Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-06-17

OH wv p M n nus ;,I pocket WITH IN
getting it cashed at the bank on the NOR
row But in order to do this it would be
necessary that he be identified This
would not be particularly easy matter
in any case, and the less so because the
name on it was not his own. At length
he decided to get it cashed through some
friend He was reluctant to have it
known to any one that he had had any
dealings with Judge Ketelle. and it was
partly on this account that he had given
Grushs name But it was an ANNOYANCE
and risk even so, and he promised him
self that he would not be caught with
check again in hurry
Late that night he succeeded in cash
ing the check over the bar of an inn in
the lower part of the city where he was
lodging. The landlord of the inn was
depositor at the bank on which the check
was drawn This was on Wednesday.
The next day, Thursday (the day of Pau
lines interview with the inspector), the
check was sent to the bank to be turned
in with the other receipts. On Thursday
evening the check came back marked N.
e. Dupee was not in the hotel at the time:
but he entered about II o'clock. The
hotel keeper called his attention to the
dishonored check. and demanded from
him payment of the face amount. Dupee
had by that time spent good deal of
the eighty dollars; but rather than have
any disturbance he deposited fifty dol
lars. and promised to 60 to the bank the
next day and have the thing straight
ened out.
But though he carried it off with
composed face, he was in reality filed
with rage and apprehension.
What could be the meaning of it? A
check signed by Judge Ketelle refused
at his own bank! Was it mistake, an
accident, OF deliberate plan? mis-
take it could hardly be; there was moth
ing ambiguous in the wording of the
check. and Dupee had made sure that
the date and all the minor details had
been correctly entered. The probability
was greater of its being an accident
Judge Ketelle might have inadvertently
overdrawn his account. If this were the
case. the matter Gould be easily rectifed.
But. on the other hand, the third contin-
gency remained-that the check had
been stopped by special direction. If
that were so, it meant that Mrs. Ketelle
had declared war. She had resolved to
defy him. She fancied, perhaps, that he
would not have the courage to carry out
his threat and reveal her intrio1,a To
her husband. Well. if that were her J
idea. she would discover her mistake.
He would reveal her shame, whatever
the consequences to himself. He would
blast her life; not only her husband, but
the whole world should know what she
had done; and if he suffered imprison-
ment for it, at any rate the time would
come when he would again be free, and
then he could seek her out and taunt her
with her ignominy. For time would
bring no freedom to her.
This bitterness of malice on his part
was partly characteristic of the nature
of the man: but there was in it an ele-
ment of exceptional animosity. Almost |
all criminals who have fallen from
higher social position lay the response
bility of their degradation at the door of
some person or combination of circum-
stances outside of themselves. So it was
with Dupee, who dated the beginning of |
his misfortune from the day when he
was arrested on the charge of murder by
the father of Jerrold Nolen. Pauline
and her mother were the only living rep
resentatives las he believed) of that man.
They should suffer vicarious punish
ment- So strong was his desire to see
this punishment inflicted that he half |
hoped Mrs. Ketelle had really played him
false. The longer he thought over the
matter, however. the less likely did it {
seem that this could be the case. What
ever she might think as to the probable !
ity of his failing to carry out his threat,
the possibility that he would carry it out
was too serious one to invite. Recog-
nizing this, Dupee prepared himself for
either contingency. He would go to
Judge Ketelle's Office and inform him of
the refusal of the Check. as if he supposed
it to be an ordinary business error. If
the Judge redeemed the check, well and I
good; the matter might stop, for the
present at any rate, where it was. If,
on the contrary, resistance should be
offered to his claim. he would know how
to defend himself.
twas about II o'clock when he mount
ed the steps Of the judges office on Pine
street. The rooms were on the first floor;
there was an outer Office and two or
three inner rooms opening into one an
other. Two or three clerks were writing
in the outer room when Dupee entered.
h asked one of them if Judge Ketelle
were within.
I'll see, sir, replied the clerk, looking
mp. 'sWhat name shall ssy?
ssSay Mr.. Crush wants to see him
DIR. John Crush.
The clerk wenS h7eo the inner room |