The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-11

noon. Just as he was about to open
the safe in the corner. You see he is
kneeling with his hand on the lock,
but apparently, just then. something
alarmed him and he cast "a hasty
glance over his shoulder. At that sec
ond the photograph was taken. and
30 we have full-face portrait of the
man
Mr.. Whittier had looked at the photo
graph, and he now passed 1t to the I'M
patient hand of the junior partner.
You see, Mr.. Wheatcroft," Paul con-
tinued, that although the face in the
photograph bears certain family like
ness to Major Van Zandt's. all the
same that Is not portrait of the ma
jor. The man who was in here yester-
day afternoon was young mana
man young enough 10 be the majors
SON.
The bookkeeper looked at the speak
''Mr. Paul." he began. you won't be
hard on the Then he paused alb
ruptly.
Il confess I don't understand this
at ALL" declared Mr.. Wheatcroft iras-
chilly,
Il am afraid that l do understand
IT," Mr.. Whittier said. with a glance
VI compassion dt the
There" Paul continued. handing his
father a second azure square, there is
a photograph taken here ten minutes
after the first-at three-twenty yester-
day afternoon. That shows the safe
open and the same young man standing
before II with the private letter-book in
his hand. As his head Is bent over the
pages OF the book. the view of the face
is not so good. But there can be no
doubt that 1t Is the same man. You
See that, don't you, Mr.. Wheatcroft?"
Il see that. of course" returned Mr..
Wheatcroft, forcibly; what I don't see
Is why the Major here should confess II
ne isn't guiltyr'
II think know the reason for that"
said Mr.. Whittier gently.
There haven't been two men at our
books. have they?" asked Mr.. Wheat
croft; "the Major and also this fellow
who has been photographed?'
Mr.. Whittier looked at the old book
keeper for moment.
Major" he said with compassion in
his voice. s''you won't tell me that 1t
was you who sold our secrets to our
rivals? And though you might confess
1t again and again, I should never be-
lieve 1t. ] know you better. I have
known you too long to believe any
Sihii dSdiHSt youI even IL
you bring II yourself. The real culprit
the man who Is photographed here, is
your son. isn't he? There Is no use Of
trying to conceal the truth now. and
there Is no need TO attempt it, because
we shall be lenient with him for your
sake Major"
There was a moments silence, broken
by Mr.. Wheatcroft's suddenly saying:
"The Majors son? Why, he's dead,
isn't he? He was shot in brawl after
spree somewhere out West two or
three years ago. At least that's what
] understood at the time"
at Is what I wanted everybody to
understand at the time" said the old
bookkeeper, breaking silence at last
But it wasn't so. The boy was shot
but he was not killed. I hoped that It
would be warning to him. and that
ne would make a fresh start. Friends
of mine got him place In Mexico
but luck was against him. so he wrote
me, and he lost that. Then an old COM
rade of milne gave him another chance
out in Denver and for a while he kept
straight and did his work well. Then
ne broke down once more and he was
discharged. For six months I did not