La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-06-25

he should not join IN the hunt that
Colonel Hungerford had arranged.
What was the matter? Lady Caraven
was. as usual. bright. beautiful ana
graceful: but those who knew her best
saw that she was engrossed by some
thought.
The earl rang for his footman.
when Mr.. Blantyre comes. show
him into my study" he said; and then
I he went over to his wife. You do not
feel nervous at the task you have un-
! dertaken?" he questioned.
NO" she replied. calmly, "hut !
fancy that Mr.. Blantyre will feel ner-
vous before We have done with him."
The earl smiled. II this trusted SER
want of his had deceived him. the
sooner he was unmasked and punished
the better.
II think" said Lady Caraven, at
would be quite as well II we looked
over that balance sheet before Mr..
Blantyre comes-it will shorten the in
terview."
He acquiesced at once. and followed
his wife to the study.
She went to the table, and took her
seat Her husband stood at some dis
tance from her. Silently she bent her
head over the papers.
You have seldom, suppose. looked
over one OF these balance Sheets" she
said to the earl
NO" he replied, Il do not remember
that l have ever examined one"
Then I will look over them" she
i .ha nld
''wiIl you look at this. Lord Caraven?
All this is quite wrong-several en-
tries are incorrect. and the reckoning
is falsifled."
The earl was slightly embarrassed.
II do not think, to tell you the truth.
Hildred, that l am very clever at ac-
counts" he stammered.
But surely you can see whether this
Is correct? Believe me. child could
see it."
Then am not so wise even as a
child.' he said. ruefully: but. leaning
over her shoulder, he tried to under
stand what she said.
1t was indeed easy enough-the
whole sheet. as she pointed out, had
been got up to meet the eye.
And you have never noticed this?"
/ said the young countess.
mo. indeed" he replied. IT have
1 never even thought of it,"
Then you have been a very easy
/ master to please she remarked. II
need hardly say, Lord Caraven, that
the man who falsifies his accounts is a
rogue. You know It,"
Luavv thot much op, ~ ii to
think whether all the balance sheets
he has prepared since he has been my
I agent have been like this"
You have never looked into one.
Imagine"
mo. never"
They were interrupted by the en-
trance Of the agent himself-the man
whom from his face Lady Caraven sus-
pected from the first OF being dishon-
est
John Blantyre was tall. gentleman
ly looking man of specious manner and
good address. A rogue from liking as
much as anything else. he would not
have cared to be honest II he could.
He had contrived to ingratiate himself
into the favor of Lord Caraven from
the conviction that he could do as he
liked with the easy. indolent, pleasure
1oving nobleman. He had done SO.
The result was irretrievable confusion.
John Blantyre had laid aside fair for
hume for himself.
LET the worst come he said to
himself: 'if am caught there will be
Honly q few years. Imprisonment; then
Ii can go abroad and enjoy my saw
Rings
Yet he relied implicitly upon his
good fortune that he should not be
caught
Il He entered the room smiling, with
a his usual bland, obsequious manner.
His face changed when he saw the
I Countess Of Caraven looking over his
balance sheets. The earl pointed to
4 - chair; the detected thief sat down.
The young countess eyes were rails
ed to the bland face Of the agent; they
seemed to burn him. The earl left
the discussion to her. as he had said
he would. Words could not have ex-
pressed the proud, cold contempt Of her
face n she spoke to him.
.sYou are well aware, Mr.. Blantyre,
that this balance sheet is worth moth
Tag? The accounts are all falsined."
II am not aware OF anything Of the
kind, your lAdyship. There may be
fsw mistakes IL was hurriedly made
out Nay ask permission to"
You may ask nothing, Sir,~ she re-
! Piled. curtly. Tell Lord Caraven II Il
bs correct that you have taken bribe
from some one who wants Bromhfll
fazn-a hribe to turn out the old ten