Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-08-05

the discovery were bound to come
shortly; even already Mr.. March
mont fancied that some suspicious were
arising in young Williams mind, for
the youth had become rather pressing
regarding the fixture of date on
which to go into all the trusts ac-
counts, and have the investments duly
transferred. Alas all these "invest-
ments" had been non-existent for some
time. 1t had often been a desperate
struggle to pay the interest on the
vanished capital, and the delays which
had occasionally ensued had perhaps
aroused some suspicion Of the truth in
Harold Williams mind. On one pre-
tence or another, Marchmont had
hitherto contrived TO put off the evil
day of reckoning, but had been obliged
to fix a date for it at last. In another
six weeks the truth must be revealed
Mr.. Marchmont must stand before the
world as a convicted thief, betrayer
of the trust of dead friend, and Har-
old and his sister must learn that
owing to his embezzlement they were
reduced from comparative atiiuence to
absolute beggary. Small wonder that,
as the wretched man sat alone in his
private room, his face looked gray and
lined, or that he glanced often at a GER
tain locked drawer, in which some
weeks previously he had placed tiny
phial.
There is always that means Of es-
cape. l can never face the lad and his
sister and tell them that have ruined
them, thought Marchmont, who, to
do him justice, was even more con-
cerned to think of the calamity which
he had brought upon his young friends,
than of the probable consequences to
himself of his rash acts. "If Id only
drank the contents of that bottle three
years ago before all this took place
thought the merchant bitterly.
ats not our fault but simply our
misfortune, Marchmont, that we are
in such straits" the junior partner
would often say. 1T was those un-
expected failures abroad that dragged
us down. But we're quite clear, thank
heaven, from any imputation of reck-
less trading, and need have no oblec-
ton to face our creditors fairly, and
let them 90 over our books for them
selves. AS business men they will be
reasonable in the matter, and were
only carrying on now at a loss, and
getting worse every day"
True, the accents of the firm were
clear and clean enough: it was in his
private capacity that Mr. Marohmont
had gambled and emblezzled. But to
wind up his business would preciPi-
tate the discovery Of his private NAL
practices and with the natural desire |
Of putting off the evil day as far as
possible, Mr.. Marchmont still clung to
delay. Six weeks yet remained to
him, and then-at the worst-there |
were the contents of the vial.
Truth is stranger than fiction, Is
a trite remark, and the singular acci-
dents which novelsts are often ridi-
culed for adapting into their tales not
unfrequently take place in real life
One morning Mr.. Marchmont, who was
usually the last to arrive at the office
found Jenkins, usually so cool and
quiet, in state Of extreme though sup
pressed excitement.
Come here, said this gentleman,
dragging his partner by the arm into
the private sanctum, and carefully
shutting the door. Il don't want the
clerks to get an inkling of what | have
to say. You remember those farms at
the Cape which we took-as the only
asset we could lay hands on-when
that South African firm failed and let
us in so heavily ?"
"Yes, and valueless enough they
have proved" said Marchmont indif-
ferently.
Have they ?" cried Jenkins exult-
ingly. Just wait and see. l have
received private information-from
a source I am not at liberty to disclose
that gold has been discovered in
some part of this land, and that if we
wait, and play our cards well-we
may make fortune yet out of the sale
of that valuable estate.
And such, in fact, proved to be the
case. Jenkins, shrewd and cautious
man of business, successfully negotl-
ated the matter; Marchmont, indeed,
being too dazed by this sudden change
in the situation to intermeddle much
in the affair.
There were delays, and many dis
cussions and much correspondence,