Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-07-08

'sThere IL always that means Of e.
cape. / 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
concerned to think of the calamity
which he had brought upon his young
friends, than of the probable conse-
quences to himself of his rash acts.
"IfPd only drank the contents of that
bottle three years ago, before all this
took place" thought the merchant
bitterly.
"It's not our fault, but simply our
misfortune, Marchmont, that we are
in such straits" the junior partner
would often say. SIT was those
unexpected failures abroad that
dragged us down. But we're quite
clear, thank heaven, from any imputa-
ton 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 matter, and
we're only carrying on now at a loss,
and getting worse every day."
True, the accounts of the firm
were clear and clean enough; it was
in his private capacity that Mr..
Marchmont had gambled and embez-
zled. But to wind up" his business
would precipitate the discovery of his
private malpractices; and with the
natural desire of putting off the evil
day as far as possible, Mr.. Marchmont
still chung to delay. Six weeks yet
remained to him, and then-at the
worst-there we're the contents of the
vial.
Truth is stranger than felton," is
a trite remark and the singular acct
dents" which novelists 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 suppressed excitement.
"Come here" said this gentleman,
dragging his partner by the arm into
the private sanctum, and carefully
shutting the door. 81 don't want the
clerks to get an inkling of what have
to say. You remember those farms at
the Cape which we took over-as the
only asset we could lay hands on
when that South African firm failed
and let us in so heavily?"
Eyes, and valueless enough they
have proved" said Marchmont indif-
ferently.
"Have they?" cried Jenkins exult-
ingly. "Just wait and see. I have
received private information-from
source 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 a 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 nego-
tiated 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,
but the matter ended-thanks to Mr..
Jenkins good management-in these
erstwhile despised AFRICAN FARMS"
proving veritable "gold mine" to
the original owners who sold them for
sum which entirely recouped Mr. March
mont for his private losses, and enabled
Mr.. Jenkins to retire from the firm
as he promptly announced his inten-
ton of doing = with a comfortable
competence.
81 have made my money, and I
don't mean to risk it in any business
again, remarked this gentleman.
Thanks to this unexpected stroke of
luck, Mr.. Marchmont was able to look
forward to the dreaded trust audit
with more composure. 1t was neces-
sary, of course, to prepare very
elaborate - and fictitious series of
accounts to conceal the real facts, but
at least, the money was there to be
handed over and recipients are usually
satisfied to receive their own, without
indulging in too close scrutiny, as to
how it has been dealt with before it
arrives in their hand. Mr.. Marchmont
WINGED, however, as he saw that Har-
old Williams, when he kept the long
deferred appointment at the merchants
office to Ego into the accounts" had
brought his solicitor with him,
shrewd, keen-eyed, middle-aged man
of well-known ability in the profess
sion. Nothing, however, could be
more courteous than this gentlemans
demeanor as he explained that ''his
young client, being somewhat ignor-
ant of business" had suggested that
he should accompany him, and check
over the trust accounts. At least, the
money was forthcoming, as March
mont thought with infinite sense of re-
lief, but as the quiet lawyer examined
the accounts in silence, the miserable
trustee felt well aware that the shrewd
solicitor had accurately gagged the
real condition of affairs, and could
penetrate all the ingenious devices
whereby figures had been manipulated
| to conceal facts.
Indeed, as Mr.. Vivian, the lawyer,
| turned over the accounts, he was say
ing to himself: Exactly as L expect
| ed; these trust funds have been made
away with and replaced. Well, it's no
| business of mine to point this out, and
anyhow, my client has got back his
own in the end"
But there was decided GOODNESS in
the tones in which Mr.. Vivian thanked