The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-24

known Wall street firm, and after few
remarks he placed slip Of paper before
Stanmore on which was written:
Indebtedness Of Pratt j. Weeks to
Judson, Kirk & Co., on account of trans
actions in railroad and mining stock to
date, S43,OO0."
Stanmore read the memorandum with
evident satisfaction.
The end is surely coming. Retribu-
ton hovers over the heads OF the scoun-
drels, and It's shadow is growing darker
day by day" he said.
Yes, the tables are turning. A secret
foe has foiled all their schemes OF late.
Assuredly the day of his triumph and
the downfall Of the swindlers cannot be
far distant" answered Mr.. Judson.
Some further remarks were ex-
changed, and, while Stanmore and his
guest were still conversing, Mr.. Benja-
man, Of the firm Of Abraham Benjaman
& Son, money lenders, entered.
The latter seemed to be we'll ac-
quainted with Mr.. Judson, and, judging
from his manner, an old friend OF MT.
Stanmore.
Abraham Benjaman was type OF the
better class of Hebrew business men.
In his method Of speech there was
nothing like the dialect peculiar to the
lower classes Of his race. Mr.. Benja-
man was an American Hebrew, who had
been educated in this country.
We'll, Syanmore, my boy" said the
shrewd old fellow, as he shook hands,
Il have come TO make the report OF the
week. We have lent our friends, Pratt
& Weeks, six thousand dollars at twen-
ty-five per cent. for sixty days. That
makes twenty thousand dollars they
have had from u.s."
very good. They will be after more
money before long, Ghink, said Stan
more. If 80, let them have it, he
added.
The three gentlemen engaged In an
animated discussion on business topics
for some time, but just before Messrs.
Judson and Benjaman withdrew, the
conversation reverted to Pratt & Weeks.
While they drew their chairs close to-
gether, and their voices were lowered to
confidential tone, they talked earnestly
for few moments, and Stanmore said:
1You both know that the money stolen
from the safe Of Jason Garrison on the
night Of John Oakburn's murder was
marked In peculiar way"
Yes, yes," assented both Mr.. Judson
and the other.
very we'll, have reason to suppose
that the stolen money is in the hands Of
Pratt & Weeks"
Stanmore's two friends evinced their
sarprise.
Moreover, the former continued, II
believe these scoundrels will attempt to
exchange the marked money for such
bank notes OF other legal tender as they
can use without danger, when they are
driven to desperate expedient to raise
money
$50 Pratt l. Weeks have the stolen
money" said Benjaman, in tone Of sur
prise.
1T is secret, but I have proved your
devotion to- my interest, and 30 trust
you fully" answered Stanmore.
Bravo! We shall catch the weasels
yeti" said the old Hebrew, rubbing his
hands.
Yes; you have managed 50 that I
should not be in the least surprised II
they attempted to exchange the marked
money with you, Mr.. Beniaman. II they
should broach the subject communicate
with me at once. Do not absolutely re-
fuse to make the deal. Tell them you
want to consider the matter" continued
Stanmore.
Once they give the marked money to
me they are IN cur power, said Ben1a-
man.
@Yes. The bo1r Of justice will have
come. But we are counting on an un-
certainty" Stanmore answered.
They will be driven to make use OF
the stolen money. Never fear, have
given them false idea of my character
for O purpose, and they will como to me
me as unscrupulous as them
selves"
I'VE will hope 80. The life OF an in
nocent man may depend upon the con-
fession to be w1ung from them as to
how they came by the marked money"
said Stanmore, thinking Of Stuart Har-
land.
Later, when Starmore found himself
alone, he said in self communion:
Pratt & Weeks are walking into the
pitfall I have dug for them. The weak.
young man whom they
enticed to his ruin, and at whose i'm
potent threat they sneered and laugh
ed, when he discovered how he had been
duped by their devilish duplicity and
cunning, has been forgotten by those
brigands of Wall street. But the hour
Is coming when the threats he uttered
when they drove him into exile, dis
graced and ruined man, shall be made
good"
Then Stanmore's thoughts reverted to
the mystery Of John Oakburn's murder.
Il cannot doubt that Marion Oakburn
has some knowledge Of the man whose
photograph 1 saw in her possession. Can
it be that those wretches, Pratt d
Weeks, have thrown the tolls about that
innocent girl in such way as to impli-
cate her in the terrible crime?" he said.
But to return to Pratt d Weeks
office moment subsequent to PaSton's
The rascally brokers were enraged at
the accident which had enabled the de-
tective to make his escape.
Thec secured the doors. and after
aeaping maledictions upon the head Of
the detective, Pratt said:
1T seems that fortune Is dead against
Us in every move Of late. Every specu-
ation fails, and we are becoming deer-
y involved in debt We owe Marks &
Book, Judson, Kirk d Co., and Benia-
man, the old Jew money lender"
Yes" assented Weeks. But II our
Investment in &C. and N. W. railroad
stock turns out as we hope, we are
saved"
But If the market goes the wrong
way, you know as well as I do we ore
ruined unless the marked money can be
made to save u.s." answered Pratt.