The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-02-23

always been led to expect. fastened
home to Kentucky, spent six months in
settling up the affairs of the estate, and
have come North to see what 1 can
make of talents that have never yet
been called upon to earn anything"
at might have been worse. You
are DIR. Tom Curran. I've heard them
speak OF you frequently. Why not
take run out with me and renew the
acquaintance"
1t was a temptation, and we are
prone to compromise with temptation.
l could not 90 then because was to
spend couple of weeks with my one
relative, Uncle Bruff Curran, who lived
twenty miles out of st. Louis. But
when Fred and 1 parted it had been
arranged that / should take Christmas
dinner with the Morell household.
At Uncle Bruff's was having a glo-
rious time, though he was bachelor
of sixty and cynical as he was rich. My
strange experience there began one af-
ternoon when was out shooting over
as fine pair of Irish settlers as ever
stood cover of birds. The sport was
fast and furious and l was banging
away without any precautions, for the
game was in q desolate preserve and
the thought of danger to any one else
never entered my mind. But my con-
fidence in the fact of my complete iso-
lation was brought up with short
turn. 1 had just let go with both bar
rels at flying bunch of quail, when l
heard a shout of terror and witnessed
a laughahle sight. 1t was a man liter
ally dropping down telegraph pole,
| hscv xrith Trinht Fol
! beard shifted to the side of his face.
The fine shot had peppered him harm
lessly, but he thought that he had been
fired upon and was beginning to plead
for mercy when l approached him. A
ringing laugh treasured him and he
managed to tell me in quite natural
manner that he was along the line
making some repairs. He said nothing
about the false beard, nor did /. The
weather was severe for that part of
the country and my medical knowledge
suggested that he might be protecting
his throat as woman would do with
boa.
When l went in from my holiday
hunt found new guest at the house,
He was president of the leading bank
in ST. Louis, in which uncle was di-
rector and large stakeholder. After
dinner we smoked together and the
two old men told me what had brought
the president there.
But a short time before two elegant
and distinguished looking gentlemen
had flashed upon the most exclusive So
cial circle of the city. They dressed
just within the extreme of fashion,
spent money with princely prodigality
and one of them had placed 800, 600 in
the pre- sident's bank just to meet the
expenses of the brief visit. He had
been introduced at the presidents home
and made such an inroad upon the
daughters affections that their engage.
ment was currently reported. This de.
positor had eptionable letters and
each one guaranteed him entitled TO I'm.
limited credit.
One afternoon he rushed hurriedly
into the bank. He just had a letter
from one of his best and wealthiest
friends in Boston. He was to have
met a Denver lawyer in st. Louis that
very day to pay balance of $750,00C
on a contract for mining lands in Colo.
RADIO. Business involving an enor
nous sum kept this Boston man al
home, and, despite his wealth, he die
not have the ready money to meet the
engagement. Would his old friend
known in st. Louis as Lawrence
Bochart, draw on his own funds and
look after the matter? There was
an assured profit of million, and they
would share it.
sis it all right?" asked the president
who was dazzled by Bochart and hil
apparently fabulous riches.
81 would like to help my friend, fol-
it is my disposition. But let me insis
that you first telegraph my bank il
New York to see whether it will honor
draft for the amount required. Fol
your kindness in the matter want yor
to accept half the gain which my FRIEND
will make through the deal"
81 cannot think OF it," replied the
president.
'Then sir, let me make it q wedding
present to your daughter. l have moi
asked her hand, but, with your per
mission, will do sou
81 sent the telegram at once" SAID
the president to my uncle and myself
"Insde of half an hour l had an an
swer signed by both the president and
cashier informing me that Mr.. Bo,
CHARTS account was far more than equal
to the demand made upon it. 1 may
have been blinded somewhat by the
impression the young man had made
upon me aud the prospect of having
him for son inlaw, but / took the
usual precautions, though the large.
ness of the amount at stake might
have demanded more.
"We went to the hotel and paid the
Denver lawyer in currency, as exacted
by the terms of the contract. He said
that he would have preferred certified
check, but he would be around before
close of banking hours, to deposit the
sum with us. / had no sooner returned
to the bank than received a telegram
from the New York bank, saying thai
Lawrence Bochart had no account there
and never had. Then il came upon me
with the force of a terrible blow thai
the wire must have been tapped, thai
we were swindled, and that the banl