The true Democrat., 1898-07-23
and if you neei my help you may have

"Here is one," she said, after per-
using several. "Read it," which I
accordingly did. 1t ran thus:
"BANK OF BALTIMORE, Nov. II, 18-.
"SIR: [ am advised by our depos-
itor, Mr.. William Van Duzen, to for
ward you the inclosed check for fifty
thousand dollars $3.50, 000), payment
in full, with interest to date, of for
mer debt. Mr.. Van Duzen desires
me to say that he will call himself Oh
an early opportunity and explain.
~ am, sir, yours respectfully,
81. TOMBSTONE, Manager.
''To WILLIAM SEARLE.
"You ought to forward this at once
to Mr.. SeibF F'}t" said, "as it may be,
and evidently is, of Importance to the
firm"
Searle's illness was both dangerous
and tedious. The delirium lasted for
q week and not for another was it
prudent to admit an interview with
his partner or any conversation relat-
ing to business. At Seibert's special
and urgent request, however, I re-
Tented so far as to convey the follow
ing message: ''Keep your mind easy,
for it is all right" I did not'then
know the full meaning of the sentence,
but Seibert said it was certain to aid
my remedies, and SO it did.
A month after, though weak, Searle
was again at work in his Office, and
when l called to see him he related
the whole affair in confidence. He
knew that his wife had wisely, at the
commencement of his illness, told me
of his embarrassment, mental distress
and its sequel as a guide for my
treatment, and also that had seen the
mysterious letter which Mrs. Searle
opened on the morning Of the attack.
The run on the bank continued for
some days after the beginning of Mr..
Searle's illness, and little more thar
$50 was left when the $4,000 drafb
arrived from Baltimore. This timely
succor kept the firm afoat and saved
them from bankruptcy. But for it's
arrival, ere another hour had passed,
the doors would have been closed and
Searle & Seibert declared insolvent.
Van Duzen, who sent the money,
had been partner of Searle in Boston
some 20 years before. He had gone
to Chicago totransact business for the
firm and at the same time pay heavy
bill, but absconded with the money
and had not since been heard of.
He had fed, however, to Peru, where,
under an assumed name, he had judi
ciously invested his ill-gotten capital
and been successful. He was now
rich and desirous of returning to his
native country to lead a creditable
life and end his days.
AS preliminary step and anxious
to make his peace with Searle, whom
he had so deeply wronged, he sent
him the draft in full for his now half
forgotten detalcatlon. Fortunately it
arrived in time to save his old partner
from ruin.
Not long after he called at Searle's
private residence and requested an in
terview. He was fully forgiven by my
kind-hearted patient, although in for
mer days he had unjustly suffered for
a time from the suspicion of having
been an accomplice in Van Duzen's
fight.
The banking firm Of SearIe & Sci
bert is now fourishing and bids fair
to be one of the foremost in the city.
[ often pay the Searles visit in -
street, where the little bird, to which
they owe so much, is fondly exhibited
to every visitor by Charlie and Clara,
who tell each one OF it's surreptitious
flight and wonderful capture by papa;
but do not fully know under what cir
cumstances this occurred and, of
course, cannot realize how much they
are indebted to the affection of 'little
Dick, " the pet canary.