Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-02-08
CONTINUED
CHAPTER XLIV.
A FRIEND IN NEED.


a. my heart of its burden i'll an unrestrained
| flow of tears And as soon as got away
from the gates of the Grange they came
those welcome tears-and blinded ] STUN
bled along the road with down bent head.
When the paroXySm was past, tried to
think OF the future but even the prospect
Of bringing Gordon back and removing the
| Illusion that must have lessened Tara's re-
spect and affection for me failed to Tighten
my spirits Could the old tie ever he re-
ncwedy Would Taras ever again feel as he
had felt toward me? Had he not already
riven his heart to Judith? l asked. Then
ne figure of George Gordon as / had seen
him at the last moment standing under the
lark mines, waving his hand in a cheerful
farewell. rose before my imagination, and
pt the thought of his bitter disappointm
in finding that Judith had transferred her
love to Taras-as l felt she must have done,
living for so long in close companionship
with him-of his experiencing such bitter
anguish and regret as this which tore my
heart ! asked if it would not be almost
more merciful to leave him there ir igno-
tance Of this greater misery. But the
thought of doing my duty urged me on and
bvercame these hestating doubts.
Mr. Pelham had given the finishing
-oucl of newuess to his Office by the addi-
ion If a new clerk, who, when ! entered,
was engaged in addressing circulars at his
desk After taking my name, which l gave
as Nine. Leroy, this young man led mo
into the inner Office where | found Mr.
Pelham waiting for clients to come with
the patience of a spider on the lookout for
stray flies, rs it seemed to me.
Il have got it, | said triumphantly az
laid the check before him.
Il am delighted to hear it. madame You
wish me to 20 with you to Mr.. Lazarus and
see this affair through-always the most
advisable course i'll Il transaction where
proof of payment may he needed. No time
is to be lost - His enthusiasm was
abruptly checked and his countenance fell
as he glanced down at the check he had I'M
folded. But this is not filed in, madame"
THAT is why | came to you first. Pm tc
write in the amount, and L want you tc
show me how to do it,
Il pcrceivc,' he said. but in dubitatve
tone, and then, as if anticipating rcpcti-
ton Of the difficulty that prevented the
cashiug of Gordon's offer, he added: ~.
will be advisable perhaps to take this to
the bank before we see Mr. Lazarus. Bust
ness men are particular, you know"
His spirit quickly rose again, however, rs
filed mp the check according to his direc-
tom, the prospect of handling money be.
ing. | think. agreeable to him as to Mr.
Lazarus himself, and when | had done he
rose briskly and took his hat from the peg
on the wall.
"Oh, by the way" he said, coming back
TO the table and opening a drawer, can
you tell me if your Mr.. Kavanagh has an
Office in Lambetht"
an LAMBETH Not to my knowledge"
"Ah, then, it is "a singular coincidence
and nothing more. My clerk, - he explained,
lis engaged in addressing circulars to GER
tain capitalists respecting Il company that
Is being formed. This envelope was among
them, and the name catching my eye-youi
interesting case is continually in my mind
i looked in the directory and found, to my
astonishmcnt, that the Office to which this
letter is addressed was occupied by AIessrs.
Bell &, Gordon. | say was advisedly. be-
cause probably the directory was compiled
last autumn. Now, the association of these
twunames-
The Old Lambeth Pottery:" l inter-
ruptcd
"Yes, that is the address,
THAT may be kavanaghs address now
What is inside the envelope?" | asked
eagerly.
We will see."
He opened it,
"Only circular. If you think there
may bcmore in this than mere coincidence,
viii question Mr.. Brett before you-hcra,
nov, if you please.
"Ies,' said !, feeling that could not
rest in uncertainty as to the extent of the
clerk S connection with Kavanagh.
Mr.. Pelham placed a chair for me where
| could sit with my back to the window
and touched the bell on the table The
new clerk came to the door
Come in, Mr.. Brett" said the solicitor
II saw Il circular addressed to II Mr. kava-
naGh, Old Lambeth Pottery. DO you'll know
him2'
"CNcnt of my late employers-E Evans q
aSans-sir"
"You doA'S know him personality"
The clerk shook his head, with smile
"A little too high Up Tor that. sir" said
he. "A gentleman Of fortune-holds a
pos in the house, ! believe
lie spsculates, Of course?"
"Not sure, SIR. ] know he has bought
mp TWO ort three little pott.ries."
What potteries;'
Well Chere's the Old Lambeth, but he
took thar up, | believe, more from charity
nal as laying concern"
"BGt the Old Lam beth-why, that's Bell
~ Gordon's surelyl'
"Was, sir, before Mr.. Gordon bolted"
MIR. Gordon bolted" exclaimed the so
iicltor in n tone of incredulous astoni,h-
ment why, this is the first have heard
of it,
Last November. A young lady in the
case, believe" said the clerk, with "A mild
grin, which he would certainly have kept
Tor another occasion had he suspected that
was the young lady in question. "Don't
know much about that, but | do know
that he left his affairs in regular muddlt
and behaved shamefully toward his part
Ncr, poor old Colonel Bell"
This is bad news, madame" said Mr.
Pelham, turning to me with a grave shake
of the head IN what way did he behave
shamcfully, Mr.. BRETT"
"ToOk Colonel Bell into partnership and
invested in n pottery that was worth moth
ing at all, incurred considerable debt in
building kilns and improving the place
and then, when he found that the colonies
affairs were not so good as he expected, he
realized what he could and bolted leaving