Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-31
CHAPTER XII.

nosed to her restoring the money which
She thought rightfully belonged to
Ralph. But she was not willing to give
nm h,r plan now, if she could help it.
She would wait till she had attained her
majority
The matter was on her mind continual
lv, vet for long time she was not able TO
find a way of getting the money into hci
hands. After all, she would probably |
have to wait three years
Then she happened to be in the city, |
when she learned Walter had that day
doUositcd a very large sum Of cash, near
ly hundred thousand dollars, whlcD
had been rec izcA by the sale OF some
landed property, in one Of the city banks
It stru k her at once that she ought tc
gain possession OF this money. 1t would
90 pretty far toward redressing a
wrong which she felt she was, though
against her will, committing
But how?
A plan suggested itself TO her, the
tho .ght of which threw her INTO violent
excitement
She brooded over It for hours. She
took a long walk In the city and through
the mark, thinking it over. Her face
was flushed, as if all the blOO1 In her
body was pressing into her checks Her
fem 9les throbbed as if the veins would
burst. Her heart was beating so that
she thought she could hear it st ike
against her ribs.
Hattie struggled violently to get rid OF
the harassing idea, but she could not do
it, She must think of it,
1t was feasible. No doubt about 1t.
| But action must be quick.
What would it amount to, after all'
A sma wrong done to prevent greater
| one.
And was not the money hers by law?
But it was wrOngl 1t was even
crime before the law And detection
must follow soon.
No Dete tion would follow but no
body would know about it but Walter
He would not make it publ:c-of course
not. Nobody would be injured by it but
herself.
How sweet the thought to be abe to
tell him she loved: "This | have risked
for YOU, for l would not SEQ you
WrOnged."
This would be real sacrifice, far more
than giving up the worthless lucre which
she did not need.
|
Ing sacrifices,
Yes, she would risk It'll
A firm resolution established itSc in
her mind A quiet calm came over her
after the intense excitement. She would
need all her GOODNESS and self-command.
Hattie Beckford went back to the
hotel and INQUIRED whether her brother
was in. No, he was gone out. Then
| g., 10
would there wait for him. The clerk
knew her and really complied.
She was in her brothers room. Where
could he keep what she wanted? Ihere
was no desk in the room. In one OF
those bureau d.awcrs, no doubt. But
thev were locked All. this hotel furnl'
ture is so poorly made, almost any key
will fit.
She fumbled in her pocket for bunch
! of KEYS. This one must fit. Ali, yes,
admirably!
Her hand trembled little as she
turned the key and opened the drawer
Hattie Bcckford opening anothers draw
or in order to abstract something IRON
it!
But this was no time for hesitation OF
conscientious scruples With an effort o.
her will she steadied her hand.
Here lay what she was looking for
, Walters checkbook Hastily she tore
| off a few of tie blanks and put them ii
her pocket. Then she locked the drawel
. and left the room
In her own room she found letter o.
Walters She looked at the signature
) She had always been good at copying
drawings That would serve her in good
I stead now.
The first attempt did not succeed very
4 well. But she tried again and again
. and. after having practiccd for five min
C utes. she could write the name OF wal
t fer II. Warringham" so that nobod.
" would distinguish it from the original.
/. Then she filed out one OF tho olanl
q checks:
aPay to Miss Hattie Bcckford or orde
r 800, OO0."
- Now came tho most hazardous part
her undertaking.
- Providing herself with a strong leath
ern hand sachel, she went boldly int
4, the bank office. 1t was nearly the hou
of closing.
p With a tremendous effort Of will sh
a restrained her excitement when sh
a handed the check to the paying teller.
: The teller knew her well. lie ais
n knew that Walter had deposited so larg
a. a sum only provisional y, in order
y presently employ it otherwise. lie wa
therefore not particularly surprised a
q seeing the young lady cal with chec
4 fer so great an amount. He counte
II n1t the money in bank notes and green
backs of high denominations, arrange
n If for her in the sachel, and Hattie wa
r gone. -,
= train en- route to New York, where sli
,,eant to take passage for Germany,
Il c>der to personally deliver the money
~ Kim whom she thought TO be its rightfl
owner.
+ Her plan had succeeded admirably s
FAR. But when the pressing ncces 'it
=. of appearing uncOncerned re axcd, he
r. nervous system broke down AS she 81
! in the railway carriage she cOu d 1
/, longer prevent an outbreak OF ner
u GUS weeping, much as she trie
to conceal her tears from Il
" other passengers. Fortunately thel
s we're but few passengers in the car, an
f they seemed too preOccupied with the
al own affairs to pay attention to IL
Young lady, who was burying her fax
IN i'm her pocket handkerchief. Beside
o. she was still in deep mourning, I'll
4 hest apparent reason for her eyidel
ID Aistre IS, and the best protection again
ne Jbtrusive curiosity.
,e Hattie thought over what she Ia
ne done! Forged her cousins name to
O. check! She was a criminal then, al
to wo1'd be sent TO the pentent aryl