The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-05-29

his clerk to arrange for him the docu-
ments in a certain way, and to count
over, and place, the bills. and notes,
and cash in separate parcels, turned
to chat pleasantly with Sir Loghlen
and his niece, while Sydney proceeded
to obey the orders he had received.
From the conversation that ensued,
Stanley Claremont held himself aloof;
he was sufficiently busy with his own
! thoughts; for the consequences of the
| work on which Abraham Mailer had
been employed. were about to be felt
by the man whom Stanley had sworn
| to ruin and destroy.
And greatly deepened that repulsive
smile, so usual with the Baronet's
nephew when, having counted through
all the Golfer had contained, he saw
n sudden paleness overspread the face
of poor. unhappy Sydney; who, with
trembling hands, proceeded to recount
the notes and gold.
II must have been Mistaken Sgd
ney muttered, unconsciously to him
self.
What is the matter, Mr.. Drum
monde" cried the banker, turning sud-
denly towards his clerk, who, in re-
ply, stammered, Nothing, sir-noth-
ing" while again counting, and with
no better result than before.
And, again, unconsciously to himself,
Sydney muttered, NO, that sum is
wantingv'
And the three who had been con-
yersing heard that exclamation, and
We're startled into instant silence.
Sydney was almost brought to be-
lieve that his senses were deluding
him-that money could not be gone
he had himself placed everything with
in the chest, the key of which had
never for moment quilted him.
Oh. it was impossible but that he
should find that money again!
what is wrong, Mr.. Drummond? 2"
the banker asked, in tone which was
verging on severity.
'Sir, IL am half-crazed!" cried Sgd
neg. I'll cannot find" and could
proceed no further.
"Are you quite certain Of the amount
which was counted to you?" Stanley
quietly asked.
Sydney was, he said, perfectly GER
tain.
''There can be no mistake concerning
the sum with which Mr.. Drummond
has been entrusted" said the banker.
Sydney what was the amount he lack
ed in his accounts.
And Sydney's quivering lips MUIR
he could in no way understand, amour
ted to hundred and twenty-five
pounds.
80 much!" exclaimed Mr.. Kennedy.
Sir Loghlen, after moment Of sur
prise, fixed his eyes searchingly on
SydIey's face; while Stanley said, as
quitely as he before had spoken, "Pre-
cisely, believe, the sum which you
lost at cards on the evening before
quitting Ireland"
Sydney comprehended, and turned
fiercely toward the Baronets nephew
who. unheeding the threatening look
fixed upon him, went on, Fortunately,
your honor is beyond attack-but that
such an advantage happened to any
other-that unfortunate game-such
obstinate ill-fortune-that sum Of equal
value-for my part, rejoice that not
even suspicion can for moment TALL
upon you"
what would you insinuate, sir?"
shudderingly demanded Sydney. a.
what do you mean, sir?" Stanley
said. and looking toward his uncle and
the banker as If he wished to express,
'Can. you understand such ingrati-
tude?"
And then, again turning toward sgd
ney, he cried, II am defending you,
sir"
Eyes, precisely as another would &C.
cuse," Frances Indignantly exclaimed.
And Sir Loghlen was thinking of the
words which Sydney had uttered when
the baronet had been counseling him
against ever playing more.
And those words had been confess
sion, as it now seemed to Sir Loghlen,
of the source from whence had been
derived the money with which Sydney
had betrayed his losses at the gaming
table.
Il neither accuse nor defend you,
Mr.. Drummond," said the banker very
sternly; "but have right to demand
from you satisfactory explanation of
all this
EYES," said Sydney humbly, Eyes,
Mr.. Kennedy, and it is true that I was
tempted to play, and that I lost; but
Mr.. Claremont knows that paid with
out for an instant quitting the table,"
"Pardon me-" cried Stanley, blandly
smiling, "but you certainly Quilted the
anu IuC IOOlll ulSO
your absence lasted for but a few min
utes.'
Sir Loghlen and the baronet ex.
changed sigredcant glances.
While Sydney, remembering, STAN.
mered, "Yes-true, true; but it was
only to take from my portmanteau
money which-which-"
And painful thought concerning
even the notes which he had used now
recurring to his mind, he stopped abb
ruptly in his speech.
do you mean to assert that you had
property at your disposal to so large
an amount as f125?' demanded Mr.
Kennedy.
And not a doubt was now left in tn,
bankers mind that it was with hi,
property that Sydney's gambling debts
had been 5aid.
Sydney had not been sufficiently lon,
!. with the firm to have saved from hi
somewhat moderate salary the rathe
large sum of which he was now def
cient.
And in every eye. save those o.