Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-10-24
6Y 4. CONAN DoXLA


"Then it's all off," she cried. "You
need not carry out that investment"
Very we'll, ma'am."
They walked on together side by side,
she brooding over some thought of her
own, and he a little crossed and dlsap-
pointed at her caprice and the lost COM
mission for Harold.
II tell you what, admiral" she ex-
claimed suddenly, IF I were you
should get your boy out of this part
nership."
But why, madame"
Because he is tied to one Of the deep
est, slyest foxes in the whole city Of
London"
Jeremiah Pearson, ma'am? What
can you know Of him? He bears a good
name"
mo one In this world knows jeremiah
Pearson as I know him, admiral.
warn you because I have a friendly
feeling both for you and for your son.
The man is rogue and you had best
avoid him."
But these are only words, ma'am. Do
you tell me that you know him better
than the brokers and jobbers in the
city,"
Man" cried Mrs. Westmacott, will
you allow that 1 know him when 1 tell
you that my maiden name was Ada
Pearson, and that jeremiah Pearson Is
my only brother?"
The admiral whistled. "Wheww cried
he. Now that think Of 1t, there is q
likeness"
He is man Of iron, admiral-a man
without heart. 1 should shock you
II were to tell you what I have en-
dured from my brother. My fathers
wealth was divided equally between us.
His own share he ran through in five
years, and he has tried since then by
every trick Of cunning, low-minded
man, by base cajolery, by legal quib-
bles, by brutal intimidation, to juggle
me out Of my share as WELL There is
no V4ilainy of which the man is not ca
pable. Oh, know my brother, Jere-
miah. I know him and ! am prepared
for him."
This Is all new to me, ma'am. pom
my word, hardly know what to say to
1t. l thank you for having spoken so
plainly. From what you say, this is a
poor sort Of consort for a man to sail
with. Perhaps Harold would do we'll to
cut him adrlft."
without losing day."
well, we shall talk 1t over. You may
be sure of that. But here we are ut
the station, so will just see you into
your carriage and then home to see
what my wife says to the matter"
AS he trudged homeward, thoughtful
and perplexed, he was surprised to hear
a shout behind him, and to see Harold
running down the road after him.
why, dad" he cried. II have Just
come from town, and the first thing I
saw was your back as you marched
away. But you are such quick walker
that I had to run to catch you"
The admiraps smile Of pleasure had
broken his stern face into a thousand
wrinkles. you are early to-day" said
he.
YES, I wanted to consult you"
Nothing wrong?"
"Oh no, only an inconvenience"
What Is It, them"
How much have we in our private
ACCOUNT"
pretty fair. Some eight hundred,
think"
"oh, half that will be ample. It was
rather thoughtless of Pearson"
what then?"
"Well, you see, dad, when he went
away upon this little holiday to Havre
he left me to pay accounts and so on.
He told me that there was enough at
the bank for all claims. 1 had occasion
on Tuesday to pay away two cheques,
one for $50 and the other for f12O, and
here they are returned with bank no.
tice that we have already overdrawn to
the extent of some hundreds"
The admiral looked very grave.
whats the meaning Of that, then?" he
asked.
"Oh, 1t can easily be set right. You
see Pearson invests all the spare cap
ital and keeps as small a margin as
possible in the bank. Still 1t was too
bad for him to allow me even to run a
risk Of having a cheque returned.
have written to him and demanded his
authority to sell out some stock, and l
have written an explanation to these
people. In the meantime, however, I
have had to issue several cheques; so
1 had better transfer part of our private
account to meet them"
"Qulte so, my boy. All that's mine is
yours. But who do you think this
Pearson is? He is Mrs. Westmacott's
brother"
Really. What singular thing! Well,
can see a likeness now that you men
ton 1t. They have both the same hard
type of face"
"She has been warning me against
hlm-says he is the rankest pirate In
London. 1 hope that 1t is all right,
boy, and that we may not find our
selves in broken water"
Harold had turned a little pale as he
heard Mrs. Westmacott's opinion of his
senior partner. 1t gave shape and sub
stance to certain vague fears and sus-
plclons of his own which had been
pushed back as often as they obtruded
themselves as being too monstrous and
fantastic for belief.
HE is a well-known man in the city,
dad" said he.
"Of course he is-of course he is. That
is what l told here They would have
found him out there IL anything had
been amiss with him. Bless you, there's
nothing so bitter as a family quarrel.
Still It is just as well that you have
written about this affair, for we may
as we'll have all fair and above board.