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


fee on the Viaduct. in the best OF spirits.
At o'clock I should bid good-by for
ever TO the firm by which I had been
employed for five years. The night be-
fore / had made final arrangements with
Tessie for our marriage next day. Mon
day morning she and were 10 sail in the
steamer Eclipse from the East India dock
for Rio de Janeiro, where I had secured
an excellent situation.
Although Mr.. Jacob Strangford, Lon
don partner of the firm. had been close
friend Of my dead fathers, and always
spoke of him in terms OF great praise and
liking, l was not sorry to be done with
the Viaduct. Mr.. Strangford had not the
best temper in the world, and Fred Bar
rows had not spoken to me beyond busi-
ness since the quarrel between him and
me when Tessie Langley, the typlst in
our Office, refused his offer Of marriage
and accepted mine. Tessie had resigned
early In November, and as yet no substi-
tute had been engaged. The new clerk
to occupy my place was coming in next
week.
on that memorable Saturday the great
Burslem pottery house of Strangford &
Co. was represented in town by Jacob
Strangford. partner; Fred Barrows (my
senior fellow-clerk); myself CThomas Har-
wood, and Martin Grain. the porter,
whom I detested for his oily smile and
over-civil ways.
Barrows had arrived at the office before
me. As I went to my place a sinister
expression passed over his weak, white
face, but I was then too full of my hap
piness to give it more than a passing
thought though afterward 1t came back
TO me with unpleasant persistency, and
] counted myself a fool for not taking
It as a signal of danger. Barrows was
less than the average hight, had low,
retreating forehead, beardless, retreat
ing chin, a thin Roman nose, dark, fur
tive eyes too close together, and washed
out fieshless lips.
Morrow" said he. with nod.
Good morning." said I, taken aback.
Not even a greeting had passed between
us for months. Perhaps in honor of the
last day he wished to make up the quar-
rel. Very well If he head out his hand
would not refuse it.
Il have just had letter from the gov.
ernor. He will not be in town to-day"
posite him.
This was a damper Though I did not
love Jacob Strangford, the notion Of
leaving without bidding him goodbye
made me feel raw and uncomfortable. 1
did hot then know the fun contents of
the governors letter. 1 had then no sus-
picion Barrows was Matching a scheme
for my destruction.
his half day felt longer than the long
est whole one l had ever known. I spent
most of 1t tidying up. Barrows stuck dog
gedly TO his account books. The clatter
OF Martin Grain arranging samples could
be heard from the showroom on the other
side Of a mufied glass door at Barrows
ba elk.
At last st. Andrews clock struck the
third quarter after one. Barrows started
threw down his pen and drew Mr.. Strang-
fords letter from his pocket, eXclaiming.
BY Jove, / was near forgettingi The
governor says you are to get a one hun
dred pound note at the bank for this
cheque, and then / am to leave the money
at his private house on my way home
Take a hanson to Lombard street. and
don't lose moment or you will be late"
As / drove up Cheapside three things
struck me as peculiar.
First, down to this hour / had never
been entrusted with any of Strangford &
Co.'s banking BUSINESS. Second, was it
credible that BarrOws had all but forgot
ten cashing the cheque? Third, what on
earth could Mr.. Strangford want with a
one hundred pound note a Hampstead OF
B Saturday afternoon?
/ could find a satisfactory answer to
none of these questions
Having reached Lombard street Just in
time, 1 was scrutinized sharply for a
couple Of seconds by the teller. and then
handed one note for a hundred pounds
That man will be able to identity me"
thought l. with a chuckle.
When / got back to the Viaduct. Bar
rows was striding up and down the Office
in great excitement.
"Confound my Stupidity he cried. Il
have read the governors letter again. and
ind he wants the hundred in gold. and
now the bank Is shut Would you mind
running across to Green & Wellon's and
asking them If they could give you gold
for that note? We often obMge them"
l darted of. I had never known Bar
rows to make a mistake Of this KIND be-
fore.
The cashier Of Green & Weldon gave me
eighty In gold and a twenty pound note
] ran back 10 Barrows.
Thank you so much" said he in a
quick, tremulous voice, as he ran his fin
eeIs through the little pool OF sovereigns.
Now II We could melt the twenty" he
paused moment and then exclaimed.
hammering the desk excitedly with his 1st
ana making the coins Jingle
i have H. my dear Harwoodr'
My dear Harwoodr / repeated mon
tally In amazement.
You and / had a row" he went ON "r
thought you took her away from me La
Ter on / found she never cared for me AZ
al. think she even disliked me-hated
me because I'm small and ugly. NOT a
zine, stalwart, handsome fellow like Won
Well ] have found a girl who does do.
fpise me, who says she Is In love win me
Don't laugh. Ay, in love with a paper-
faced, dwarfish ghost like me-"
i did not laugh, and 1t Is unjust Of Won
10 say I did"
was shocked az the sudden outburst
IN a man usually 50 self-contained. / nh.
leo him before; now / felt uneasy about
MIN. Was he going mad?
There, let that pass am excited. ga
eNcited mat ! bungle tho smallest things
You have already done two favorg for me
to-day; do third and lei as part friends
said he with a nervous smile.
IF I can do what you want I will ana
nothing could give me greater satisfsc-
ton than that we should PARK friends 30