Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-29
CHAPTER II.

Gus trouble coming TO me Defore tnls
mystery would ever be cleared up. And
Iexpected it to begin with Mr.. Benjamin
Bunker, a sort of silent partner of ours.
who had put $1,000 into the business
and stood a good chance of losing it all
if we We're swamped by my partners
action. He could have afforded to lose
it-yes, or 10 times as much-but, as l
we'll knew, was not the man to take any
pride in standing such loss with Chris
tian resignation. And the situation
with him would be complicated by tho
fact that Harold and his only child, An
ME Bunker, were lovers, and he had
given his consent to their marriage
within couple of months. Would that
consideration mollify him and dispose
him to hush things and prevent scan
dal for Annie's sake? Well, it might
have that effect on some men, but not
those of the Benjamin Bunker type. He
would be much more likely to see in
Harold's action fight from matrimony
and an intended slight cast upon his
daughter, which would make him fero-
ciously vindictive. And yet he would
have to be informed of it. All things
considered, believed it would be pleas
antest to break the news to him by let
ter, and l was still cogitating upon the
phrases l should employ in such COM
munication when upon reaching the
store the first person to present himself
to my sight was Mr.. Benjamin Bunker.
He was sitting On plow beam in the
open extension where we kept the larger
agricultural implements, mopping his
brow and tanning himself with his wide
straw hat.
"Hello!" he shouted cheerily as en-
tered, you've got the coolest place in
town. I'm glad I've found it this early
in the season, for if this weather keeps
on in the way it has started it will be
hotter than hades by the Fourth. Put
ting up this addition was grand idea.
The through draft is glorious. How's
business? Pretty dull just now, I sup
pose. Where's Harold"'
answered his questions in their or
der, feeling it prudent to give the best
news first. And fortunately / could
truthfully speak we'll of our trade. He
was much pleased by my report. Then,
as cautious and gradual leader in the
direction of the inevitable trouble,
which l had now fully made up my mind
to face at once without trying to employ
letter as a lightning rod, said:
"Oh, by the way, am daily expect
ing sight draft for some cultivators
and plows and may have to call on you
for some ready cash to meet itif it comes
this week."
He looked astonished and demanded,
whats the matter with your bank ac-
count"
"Simply that it was overdrawn S9.S
this forenoon. have of course made it
good and deposited enough to meet any
small necessary checks, but the draft
will be for $685."
"But Harold told me last week there
were over $4,000 standing to the firms
credit, which you expected to use in wool
and hops"
eyes. Quite true. But the day be-
fore yesterday he drew $4,000. went to
New York and has not been heard from
since"
"What did he draw that amount for'"
II don't know"
"Did he not tell you anything about
it?"
mo"
did you know he was going to New
York;"
"No. was out of town from early in
the morning until evening, when l called
on Miss Linden and there found note
from him saying he had gone, but did
not know he had drawn the money until
today"
was not disappointed in the way Mr..
Bunker rose to the occasion. He never
looked so big, red and vigorous before
in my knowledge or demonstrated such
an untrammeled freedom of language
mainly of objurgatory varieties. That
my partner had cleaned out the firm
and run off 70 Europe with his plunder"
he took for granted, and his rage culni-
mated when he recollected the fugitive's
engagement to his daughter. Both as
"thief" and "fool" he mathematical
the young man, and it would not have
been easy to determine in which light he
regarded him with most disfavor. Final
ly he seemed to get it into his head that
was somehow to blame, enough at least
to deserve some part of the cursing Har-
old escaped by absence, but l stopped
him pretty abruptly when he took that
tone. and we parted in no good humor
with each other Ifancied he would be
an unpleasing person at the family table
that evening, and he was, as 1subsequent-
ly learned, but after all he was much
better hearted old fellow than I gave him
credit for being, as events soon showed.
When he left me, was not only sorely
troubled about my financial position,
but very angry with him and deter
mined that at all costs l would be quit of
him forever, and that in way which
would leave him no excuse for saying
anything disagreeable about me. So I
went to my lawyer, Mr.. McQuillop, and
directed him to procure for me by mort
gaging my homestead, fine farm near
the town, sum which would enable me
to wipe out Mr.. Bunkers by no means
"silent" interest in my affairs and enable