The Dickinson press., 1894-05-12
a buSba3d'S
~CriMQ.
BY WARDEN.

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asked. after Il pause during which Mi.
Bennington had kept his eyes fixed
th%oughtfully on the carpet.
lie raised his head suddenly ut the
without speaking.
You may We'll Know said he, Mt
last. shortly. And he took from one
of his pockets Il letter-case from among
the papers in which lie selected one,
which was covered closely with n fine
rather sllaky hand writing. which Ciccly
recognized as that of Joseph Radstock.
You know the writing::' said MIR.
Bennington, holding the letter for her
to see, but not offering to give it up.
EYES"
II received it this morning. l will
read it to you. But had you not bet
ter sit down? This is all very distress
ing. n you appear fatigued."
This apparent consideration was the
result Of a fear Oh his part that the
pale, Overwrought woman would faint
or so into Mysteries, in which case she
would be easier to manage sitting than
standing. Cicely took his suggestion
and mechanically seated herself, while
Mr.. Bennington walked to the window
to get a better light to read by. Then,
clearing his throat to call attention to
the importance of the communication,
he began:
william bennington. Esquire.
Dear Sir--AS one who has the hon.
or to be connected by marriage with
your family your brother having mar
ried my sister,, and being we'll aware
or the high esteem in which YOU are
universally held. l feel that the pain
u duty Is forced upon me of acQuaint-
ing you with a most u%nprincipled ad-
vantage which is being taken of your
eminent position Oh the Stock TX
change. l regret to have to in
form, you. sir, that the NEPHEW
VINO has the honor Of bearing your
name. though he is lacking in the
attributes which have rendered Won
distinguished, has been for some
time past in difficulties. brought
about, | fear l must add. by
an unduly c%Nrravagant mode Of
life. After mortgagilg his house"
- Here Mr.. Bennington looked
across at Cicrly to see whether. this
TACT was new to her. But she gave no
sign. He Went on reading: ito it's
full value: and giving Il bill of sale
upon his furnitulc"-Cicely did look
up then; ';,s Il last resource Mr.. Mar
madukc Bennington has forged YOU,
name ais security on certain bills which
VIII become due in about six months
tlmr. l have no doubt that your
nephew will he able to meet these bills:
but ut the same time 1 feel that these
circumstances ought to be laid before
You, as with your great reputation for
rectltude us well us sound Judgment
Will Know how to act. l should be
glad II YOU would not mention my
name as your informant. and il O
could make use of my services in your
office. l should esteem it a great honor
and blessing to serve IN employer who
is We'll known to combine with distin-
guished business capacity the practice
OF Il noble Christianity without which
the paths of commerce are but as a
thorny waste. ] beg to remain, dear
sir, Yours oh%cdiently,
JOSEPH RADSTOCK."
MI. Bennington folded up the letter
with a little cough and glanced at
Cicely, whom he expected to find over
Wlhclmcd by the enOrmity of her hus-
bands offense. But she took the usual
ignorant woman's view of all matters
connected with business" and in any
case forgery was such IL triic COM
pared with the crime she was irving to
hide!
You understand. madam. it ia forg-
cry. Forgery" repeated he emphatic
ally. as she offered no comment.
But he didn't ask YOU for money,
he meant to pay the bills himself. He
only used your name. And you are
his uncle" said she. with feminine
confidence in good intentions.
MIR. Bennington made a gesture of
establishment and impaticnce.
Hasn't Duke taught you the differ
ence between right and wrong? 1
should have thought a woman's natur-
nj intelligence would have told her that
forgery, besides its wickedness in the
sight Of heaven, is punishable by penal
servitude."
But you would not give up your own
nephew to penal servitude!'
Il would give up my own son to the
galloWS If he had done anything to
deserve it,"
Cicely sprang up; she seemed to be
suffocating. Clinging to the back OF
a chair. she threw Il side-look. like thai
Of an animal hunted for its life, at tho
SNUG face Of her visitor.
Have YOU seen Duke about it?' she
asked, after Il pause.
NO. l saw him for q moment, bu,
/ said nothing about it. 1 only askei
him where Radstock was: 1 must ques
ton him first"
And what did he say to that?"
Said that Radstock had not beef
at the office to-day. That was all
But from others / learned that the oil
man vas here last night, so' I though
l would come down to make inQui1
les"
Il should have thought his owl
home would be the best place to fin,
him"
Il wired there. He las not bee
there since yesterday morning. II
fact he is missing"
And what do you suspcct:"
"That he has been got out of til
way"
And do o mean to accuse us o
getting him out Of the way, Mr.. Bel
ringtOn?"
IT don't accuse anybody. madam.
shall leave accusations to the police"
ITO BE CoNTINUED.)