The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-10
ATALE OF TRUSTEE.


ne was a ruined man; and. worse stlll
that he had involved others in his, own
financial disasters, without either their
knowledge or their consent. 1t was tho
old, old tale; III fortune in buStnesS
rash speculative Investments TO meet
extrayagant expenditure, then misap-
preparation OF trust funds to'repair past
losses and enable him 10 continue his
gambling ventures with the wild nope
that previous misfortunes might be re-
trieved. Now all was gone the Tor
tune OF his orphan clients as Well us his
own; and, in another month or so, when
Harold Williams would BIO "a, and the
trust" would, by the terms OF his old
friends will have to be rendered up, dis
coyery OF the real condition OF affairs
must ensue, II was not an agreeable
prospect, for Mr.. Marehmont, like many
another misapplier of trust funds, had
neyer intended 10 be actually dishonest,
any more than does the clerk or shop
man who "borrows" from his employ
er's "petty cash" or shop TIL, to meet
his own losses on the race course. EV-
cry gambler with the money or other
people looks forward to making some
lucky stroke which shan recoup all
his former loSses-and is mostly disap-
time Mr.. Marchmont had fought des-
perately against the evidence OF facts,
and plunged into yet wilder speculatlons
with the hope OF retrieving his financial
disasters, but now all was gone; the
fortune OF the two orphans OF the old
est friend epgulfed with his own, and
this under circumstances which would
assurediy lay the defaulting trustee
open to criminal prosecution. Would
II be wIsest 10 slip quietly away while
there was yet time? But his whole
soul revolted against this idea, Until
the fatal speculative mania had seized
upon him, Mr.. Marchmont had been q
man OF honor and esteemed by all who
knew him. II was, indeed, his known
high reputation which had induced his
old friend to place the future of his
children so unreservedly In his hands,
''If you will consent TO become their
trustee, Marchmont," the dying man
had said. II shall appoint no one to act
with you. I can trust you fully, and
shall leave everything In your hands un-
til Harold Is "a. know you'll do your
best for him and Ellie and keep the
money where It is--in good, safe, non
speculative investments"
Mr.. Marchmont, then prosperous
merchant, had readily undertaken the
honestly until within n year or so be-
fore our story commences, But there
had been time of great financial de-
preston, and Mr.. Marchmont's firm had
suffered like the rest of the world; and
then, in fatal hour. he had been
tempted to gamble on the stock eX-
change; had won, had lost, lost again,
grown reckless, and now, that 100000
which should be handed over to Harold
and his sister In another six weeks was
as nonresident as Marchmont's private
fortune. Business was much depressed
still; and Jenkins, the other partner,
had begun TO advocate boldly facing the
real condition OF things and winding
up" the firms affairs; but Jenkins was,
OF course, ignorant OF his partners em-
bezzlement Of trust funds.
II Is one thing for business man
whose AFFAIRS have become involved
through unexpected misfortune to call
a meeting OF creditors" and lay the
facts boldly before them. and another
to have to confess that trustee has
10 put 1t bluntly-mGde away with
money which does not belong to him.
1t was no small addition to the torturing
anxiety OF the situation that Jenkins
was SO perpetually advocating q volun-
tary winding up" Of the firm, and
candid statement OF their affairs. or
course, the crash and the discovery
were bound to come shortly; even al
ready Mr.. Marchmont fancied that some
supiclons We're arising in young VIII.
Jams mind, for the youth had become
rather pressing regarding the fixing of
q date on which to go into all the trust
accounts, and have the investments
transferred, Alas! all these investments
had been non-existent for some time. 1t
no. III han n 90 -, l., 80,
pay the interest on the vanished capital,
and the delay which had occasionally
ensued had perhaps aroused some sus-
piclon OF the truth in Harold Williams
mind. On one pretense or another
Marchmont had hitherto contrtved to
put of the evil day OF reckoning but
had been obliged to fix date for 1t at
last. In another six weeks the truth
must be revealed; Mr.. Marehmont must
stand before the world as n convicted
thief betrayer OF the trust OF a dead
friend, and Harold and his sister must
learn that. owing to his embezzlement,
they were reduced from comparative
affluence to absolute beggary. Small
wonder that, as the wretched man sat
alone in his private ROOM his face look
ed ashen gray and lined, or that he
glanced often at certain locked drawer
In which some weeks previously he had
placed tiny phial,
There is always that means OF es-
cape. 1 can never face the lad and hia
sister and tell them that have ruined
them" thought Marchmont, who, to do
him justice, was even more concerned
to think OF the calamity that he had
brought upon his young friends than OF
the probable consequences to himself
of his rash acts. III I'D only drank the
contents OF that bottle three years ago,
before all this took place" thought the
merchant bitterly.
Heavily the days dragged on. jenkins
growed daily more insstent thai they
should put up the shutters"
TITS not our fault, but simply our
misfortune, Marchmont, that we.are in
such straits" the junior partner would
often say. at was those unexpected
failures abroad that dragged US down.
But we're quito clear. thank heaven. OF
any imputation Of reckless trading
and need have no objection to face our
creditors fairly, and let them go over
our books for themselves. As business
men. they will be reasonable In the mat
ter: and we're only carrying on nov at
a loss. and getting worse everyday"
True. the accounts Of the firm werc
clear and clean en0ugh It was In his
private capacity that Mr.. Marohmont
had gambled and embeZzled. But to
'wlnd up" his business would preClpl-
tate the discovery OF his private NAL
practices; and with the natural desire
OF putting off the evil day as far MS pos
sible, Mr.. Marchmont still chung TO de-
lay. Six weeks yet remained to him,
and then at the worst-there were tho
contents OF the phal.
Truth 10 stranger than fiction" 10 n
trlte remark; and the singular acci-
dents" which novellsts orc often rtdt-
culed for adapting into their tales not
Nsalfa Ia. Ia Nm