The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-29

young man, this Stuart Harland, one
upon whom nature had set the stamp OF
q true gentleman. and his fine, honest
eyes, which met yours frankly, inspired
you with confidence at the very frs,
glance.
In the Office they would tell you that
Stuart Harland was inclined to be rather
careless and inattentive to business, but
they would add tina: he was the best
fellow in the world, unless you happened
to question Levi kredge, the ianitor.
1t was no secret that Stuart Harland
was engaged to his employers daughter,
Miss Edna, and if you were to ask how
it came about that Jason Garrison had
-.nsented to the suit Of young man
who was "only clerk" and to whom
the duties of a brokers' Office were not
the most agreeable, and who had ex-
hibited but little aptitude for the busi-
ness, anyone at HGarrison's," as the Office
was designated on the street, would
have said:
"The young man has great expecta-
tions. Therein is the secret. At the
death of a certain aunt, a maiden lady
of rather more than mature age, he will
inherit a fortune"
This was quite true, though Stuart
never counted in the least on dead mems
shoes, and Edna Garrison loved him
without a mercenery thought no matter
what may have been the secret senti-
ment of her father
Having hastily thrust the few articles
into his travelling bag which he desired
to take with him, Stuart Harland quilted
the apartment.
1t was undoubtedly something which
he regarded as most important which in
duced him to undertake secret mid
night journey, as we have gathered from
his mutterings.
There was no light in the hall without
Stuart's room at this hour, and the pas
sage and the stairs leading down to the
streetdoor were envcloped in gloom.
II do not wish to disturb any one. In
fact, desire that no one should know
of my departure, said Stuart to him.
self as he silently descended the stairs
in the darkness.
At the foot he paused suddenly, tor he
thought he heard noise from the office,
and it sounded to him like half-stifled
groan.
Stuart was startled.
At this hour he thought there could
be no one in the Office unless burglars
had clandestinely entered, and with
bated breath he listened in profound
silence for an instant.
There was no repetition OF the alarm
ing sound, but a thrill tremhled through
his nerves as he thought:
John Oakburn may have left the
money he drew from the bank Just be-
fore closing hours in the safe in the
office"
With the laudable idea in mind Of pro.
tectng his employers property If it was
endangered, Stuart took a step in the
direction of the office door.
At that precise moment it was opened.
With the utmost celebrity Stuart re-
coilcd against the wall where the shad-
ows were dense and black as a blade Of
light flashed through the gloom from
the open door.
A young woman with lamp In one
hand and paper and something with a
polished surface from which the light
was reflected c.utched in the other,
glided stealthily cut of the Office.
marion Oakburn," said Harland,
mentally, for the young girl was John
Oakburn's daughter, and he experienced
feeling OF the greatest relief as he rec
ognized her.
"Her father must have sent her for
for some paper, l suppose, as unseason-
able as is the hour, for the old ma n
sometimes spends half the night at Office
work in his own apartment, thought
Harland.
Luckily she has not seen me, and If
all goes we'll shall have returned to my
room by daybreak, and no one will be
the WISER" he continued.
The beautiful features of the cash
ier's daughter were livid with dread
full pallor. Her eyes were diated with
an expression of unutterable horror and
she trembled from head to foot.
Silently she closed the door and pro.
ceeded to insert the great key which
Stuart knew so we'll into the lock, but
her hand trembled so tina: metal rat.
tied against metal and the sound seemed
startlingly loud in the midst Of the Pro-
found silence.
The girl c'ung to the door as though
about TO fall to the floor, while her
breath came in frightene- gasps, but
with what seemed like desperate effort
she turned the key in the lock, and then,
casting furtive glance about her, she
fed.
Along the dark hall she fitted and
gained the rear stairs, up which she
darted as though she fancied she was
pursued by invisible dangers.
Il 10 ~ Uch "a
is timid; the darkness and the silence OF
the night frightened her. and yet T fan
ced she possessed more force Of charac-
ter. Indeed we clerks in the Office have
often said among ourselves that beauti-
full, sad-eyed Marion Oakburn was COM
posed of the material Of which heroines
are made.
But now that there was no reason for
further delay Harland unbolted and un-
locked the street door and passed out.
Then softly closing the door he locked it
by means Of night key, and casting a
glance up and down the street which
seemed just at this time to be deserted,
at least in this immediate neighborhooi,
he walked swiftly away.
The night was cool and Harland wore
6 spring overcoat which he buttoned
closely, as stiff night breeze swept up
from the water and struck him chill
ingly.
He was aware that he had barely time
to reach the Grand Central Depot in time
to catch certain train on which he
wished to leave the city, and he delayed
not on the way.
Meanwhile a quarter OF an hour
elapsed and al was silence and darkness
in the house which Stuart Harland had