The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-02-18
CHAPTER v.
PRECIOUS SPOT.

A yell of baffeled hatred went up from
The Surging mob at the doors of the
bank, as Abel MerwYn was rescued from
its clutches. Then, worse babel than
before ensund.
The men reSembled furious beasts of
prey. Some one ran for the village Of
ficerS, some one rang the town bell.
Disorder stalked through every street,
mob-rule held the bank invested as if
the castle Of hated enemy.
Within, the relocked doors a safe bar
rier against the invading foe. the cashier
had carried his inanimate burden to the
private Office, and placing him on a
couch looked down at him.
Hes dead. dead" walled Wharton,
trembling like an aspen, his ashen face
stricken, haunted, anguishcd. ''Oh.
what awful workers, and what awful
work. A doctor, Mr.. Dacrc"
''Silence." ordered the.cashier, stcrnlY
''Thcrc,s some liquor, i'll that cabinet.
Quick. hand it here
He forced the fiery liquid between the
lips of the PROSTATE man. There was
fluttcr of the hands. The kindly eyes
opened, tut dimmcd and hay, to take
their last look upon the face of the man
he had trusted, whom. in his unsuSpect-
ing innocence, he trusted still.
''Iicrc-herc" gasped the banker,
scarcely audibly, lifting az unsteady
hand. Misunderstanding to-say
The bank"
"A false alarm" lied the sleek knave
glibly "Some one started run
Yes, yes. available funds low, -
gaspcd Merwyn. Il understand, pay
them-pay-p
He wavered from side to side and
seemed sinking again into ins@nsiblity,
but the crafty, eager scOundrel pressed
him close.
Yes, yes" he urged, pay them! you
mean"
Hes gone" fairly shrieked the old
clerk, recOiling, as with gasp the banker
fell back rigid.
With serious face Arnold Dacre felt
over his heart, with blank one he arose
to his feet, scared, white to the lips.
Il hardly counted on this" he NUT
tered. THAT blow on his temple did it.
Quick. Wharton-thc false statement.
Hand it here"
"Oh, Mr.. Dacre," whimpcred the clerk,
but he extended folded document
Put it in his pocket" ordered Dacre
rapidly. Come, be brisk, it's no trItlng
matter for you and l now. Since he's
dead, We'll have to face the music. The
statement will fix all the blame on him. -
Don't. don't. | can't" chattercd the
wrctctcd Wharton, covering by the side
Of the couch. you've killed him
don't blast his reputation"
Arnold Dacre'S face famed like that of
a demon.
You sneak. You poltroon." he Kissed,
''if yOu don't Instantly obey me, I'll be-
tray who you were, what you were
when | took you in hand"
Mercy" gasped the half insane clerk,
'I'll do it, I'll do it. Oh. why did |
ever come here"
His trembling, unsteady hands sought
to press the paper into the inside pocket
Of the dead mans coat. Sacrilege to the
dead, his eyes were glazing with terror
he was babbIlng like an idiot driven
frantic with fright.
II can't get it in," he whined-"the
pockets full"
Empty it, then" commanded Dacre,
his eyes expressing excited thought in a
poriIous dilemma. what now?"
What? indeed. for the old clerks mood
had suddenly changed. He had arisen
to his feet and was glaring wonderingIv
q
moved from Abel Merwyn's pocket
"Lcnk." he painted. lie meant this
What are you talking about" de-
mandcd Dacrc irritably.
'IIe said save the bank-pay. He
must have suspected or feared. Sec
money, bonds, dcedS.''
John Wharton spread open the wallet.
II ht.is nf
denomination, stocks, certificates, gov
eminent bonds. Dacre, with an eager,
avariCious cry, sprang to his side and
gazcd. too.
"Nhere did he get it?" he cried
over. Why" as his eyes lit on the en-
dorsemcnt OF the document, tits Flora
Merwyn'S fortune"
is it?'' murmured Wharton. "What
tit? She would direct its use as he or
dercd. Pay Mr. Dacrc. Save the bank
protect this mans name from ,infa my.
I'll tell the mob we'll open the do ors,
we'll"
"You IDIOT" cried Dacre, boiling over
at the bare hint 'Do you imagine I'm
a raving lunatic, with that wealth in our
power, TO give it up? It's what I've
bIOLlcu LOT, IL > Tie reward We We StUc liltu
for. Give it hcrc-gjve it up, | tell yo a..
its mine"
With wall, batflcd in his last hopeful
struggle for atonemcnt the man of one
tad deed and many good impulses, rceled
as though thrust by a tyrants hand
back into the mire of guilt and wretched-
ness he had sought to escape.
Its mine, tell you, all mine" cried
Dacre, with sparkling, gloating eyes sur
Veyng the precious spoil he had wrested
from his hireling.
mo, it is minc'
As if dealt a sudden blow the villain
recoiled, As if fascinated by a spiritual
vIStant the old clerk reeled back
\ small, graceful hand, that of an in
trudcr who had just noiSelesSIy entered
the room from the covered passage way
leading to the bankers home, was
stretched out, and its fair white fingers
closed about the precious poCkct-hook.
And, whittier than the ShapclY hands,
face regarded the batlled, amazed
plotIcr with a glance of Tingled indig-
nation, anguish, and resolve.
He covered as before n stern tribunal.
Like an accusing angel summoning him
to the bar of Judgment, there stood be-
fore him the fair, bereaved creature he
had so cruelty wrOnged-Flora Merwyn,
the bankers daughter