-
fed Vantwiller of its loss. And here
the banker was now, on his way up
stairs. In one minute he would enter
the room, see me before him, and
knowing all, would either send me
out like u dog, or have me arrested.
For an instant a wild desire to bolt
came over me. But only for an in
stant. | heard his slow step sound
ing in the corridor outside. In ten
seconds the blow came. | braced
myself against my desk, drew four
deep breaths, and stood ready for
the volley. The door opened. Want
willer came in, gazed at me very
pleasantly, and said
why! You here, Thurstcn;
thought you were going to larry
town this afternoon.
l felt as though some one had
struck me. My surprise was so great,
and the rcvulsion of feeling so ter,
rible, that fairly staggered. Want
willer saw it.
care you ill, sir'" said he. whats
the matter with you?
"Mr. Vantwiller," l blurtcd out,
..I have lost your will"
"Lost my will! What do you mean,
siron
"Yes, have lost it. This morn
ing when you gave it to me, swear
to you 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
comprehended the situation. That
will, sir, is locked up in my desk
That's just what | came back hero
for, to deliver it to Brunson myself"
'ln your deskP" | mumbled. And
then tho room grew dark. The
windows began to dance, and the
floor to rock. | knew that | was
falling, and thcn-oblivion had
tainted.
awoke in my own room with Want
willer himself at my side. Very soon
it was explained to me. When had
gone downstairs on tho errand. after
having placed the will in the pocket