Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-02-09
Dacre interrupted the speaker with d

in the next place, the bundles Of waste
paper labelled away up into the thous-
sands won't enrich them much
"What!" calculated the old clerk,
starting as if shot.
Am I not sufficiently lucid? Can't
YOU understand plain English when it is
spoken, or are you fegning? Don't play
the Fox, Wharton. You're safe. When
the crash comes no one will look to an
undergrad scribe for their missing dol
lars
"But when they investigate"
"What will be the result? They will
find the Golfers empty, the securities
gone Thanks to your deft offices, the
books will show reckless expenditure,
mad speculation, and q lot OF rotten NIL
ming stocks as assets-worse than that,
fOrgeries."
Concerning which Mr.. Merwyn knows
nothing"
''Humph he'll know enough about
them if he reaches here alive. He don
even know we've stopped payment.
Blank rum, disgrace, dishonor faces
him. The books show that everything
was done on his order The locnssed
statement you have, duplicates him
as a specializing scoundrel. He denies
it all, but black and white betray him.
Ny testimony will go beyond his"
"And them" murmured the clerk
aghast in suffocating tone of voice.
"You and I divide the ready cash.
There are resources whereby Merwyn
could pay every dollar. but shall Ere
vent that-his daughters fortune. With
the cash III hand to bank on, with a
chance of gaining her hand and fortune
as the price of my retutal of her fathers
dishonor, hope to come out victor. We
have played for high stakes-we must
VIM
John Wharton shrank back in his
chair, the picture of AFFECT misery and
dread. The cold beads of perspiration
stood out on his colorless face, his lips
were trembling. He seemed like poor,
conscience stricken wretch, held so
:irmly in the grasp of tyrant, that he
could only struggle helplessly and die.
"Hark!''
The old clerk sprang to his feet with a
shock. The babel outside had suddenly
ceased, but only to be renewed, only it
was in a new vein, now.
"Merwyn"
''Our mOney-Our deDOsits!''
''Seize him. don't let him get in and
lock US out like the others. Well square
accounts here"
Hold ont Fair treatment. Listen to
what he has to say"
These various cries echoed within the
bank distinctly. The face of the CASH
Ter lighted up with sudden excitement.
He ran into the counting-room. The
agitated clerk pressed close to his side at
one Of the shattered lights Of glass.
Thence they surveyed a thrilling scene.
Abel Merwyn had arrived. At the curb
| N:x.Ix ~ L
through the crowd, his pleasant. honest
face one void OF amaZement and alarm, he
was regarding the cursing, crushing mob
about him with eyes of the direst con-
Germ.
That mob seemed to be divided in sem
timent. A cudgel would be raised to
deal the venera Die banker a blow, only
to be warded off by the sturdy hands of
friends closer to him. The latter pushed
their way with him to the top iron step.
Bracing himself against the massive
doors, Abel Merwyn turned and con-
fronted the raving throng that surged
below.
''Men-friends!' he cried. in ringing
tones. what does this mean?"
"Mean?" jeered a harsh voice. GAS
if you didn't know! 1t means robbery
for you, beggary for us. Read that
notice"
The bankers glance swept the dang
ling bit of cardboard at the window.
His gasping breath, his staring eyes,
his stricken demeanor told that it was
an honest surprise TO him.
"Friends!'' he spoke, with difficulty,
II do not understand this Merwyn's
suspended payment! Why"
"Our money! No palaver." yelled a
hoarse voice, and a clod of earth knocked
the bankers hat from his head.
His eyes blazed as he picked 1t up. his
lips closed sternly as he looked down
steadily at the white sea of faces before
him.
''Men!" he cried, his tone vibrating
with resolution and dignity. this dem
onstration is shameful. 1 do not under
stand that notice. IL can only mean
that the casn reserve is low, but my own
personal resources in bonds and securi-
ties are safe for ten times what is due
you. Allow me to investigate"
'No-no delay-our money-our mon
ey!'-that was the furious, monotonous
sentiment of the crowd.
81 have in my possession sufficient
''Sland back!'
down him.
At that moment, the venomous temper
of the crowd was set loose in all it's ma
lightly. Some one reached over the
heads of men directly surrounding Mer-
wyn, and with cane dealt the august
banker quick blow.
he staggered under it, wiped the blood
from his cheek and directed sad re-
proachful look upon his assailant.
1t was the signal for furious on
slaught Instantly score of hands
were raised. Amid the fierce fusilade
they directed, the bankers champions
fled in unite alright Pelting the door,
SCATTERING the windows, striking the
banker, cods of earth, sticks and stones
rained about him like hail.
They saw him fall prone, bleeding from
dozen wounds With wells of rage they