Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-01-24

5IANN w n a S1AI h~1 $500 ~ -
OF the least service TO you" for his
mind at the moment was full to YER
flowing with the bitterness OF Bells
snub.
"Mr. Maynard" his wife fastened to
say. glad to escape from the other en-
~barrassing subject, "has had one OF
his bad govt attacks this morning and
is confined to his bed. He wishes you
to look through the letters, to answer
the unlmportant ones, and send the
others up to him. I have left the
keys In the Office"
When Mr.. Maynard summoned him
TO his bedside to give some instruc-
lions about answers TO urgent letters,
Harry was more Respondent and dis
tant than ever. This the old gentle
nan was not long In perceiving.
What on earth Is the matter with
your he asked irritably. IF I've to
repeat everything three or four times
owe I'D better get a photograph or q
new secretary" he added, s~avagely.
After this rough rebuke and threat
Harry pulled himself together as well
as he could. but was, on the whole.
SO singularly dull and ~preoccupied that
the old gentleman began TO suspect a
screw loose somewhere. But then he
was given TO such suspicious.
Next morning Mr.. Maynard was so
much better as TO be In his study be-
fore his secretary appeared. The mo
ment Harry entered the room the old
gentleman said, CURLY:
Kindly take these TO Thacker, and
you needn't trouble TO return here to-
day, as have nothing for you to do"
OF course Harry interpreted this curt
dismissal according TO the preoccupa-
ton OF his thoughts with Bell. She
had complained to her mother of his
presumptu0us attentions, and her
mother had taken counsel on the mat
ter with Mr.. Maynard, who decided TO
exclude him from his house, IL not TO
dismiss him from his employment. OF
this Harry had no doubt at all on re-
ceiying n curt command next morn
ing 10 return to the city counting house
for the present. For three days he
plodded on at the counting house,
hearing nothing, saying nothing and
doing nothing intelligently. On the
morning OF the fourth day an odd
question came by telephone from FL
mount:
as Lynn still there7'
Where else should he be or have
been? Had the old gentleman ex-
pected him to return to the house?
When the reply Yes was sent there
came the command. send him here"
Harry accordingly started at once
for Hampstead with his mind in a
whiri of wonder and speculation, but
nothing of all his imaginings prepared
him for his reception at Elmont. I'M
mediateiy UPON his entering the study
the old gentleman said, with some un-
wonted emotion:
Lynn. your father was one OF my
dearest friends, and for his sake I gave
you time and opportunity to escape
Justice. You haven't don't IL, | sup
pose. because any one who could COM
init SO stupid a theft as you have COM
mittad-"
Theft exclaimed Harry, stagger-
ing back as from a blow.
'"Tutr' retorted the old gentleman,
with scathing soon. "Doa't make a
further fool OF yourself ard me. Is
this your writing, sirT" pointing to the
lay before him on the desk.
les, ihdlly nldlulutItdy lot LhC
note was the one he had received In
an envelope from Mrs. Maynard.
Then where did you get that note7-
81 cannot tell You, sir"
'"Then / can tell you. You got II
In that desk" striking the desk with
his closed fist.
II did not, sir"
"You lie, sir, you lie. you lie" re-
!terated the old gentleman, really be.
side himself with fury. IL had writ.
ten down the numbers Of that note
and OF the three other five-pound notes
which have disappeared with X. There
II is: there 1t Isl" thrusting cut the
sheet OF note paper with the numbers
noted on IL toward Harry.
you'll lie sorry for this, SIR" Harry
cried, white and trembling.
"Sorry! Damnaticn! That Is too
mueh!' cried the old gentleman, start.
Ing furiously from his chair and max
Ing for the bell. Just, however, as he
reached IL he paused for a moment
and then said, more calmly, turning &c
face Harry: go. Go! And thana
God you are your fathers sonr'
Harry. having stared blaDkly at him
muttered: "You thank God that you
are her father"
Then, without another word, ht
quilted the room and the house.
Suppose Bell was persuaded into be
lieving him to be a common thief Of
the lowest kind! This horror swal
lowed up all the rest. Ii so dwell
with him and maddened him that a
last he rushed to his desk and wrot'
the following brief and hasty lettnS Il
Bell:
mo. 2 Gore Terrace. Denmark, Hill
Dear Miss Maynard: Your mothe
knows me to be innocent Of the In
famous charge for which Mr.. Maynard
has dismissed me. Ass her only t
assure you Of my innocence. Faith
fully yours. Harry Lynn
Within five feverish minutes he hat
written, addressed and posted thi
note in the pillar across the way
Many hours must yet pass before b
could even hope for a reply, and thes
he spent mostly pacing the little room
backward and forward, wender!n
how his letter would be received an,
how answered. When at last the ar
swer did come II was as different q
possible from any that he had I'm
agined. 1t was from Mrs. Maynard