Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-05-06
THE DEFA|LTERS' PROTECTIVE LEAGUE
BY DAVID WECHSLER.
Copyright, 1896, by Bachelor, Johnson &
Bacheller)
PART l.


PART l.
Two hundred thousand dollars, that,
in round numbers, was the amount of my
defalcation Somehow, had never real
lied the enormity of it all until that aft
ternoon. l gazed blankly about the bank,
with my head upon my hand. How
would it end, how would it end?
1t may be because | was too young-26
to feel a weight of guilt, or because
Il have always lived in an atmosphere of
falsehood, that | felt NO fear on my own
account. l we'll knew how likely detec-
ton was. Any contingency might ruin
me. And yet | felt no anxiety as far
as alone was concerned. 1t was all for
Margaret-dear, dear Margaret. How
she believed in me! What castles in the
air she built, in anticipation of the time
when we two should be happily married.
And | loved her. [ loved her SO much
that l made VOW never to wed her.
But, like all towards, | was incapable of
honesty | could only drift on and on,
like the ship that floats near and ever
nearer to the rock.
When I reached my rooms that night,
tried, for the thOusandth time, to solve
a plan of extrication from my cruel pre-
dicament. But it was vain process. l
could only look helplessly upon the stolen
Inconsistencies in ch1orofOrm.
[ had been a farmers boy until six
years ago, and luxury had all the charm
of novelty for me. | wish | could draw
for you picture Oh the regal state l
lived in I was always literarily inclined,
and had a library of 1000 volumes, at
least, all richly bound. | had studied
hard, too, in my leisure, and could, l
think, enjoy the books. My carpets
were like velvet to the feet, and my
pictures and furniture did, [ hope, no
discredit to my taste. Even at 26 a
one-time country boy can lose himself in
things of this sort. And l wore the
finest clothes and lived as we'll as a mill
ionaire. Nor did the source of my ele-
CANT ease weigh upon me. l looked
upon the consequences or discovery as
the price to be paid for all this luxury
and | reflected that the price was really
not high one.
But / had reckoned without Margaret
She was the daughter of one Of the bank
clerks. l had met her but year before
and [ think [ loved her from the first. I
never knew what shame was until her
eyes met mine. All! how the thought
of her even now brings back all the pain.
| have often wondered why she loved
me. Perhaps it was simply because l so
genuinely loved her. They say love be-
gets love. [ think I can pay her no
higher compliment than to say that in
her presence | seemed to lose my sense
of guilt She had purity enough for us
both
So it was the thought of her that
obliged me to take refuge in the use of
drugs. l think I should have gone mad
With the misery of it. but that chlOrO-
form afforded me the relief Of uncnn-
seriousness, and yet even that relief failed
me at times. For | would awake in the
dark of the morning with the fire glowing
III the CRATE and the clock tick, ticking
10 cI. Io11 7
tionless amid the rugs, staring about me
with wide-Open, mOtiOnless eyes. Or |
would go to the window and look up at
the stars.
Had l any honor [ could declare upon
1t that only the thought Of Margaret
moved me. l cared nothing about the
defalcation and would have been guilty
of it all over again, but for her. If
only [ dared confess to her and get her
to ia Ike my view of it. But l knew that
was impossible.
The stars almost stood out of the sky
that night, | remember. | gazed fixed
~ at them in the sort of intellectual
trance that was my main relief in those
days, when a ring at my bell aroused
me.
Someone had evidently been ringing a
long time, for the bell quivered spasmod-
ically as | pushed the electric knob
Then a quick but heavy step became
audible
L
was well known to me by sight, being
the cashier of a leading metropolitan
bank. The rapid thought that | was
at last discovered gave way to the reflec
ton that such could not be the case
since 1 would not be visited thus in that
event
Mr.. Meldon, for his name was Meldon
sat down without saying q word to me
and then struck a match. He held it
over his head moment and surveyed me
ri NV Oh,
Then he looked for the gas
"Oho, my fine gentleman" said he
gas IS not good enough for you, Ell?
Electric light and lamps Well, you
can afford the expense. | know
de laughed grimly and turned up an
arc light 1t did not need the quick
significant look we exchanged to reveal
to me that this man knew ALL His
manner and his visit had already spoken
to the accusing something within me-
But what did he want? l specialized
helDlessly upon it and held my tongue.
Glow much have you stolen?'' he
asked abruptly.
l did not dream of bandying words
with him. | told him the amount of my
edefalcation
He looked at me in establishment.
L never dreamed it was that much,"
he said, after moments silence "How
long have you been 1T it,"
-Four years.
" nat nave you done with it.?
Spent most of it, although I have
about $4,000 where I can reach it in
case of emergency"
Even to this day l hardly know why
| was so honest with him. He seemed
to have me in his power from the first.
When had answered his last question
he smiled grimly and remarked:
'You are cleVerer even than l thought
you, and | knew all along that you must
be very clever"
/ made no reply. I was too weary
Of the world to make conversation with
anyone a pleasure.
II shall show my high opinion of
YOU, he went on, Shy emulating your
frankness. You must know that my
visit here BODIES no i'll to yourself. I
win convince you further of that fact