The Opelousas courier., 1898-01-15

giving me power to prosecute at any
time 1 think fit or may feel inclined.
Here is my offer: Marry me three
months from now, this document will
pass into your possession and your
brother is safe. Ii not"
eff not?"
eff youare foolish enough to persist
in your refusal Wilfred Merton will
stand in the felon's dock before the
month is out, and the brother of the
beautiful Norah Merton will in all
probability serve seven years. penal
servitude."
sob, why do you persecute me
thus? I was happy and inpeace when
I was poor-but now that [ nm rich
you force attentions upon me which
are not only an insult to me, but to
another, Also"
"Ah! you refer to my nephew,
Charles Crawford-a clever lad, Norah,
but poor. You speak of your wealth.
I do not deny that your snug little
e100, 900 in hard cash makes your at
fractions doubly alluring; and do you
think I am going to resign all that in
favor of my nephew Charles? No, no.
In fact, I do not think I have any
more need for him in my office"
"You will not discharge him?"
E"You would not advise me to keep O
dog that has once tried to bite-who
knows but that the next time he may
succeed? You are anxious for your
brother; think of him. You have the
welfare of Charles Crawford at heart;
do not ruin him, for as surely as you
fail to marry me J will crush them
both. If, ,however, you agree to my
proposal, there is nothing that T will
not do for them"
) "Give me time to think"
"Not one moment. Yes or MOP"
81 cannot-I-"
"Your brother"
"You torture me-"
"Yes or no"
"Then God forgive me. If that is
the only way to save Wilfred, I must
do it."
Notwithstanding the questionable
manner in which John Markham Sc
cured his victory, he walked down to
his Office after the interview with Norah
Merton in a cheerful, and even jubi-
laLt, frame of mind.
John Markham & Co. were we'll
known in the city as a firm of high re-
pute, engaged in the oil trade. John
Markham, the sole partner, had crept
up from small beginnings; during the
last month, however, he had made con-
tracts which, when completed, would
place him on the high road to fortune.
Some three years ago, when Wilfred
Merton, Norah's brother, was a clerk
in John Markhanl's Office, a series of
petty thefts had taken place, culminat-
ing in the cashing of a forged checkfor
a considerable amount.
The guilt being directly traceable to
Wilfred Merton, John Markham, find
ing that nothing was to be gained by
prosecution, compelled the young man
to sign a paper acknowle Lying his de-
linquency, and discharged him.
For some time after discharging Will
fred from his employ John Markham
thought little or nothing about the
Merton family, but when it came to
his knowledge that an eccentric old
gentleman in the person of Norah's
uncle had died, leaving her a fortune
of 9100, 900, his interest was suddenly
awakened.
"One hundred thousand pounds"
he NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. securi-
ties, but in one solid sum on deposit at
the bank, ready to be drawn in one
single check! John Markham, you
must see into this"
And from that day Norah Merton
was allowed no peace, and notwith-
standing the fact that she had promised
to marry Charles Crawford long before
her fortune came to her, the threats
and prosecutions of John Markham Gull
minated as we have seen.
Upon entering his office John Mark
am rang the bell and summoned his
chief into the private room.
Crawford, let me have those last
O. ltracts. Now, let me see," he went
on when the documents were laid be-
fore him, "how do we stand? One
contract for 10000, one for SO, 900 and
one for 80, 600, that is to say, 100, 900
tons OF Russian petroleum in all, at s4
per ton-eauals et1,. 100. We bny
at an aye Il SIS, =. ,aa. or sg32e.