Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-21


The morning was rather thick, so they
were obliged to move cautiously, and
before they reached the bar the fog came
down so densely that they had to stop,
while bell rang and whistle blew. They
were held there until it was nearly II
o'clock, but time passed quickly, for
there were all the morning papers to
read, neither of the men having had an
opportunity to look at them before leav-
ing the city.
AS the fog cleared away and the en-
gines began to move the captain sent
down and asked Mr. bruce if he would
come on deck for q moment. The cap
tain was q shrewd man and understood
his employer.
"Theres a tug making for us, sig
mailing us to stop. Shall we stopi"
Old bruce rubbed his chin thought.
fully and looked over the stern of the
yacht. He saw tug, with banner Of
black smoke, tearing after them, heap
ing up ridge of white foam ahead Of
her. Some flags futtered from the sin.
gle mast in front, and she shattered the
air with short, hoarse shrieks Of the
whistle
Gan she overtake us?"
The captain smiled. Nothing in the
harbor can overtake u.s. sir.
Every well. Full steam ahead. Don't
answer the signals. You did not happen
to see them, you know. "
"Quite so, sir, )" replied the captain,
going forward.
Although the motion of the Sea-
hounds engines could hardly be felt,
the tug in spite Of all her efforts, did
not seem to be gaining. When the yacht
put on her speed the little steamer grad
ually fell farther and farther behind and
at last gave up the hopeless chase.
When well out at sea, something went
wrong with the engines, and there was
a second delay of some hours. A stop at
Long Branch was therefore out Of the
question.
az told you Friday was an unlucky
day." said the general.
1t was o'clock that evening before
the Seahound stood off from the TWEEN
ty-third street wharf.
on have to put you ashore in o
small boat" said bruce. "You won't
mind that, hope. The captain is so
uncertain about the engines that he
doesn't want TO go nearer shore.
"Oh, don I mind in the leastl Good
night. I've had "a lovely day. "
'I'm glad you enjoyed it. We will
take another trip together some time,
when hope so many things won't hap
pen as happened today"
The general saw that his carriage was
waiting for him, but the waning light
Gid not permit him TO recognize his son
until he was up ON dry land once more.
The look on the sons face appalled, the
old man.
MY God, John, what has happenedy"
"Everything's happened. Where are
the securities that were in the safer"
"Oh, they're all right" said his IA
Their, feeling Of relief coming over
him. Then the thought flashed through
his mind-how did John know they
were not in the safer Sneed kept tight
rein on his affairs, and no one but him
self knew the combination that would
open the safe
'How did you know the securities
were not there?''
because had the safe blown open
at O'Clock today"
"Blown open! For heavens sake,
why?'
"Step into the carriage, and I'll tell
| you on the way home. The bottom drop
ped out Of everything. All the Sneed
stocks went down with IA run. We sent
a tug after you, but that old devil had
you tight. If l could have got at the
bonds, think l could have stopped the
run. The situation might have been
saved up to l O'Clock, but after that,
when the street saw we were doing
nothing, all creation couldn't have stop.
ped it. Where are the bonds!"
II sold them to bruce. "
"What did you get-cash?"
81 took his check OH the Trust Ma.
tional bank"
"Did You cash itF Did you cash it3''
cried the young man. And, IL you
did, where is the money!"
''Druce asked me as favor not tc
present the check until tomorrow. ~
The young man made a gesture Of
despair.
1.-THE Trust National went to smash
today at 2. We are paupers, father.
We haven't a cent left out of the wreck
That check business is so evidently &
fraud that-but what's the use of talk
ing? Old bruce has the money, and HI
can buy all the law he wants in New
York. Oh, I'd like to have a seven sec
onds' interview with him with loaded
seven shooter in my handl We'd SCI
how much the law would do for hin
then.
General Sneed despondently shool
his head.
"Its no use, john" he said. "We'rt
in the same business ourselves. onl!
this time we got the hot end Of tn,
poker. But he played it low down oil