Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-03-02
CHAPTER Xiv.
A FRIEND IN NEED

Taras would have had me take his car
ra.,e to the station, but refused. Iwant-
ed to he quite alone that might relieve
my heart Of its burden in 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
blcd along the road with down bent head.
When the paroxysm was past, l 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 be re-
newedf Would Taras ever again feel as he
had felt toward mef Had he not already
given his heart to Judith? / asked. Then
the figure of George Gordon as had seen
him at the last moment standing under the
dark pill rs, waving his hand in a cheerful
farewell, rose before my imagination, and
at the thought of his bitter disappointment
in finding that Judith had transferred her
love to Taras-as / 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 in igno-
rance Of this greater misery. But the
Thought of doing my duty urged me ON and
overcame these hesitating doubts.
Mr.. Pelham had given the finishing
touch of newness to his Office by the addi-
ton of a new clerk, who, when entered,
was engaged in addressing circulars at his
desk. After taking my name, which gave
as Nine. Leroy, this young man led me
into the inner Office, where / found Mr.
Pelham waiting for clients to come with
the patience of spider on the lookout for
stray flies, as it seemed to me.
II have got it," said triumphantly as
laid the check before him.
II am delighted to hear it, madame. You
wish me to 60 with you to Mr.. Lazarus and
see this affair through-always the most
advisable course in a transaction where
proof of payment may be needed. No time
is to be lost. p 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 filled in, madame"
THAT is why came to you first. I'm to
write In the amount, and I want you ia
show me how to do it."
II perceive" he said. but in Qualitative
tone, and then, as II anticipating a repeti-
ton of the difficulty that prevented the
cashing of Gordon's offer, he added: 1T
will be advisable perhaps to take this to
the bank before we see Mr.. Lazarus. Bust.
nessmen are so particular. you know"
| His spirit quickly rose again, however, a
| filed up the check according to his direc
lions, the prospect Of handling money be
ing, / think, as 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 q drawer, 'cau
you tell me if your Mr.. Kavanagh has ar
Office in Lambeth"
| s.In LAMBETH Not to my knowledge"
| "Ah, then, it Is a singular coincidence
and nothing more. My clerk, /" he explained
"is engaged in addressing circulars to Ger
tain capitalists respecting a company that
Is being formed. This envelope was among
them, and the name catching my eye-youl
interesting case is continually in my mind
Il looked in the directory and found. to my
establishment, that the Office to which thil
letter is addressed was occupied by Messrs
Bell & Gordon. say was advisedly, be
cause probably the directory was compiled
| last autumn. Now, the association Of thess
twonames-
1.-The Old Lambeth Pottery:" inter
rupted
"Yes, that Is the address,"
"That may be Kavapagh's address now
What Is inside the envelopef" l asked
eagerly.
I'VE will see."
He opened it.
! "Only a circular. II you think ther
may be more in this than mere coincidence
1 will question Mr.. Brett before you-here
now, If you please"
YES" said l, feeling that I could moi
rest in uncertainty as to the extent of thu
clerks connection with Kavanagh.
Mr.. Pelham placed chair for me whert
I could sit with my back to the window
and touched the bell on the tAble. Thu
new clerk came to the door.
Come in, Mr.. Brett" said the solicitor
II saw a circular addressed to a Mr.. Kava
nagh. Old Lambeth Pottery. Doyou know
him."
"Client of my late employen--Evans&
| Evans-sir."
You don't know him personauyw
The clerk shook his head. With smile.
"A little too high up for that, sir" said
he. "A gentleman Of forture-holds Q
post in the house, believe"
/ LAG oPCSAAoeSSt Va SOuAoC!
mot sure. sir. l know he has bought
up two or three little potteries."
! what potteriess"
| well, there's the Old Lambeth, but he
took that up, believe, more from charity
than as paying concern"
But the Old Lambeth-why, that's Bell
& Gordon's surelyt"
Was, sir, before Mr. Gordon bolted."
"Mr. Gordon bolted" exclaimed the So
licitor in a tone of incredulous astonish.
ment. why. this is the first have heard
Of it."
Last November A young lady in the
ease, believe" said the clerk, with mild
grin, which he would certainly have kept
for another occasion had he suspected that
l was the young lady in question. Don't
know much about that, but / do know
that he left his affairs in regular muddle
and behaved shamefully toward his part
ner, poor old Colonel Bell"
This is bad news. madame" said Mr..
Pelham, turning to me with grave shake
Of the head. in what way did he behave
shamefully, Mr. Bretty"
Took Colonel Bell into partnership and
invested in 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 colonels
affairs were not so good as he expected. he
realized what he could and bolted. leaving