The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-24

mond that you are here"
''But--stop a moment don't want
| to see Mr. Hammond. ] have nothing
| to do with MIR. Hammond. | want to
! see my son. is it Mr.. Hammond, the
| banker?"
Yes, sir. lie told me to bring you
in here when YOU came, and to let him
| know at once"
The old man drew his hand across
! his brow, and ere he could reply the
porter had disappeared. He sat down
in one of the exceedingly cosy leather
chairs and gazed i'm bewilderment
around the room. The fine pictures on
the walls related exclusively to sport
ing subjects. A trim yacht, with its
tall, Slim masts and towering cloud
Of canvas at an apparently dangerous
angle, seemed sailing directly at the
spectator. Pugilists, naked to the
waists, held their clinched fists in
| menacing attitudes. Race horses, in
| states of activity and at rest, were in
terspersed here and there. In the CEN
ter of the room stood a pedestal of
| black marble, and upon it rested a
huge silver vase encrusted with orna-
| mentation. The old man did not Know
that this elaborate specimen of the
| silversmith's art was referred to as
the Cup" Some one had hung a pla-
card on it, bearing in crudely-scrawled
letters, the words:
Fare the well, and if forever
Still forever Fare thee we'll"
While the old man was wondering
what all this meant the curtains sud
denly parted and there entered an ell
DERBY gentleman somewhat jauntiiy at
tired in evening dress with a rose at
his button-hole. Saunders instantly
| recognized him as the banker, and he
felt resentment at what he consider
ed his foppish appearance, realizing
| almost at the same moment the rusti-
ness of his own clothes, an everyday
| suit, not too expensive even when new.
"How are you, Mr.. Saunders?' cried
the banker, cordially extending his
hand. Il am very pleased indeed to
meet you. We got your telegram, but
thought it best not to give it to Dick
I took the liberty of opening it myself
You see we can't be too careful about
these little details. I told the porter
to look after you and let me know the
moment you came. OF course, YOU
are anxious about your boy"
II ann said the old man firmly
That's why I'm here"
Certainly, certainly. So are we all,
and / presume I'm the most anxious
man of the lot. Now what you want
to know is how he is getting along?"
Eyes | want to know the truth"
well, unfortunately, the truth is
about as gloomy as it can be. He's
been going from bad to worse, and no
man is more sorry than | am"
do you mean TO tell me SOP"
Yes. There is no use deluding our
selves Frankly, | have no hope for
him. There is not one chance in TO-
900 of his recovering his lost ground. .
The old man caught his breath, and
leaned on his cane for support. He
realized now the bollowness of his pre-
vious anger. He had never for a mo-
ment 1elieved the boy was going to
the bad. Down underneath his crus-
tiness was deep love for his son and
a strong faith in him. He had allowed
his old habit of domineering to get
the better of him, and now in searching
after phantom he had suddenly come
upon a CHASTITY reality.
Look here, said the banker, no.
ticing his agitation, have drink of
our Special Scotch with me. 1t is the
best there is to be had for money. We
always take off our hats when we
speak of the Special in this club. Then
we'll go and see how things are NOV
ing"
AS he turned to order the liquor he
noticed for the first time the placard
on lie cup.
Nov, who the dickens put that
there" .le cried angrily. There is
no use in giving up before you're
thrashed," Saying which he took off
/ the placard, tore it UP and threw it
into the waste basket,
Does Richard drink ?" asked the
old man huskily, remembering the
eulogy on the Special.
Bless you no. Nor smoke either.
No, nor gamble, which is more extra
ordinary. No, it's all right for old
fellows like you and me to indulge in
the opecial-bless it--but Young
man who needs TO keep his nerves in
order, mas TO live like monk. / inn
agine it's love affair. OF course,
there's no use asking you; you would
be the last one to know. When he came
in tonight | saw he was worried over
something. / asked him what it was,
but he declared there was nothing
wrong. Here's the liquor. You'll find
that it reaches the spot
The old man gulped down some Of
the celebrated Special then he said
Is it true that you induced my son
to join the club?"
Certainly. | heard what he could
do from man had confidence in, and
! said to myself, we must have young
Saunders for member
Then don't you think you are
largely to blame?''
"Oh, if you like to put it that way;
yes. Sill I'm the chief loser. | lose
10000 by him
Good Cod" cried the stricken
father.
The banker looked at the old man a
little nervously, as if he feared his
head was not exactly right Then he
said: "Of coarse you will be anxious
to see how the thing ends. Come in
with me, but be careful the boy doesn't
catch sight of you. 1t might rattle
him. I'll get you place at the back,