Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-01-16

1t was the hardest of hard times.
Old, well-established houses were
falling all around. No wonder, then
that the smaller concerns we're fairly
swallowed up in the crashes going
on in the business world. No won
der Harry Tyndall sat in his office
gazing with pale faco and despairing
eyes at the spectre Ruin, which
stared at him from no great distance.
He had weathered the storms of
three brief years--he had hoped to
soon weather this; but the loss of
a thousand dollars held by a friend
deprived him of the means of MAX
ing a payment due in three days and
he left that all was indeed lost, for
his efforts to negotiate loan in the
present state Of the money market
had been worse than useless.
The prospect before him was not
a cheering one. 1t Is rather hard to
begin over again at thirty, especially
when one has reached that age after
years of poverty toll and self.exer-
tion. In his younger days Harry
Tyndall had known what it was to
go to bed supperiess and could rise
In the morning with no prospect of
breakfast save as he earned it in the
streets. He had known want In it's
cruelest, most savage form-he had
battled its grim legions and risen to
independence, ,and now. at the thresh-
old of higher life, he. was hurled
back with just glimpse Of the en-
chanted grounds within.
AS he sat confronting heap of
papers on his desk, the office door
opened and lady entered. Me-
chanicalIy, Harry rose and placed a
chair; but as the lady threw back
her veil, he exclaimed, in surprise
"Miss Berwick !"
pardon my intrusion, Mr.. Tyn-
DALI" said the most musical of
voices. 81 have been on the upper
floor looking for the Office of Graves
& WaldrOn and was told that they
were on this floor. I wish to give
Mr.. Waldron this package. May
ask you to deliver it? will remain
here. OF all things, / dislike to
lose myself in these dark halls hunt
ing for Offices"
Harry took the package with alac.
rity-was gone but a moment and
on his return found Miss Berwick
standing by the window idly looking
down the street. She turned at his
thanked him with q smile
and bow, and then took her bright
presence out of the room, and
Harry was left to his meditations.
" / may rs well give 1t up. 1 have
not friend who could help me in
this strait" ne muttered, after a
half hours deep thought. 81 will
make an assignment, 90 into bank
ruptcy and then 60 to the far West,
where toll is better requited." And
as he spoke, he rose to his feet, his
eyes falling to the floor. He was
vaguely conscious of some dark oh.
ject at his feet, stopped carelessly to
lift 1t and saw that 1t was a pocket
book. Leather, and rather the worse
for wear, but rather plethoric. He
sat down again and opened 1t. There
were various compartments, but all
Of them were empty save one. That
contained ten one hundred dollar
bills.
Just the sum that would save him
from ruin. If it were his, he could
pay that note falling due, sell off his
stock and seek situation until the
panic was past.
He looked the pocket-book over
again. There was no name, no clue
to the owner, yet no felt that it must
of course, belong to Clara Berwick.
She was the only person who had
been In his Office that morn
ing. 1t was a terrible temptation to
Harry. Had his visitor been any
other than Clara Berwick, it is hard
to say whether conscience or incli
nation would have prevailed; /; as II
wac, conscience won the day and ne
started out after Miss Berwick.
She was not to be found, however
and Harry concluded she had gone
home. SO thither he bent his steps
Clara was an heiress and something
of a belle, too. She was not class
ically beautiful, but she was younf
and had good figure, clear com
plexion, frank gray eyes and very
abundant hair, all of which goot
points she made the most of, al
every daughter Of Eve is bound Il