Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-06-21
OAsUIsT.

The circumstances that led to Ernest
Marsden's withdrawal from London
have never been properly explained. His
Disappearance excited some comment,
Tor, although Mnrsden was by profcs.
sion o subordinate, il had been his hui
mon to occupy positions Of direction in
his spare time as relaxation from his
more serious toll He was n we'll known
political organizer and speaker Us well
as an occasional contributor upon eco
nomic questions to the monthly reviews
BY day he was employed at an office in
CornhilL 1t was there that ] made his
acquaintance. Our duties brought us a
good deal together, and q considerable
intimacy sprnng up between us Mars
denis relations were all dead, aud no
was once good enough to say that was
the only friend no possessed in tho
whole world.
Things were ia this condition when I
called one night at my employers pri-
vate house OH a business matter that had
been overlooked. l was shown into the
drawing room. From All adjoining
apartment ! could hear at intervals the
voices Of two men In violent alteration
After a time Mr.. Henderson appeared in
the drawing room and asked mo to NO
company him into tho other room. Firm
est Marsden, tho only occupant, received
me with u grateful smile.
81 have asked you to take part in this
conversation, " said my employer, "be-
cause l believe you to be a friend Of Mr..
Marsden's and likely to advise him
helpfully at o very critical moment in
his career. You were away this after
noon from tho Office and are therefore
ignorant OF what has occurred l have
been robbed. and your friend is the only
possible culprit At half past 10 today
an amount If $50 was paid to me per-
sonnlly In gold and notes. Before going
out / locked 1t up in the safe in my pri-
vate room, n safe to which you and Mr.
Marsden ave the only other keys. Mr..
Marsden, whom l left at work in my
room, went out about ten minutes later.
/ am assured by the clerks in the outer
Office that no one else entered the room
during my absence. 1 returned in half
IN hour. Tho safe was locked, But when
4 opened it l found that the gold GAO
had disappeared. l have told Mr.. Mars
den that if he will make a clean breast
OF everything and restore the money he
may retire from my employment quiet
ly and without scandal.
This statement upset me a good deal.
I hoped, Of course, that my friend could
clear himself Of the accusation. My own
position in the matter was none too
pleasant. Although l had had leave of
absence for tho day, / had been Obliged
to como back for my purse, which, by a
strange oversight, / had left in the
pocket Of my Office jacket. Unfortunate
ly l had returned to the Office about
1890 o'clock. Finding the door Of Mr..
Henderson's sanctum unlocked-the
door, / mean, opening directly into the
passage-I had slipped in and out with
out apparently those in the outer Office
having noticed my return. Marsden,
however, had met me upon tho stairs,
To make things more ugly, i had thai
very day como into the possession Of {
sum Of money under circumstances tina
could not have been made public. II
my great relief, Marsden made no refer
ence to our meeting, although aware
no doubt, of the effect it would have II
diverting suspicion from himself.
The scene that followed was q YER
painful one. Marsden insisted upon hi
Innocence, and bitter speeches passed OF
both sides. / fancied at one time during
q lull in the storm that ! caught til,
sound Of some ono weeping in the mex
room. Tho conference broke up, havinl
come to no conclusion. MIR. Henderson
whom contradiction always dashed int
a fury, followed Marsden into the hall
threatening him with exposure an
Imprisonment. Suddenly the drawing
room door burst open, and a tall, prouI
looking girl swept into the hall l viii
not attempt to repeat verbatim what sh
said Some Of IL has escaped me, an
the rest, without her dark eyes and in,
FASHIONED bearing, seems ordinar.
enough. Marsden hud proposed to her
year previously and had been refused
His constanoy in the face Of every dis
-couragement bad touched her deeply
and lately she had come to realize tina
her feelings toward him were complete
ly changed. Under ordinary circum
stances she would nave waited for hin
TO address her again. OF his continue
devotion he had given her many elo
quent, II SILENT demonstrations, an
now that his fortunes were ut their low
est she asked as a favor 70 be allowed I
stand by his side ihd to fight his battle
against all the world At the end Of thi
speech. which was delivered with a
uncomfortable elevation Of manner, Oh
girl would have flung herself upon be
lovers breast. but he repulsed her wit
a strange gesture 'DOn't touch me
Lucyi" DO cried ~passionately. II stol
H."
Two hours later i went round &
Marsden's lodgings, for, in spite OF hi
confession, l felt sure that my frienI
was not guilty Of this base thing.
found him busily engaged putting hi
belongings together.
II am glad you have come, " no sal
after an embarrassing silence "Othe
people may think what they like. but
could not boar that you should conside
nc a thief.
but the confession / stnmmored