The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-11

1 crossed the room TO the door. AS l
turned the handle I looked back. Barrows
had folded his arms on the desk before him
and lean, his face on them. l saw on the
mufled glass of the door behind him the
shadow Of Martin Grain No doubt Grain
had heard all we said. ] felt my face flush
with Indignation. An eavesdropper is al
best an incipient traitor. / restrained an
impulse to fling the showroom door open
and Kick the sleek body Of Martin Grain,
and only that 1 was leaving Strangford
& Co. for good ! should have yielded 70
the impulse. When l had returned from
Hndley & Gordons I should show Bar
rows how friendly [ felt towards him by
putting him on his guard against this
contemplate spy
Away l FASTENED to Fleet street and
made my purchases getting gold for the
balance Of the twenty pound note. on re-
gaining the Viaduct l bounded upstairs
two steps a a time.
I found Barrows standing on the lobby.
I'm IN a desperate hurry he said, talk
ing the bag, the umbrella and the change
See you again. soon.' he added. with
the same sinister smile of the morning,
ending now with a harsh, sly bitter laugh
He sprang past me and down the stairs
without further word or gesture.
He had forgotten the and-shakel He
had said See you again soon" not even
remembering that we were never more to
meet
set out for Charterhouse square, where
Tessie lodged.
Heaven help the girl who marries Fred
erick Barrowsr said to myself, and, with
a shrug dismissed him from my thoughts
found Tessie in her tiny sitting room
busy stitching. Alice FRASER. her brides
maid Of tomorrow was with her. and
for a while the three of US kept up such
a clatter of tongues, l never once thought
of Barrows or his strange behavior
Presently came lull in the conversation.
Jessie looked up at me- saying and how
did you and Mr.. Barrows part?'
"Oh, I must tell you" l said, and I be-
gan the story, making nothing of 1t. AS
went on the light faded out Of my dear
girls face, and when l ended she looked
very serious.
Il don't like it all, Tom" said She II
am sure he is a spiteftil man. why did he
run away without shaking hands?'
Forgot 1t IN his hurry" 1 answered off
hand
She dropped her needle. letting It hang
by the thread, and shook her head WAS
there anything wrong In your buying
things for him out Of that twenty pound
note?"
NO. He is responsible for the money.
He is my boss when Mr.. Strangford is not
at hand. was only the messenger, and he
had five pounds of his own to pay back
the money ! spent for him.
What did he mean by saying he hoped
to see you soon again?"
oh, it's so common a speech al part
ing that 1t slipped out of him unawares."
How could the words slip out unawares
when you and he were thinking so much
of your going a long voyage? And then
his mistake about getting the hundred
pound note. Could there be anything
wrong in your changing that note?''
NO. said l, but not quite so firmly as
before He was in charge of the office
and l was bound to do what he tod me
unless ! was sure what he told me was
wrong"
"As to his having sweetheart, I don't
believe word of it," said Alice Fraser
disdainfully
"why?" I asked.
Because he's too ugly and too horrid."
/ laughed, but the laugh was half heart
ed.
Tessies words and her grave face be-
gan to make me uneasy. Could Barrows
have been acting a part and lying right
through the piece? If so, with what OBJ
ject?
Il am boring you two girls and stopping
your work. | said Il know where Bar
rows lunches. III drop in there and get
that shake hands, anyway"
l left Charterhouse Square with a mind
fun of misgivings. As l entered the Cheap
side restaurant which Barrows frequent
ed, caught glimpse of Martin Grain at
the opposite side of the street He was
watching the door of the restaurant.
did not like this. The porter was plainly
waiting for Barrows. What could Bar
rows want with him after office hours?
Only three or four men were in the din
ing room when ] entered IT, Barrows was
sitting IN the darkest corner with his
back towards me. I went up to him
lightly and put my hands on his shoulders.
He glanced round With a violent start.
4 have come said, trying to appear
at ease, for that hand-shake"
lie turned ghastly. fumbled with his
napkin. looked at the ground right and
left. and finding no way out Of the diff
Guilty, gave me his hand. / had no sooner
touched IL than he snatched il away as n
him.
Il did not think there was time for Won
to get to Hampstead and back since
said he, looking into his plate
Il! To Hampstead" A chill passed
through my whole body.
Yes; to Seven Oak House, with that
hundred pound note for the governor"
| tried TO laugh but no sound came.
You see l received a letter from him
this morning, inclosing a check for a hum
dred, and asking me to send you out with
a one hundred pound note under cover
He tilted his head ana fixed his darb. mean
eyes on me.
But"
He raise his hand for silence. Il guess
the hundred is intended as a wedding ana
q goodbye present for you. For the flrst
time you go to the bank and get one note
for the check ! seal up the note. hand n
TO you, and tell you to take il TO Mr.
strangford Seven Oak House, Hamn-
stead
You"
flush! The people will overhear ana -
they understand your words you risk ar
rest on the spot"
"Arrestw
Listen. You are about 10 leave strang-
ford & Co, and TO start for some ME-.
where Il might be dimcult TO follow vo,,
Not dreaming that the money Is Tor vour-
seli wedding present for the son or bis
old and beloved friend you close On 4,
believing you will be at sea before The
theft IL detected" e
You Internal"
! advise you not to make a disturbance
II you attract attention the police viii lnv
you by the heels before your time. We'll
you break open tho cover when YOU have
put a safe distance between you ana the
ONCE. and you change the hundred pound
note az Green a Whollonfa They et,.. -,