The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-25
PAYING OFF A DEBT.

Stillman Grant had come to the end
/ Of his tethsr, and he knew It. He
made no fuss about the matter. and
any one OF his friends who met him
that evening could not have told from
his manner was anything but wrong
Grant had taken big chances to in
crease his fortune, and now he realized
the jig was up; exposure might come
In a week, or 1t might be delayed for
a month, but 1t was sure to come, I'M
less he had one thousand pounds In
hard cash, and that amount he knew
he could not get.
Old Monckton,, Grants employer,
was a hard-hearted old skinfllnt, who
would have no mercv when investi-
cation showed that his assistant was
a defaulter.
Young Monckton owed Grant money,
but even II he had paid II all that
night 1t was not enough to cover the
defalcation, and 80 was useless.
He walked that night to his rooms
overlooking the Thames embankment.
!. He went to cupboard, and spent
some time in choosing with particular
care bottle Of wine he intended to
drink. He poured out q small draught
Of the beverage, and, taking q paper
Of morphine he opened It carefully
and sprinkled the white contents on
the surface of the wine. He watched
It as 1t slowly settled, and finally
disappeared In the liquid; then he
poured another glass of wine and
drank 1t OF. There was no hurry
about drinsing the poisoned cup; he
had all the night before him, so he
drew his comfortable armchair up
to the fire and sat down wondering
who would find his dead body In the
morning. At last, taking up the pio-
soned glass, he paused for q moment
with 1t in his hand, thinking he heard
step on the stair. The next mo-
ment his surprise was a certainty, as
some one raped at his door. Hastily
putting down the glass he shouted:
Come in." forgetting the door was
locked; then he rose hurriedly, drew
the bolt back and opened the door.
"Hullo, Charley" Grant said when
he saw who It was. The son Of his
employer entered with a radiant look
on his face.
We'll, Stillman I have come to
secure my debt to you. l have made
up my mind that you shall not suffer
by my having borrowed money from
YOU"
"Oh, that's all right said Grant
carelessly, II don't need the money"
mo, I know you don't need It,"
said Monckton, "but it struck me
that If anything happened to me my
father would never acknowledge the
debt, and you would be out just that
much"
1T doesn't really matter, you know"
said Stillman Grant in the same I'M
concerned voice. II shall always be
happy to lend you money when you
need 1t and l have It,"
Thanks, old fellow, know that"
said young Monckton. "You are as
generous as the old man is stingy.
Nevertheless, got windfall the
other day, and the minute l received
the money I thought Of you"
"Ah," said Grant, with his eyes
Frightening somewhat. How much
Five hundred pounds in lump"
answered the other.
"Oh," said Grant in disappointed
tone.
You don't congratulate me-" cried
young Monckton. Five hundred
pounds are not to be scoffedat."
NO." replied Grant still $500 isn't
a fortune, you know"
1T isn't, but It might be turned into
a tidy sum OF morey. Now, let me
tell you what I haze done, Grant. I
know will never he able to pay you
that sum Of moneT; II became a
partner in the business 1t might be
different, so I took part Of the $500
and insured my life tor $4,000, making
1t payable to you at my death. II I
am cut off in one Of my sprees, which
is more than likely, then you will get
back all your money with interest at
several thousand per cent"
AS the young man said this he drew
from an inner pocket what Grant saw
was evidently an Insurance policy.
There you are, my boy, with the
first years premium paid" said
Monckton, as he thew the policy on
the table. "I'll leave it with you, be-
cause you are steady, sober fellow.
II can't pay the naxt premium when
1t falls due you'll pay 1t for me and
charge 1t up to the account already
owe you. You see, ray friend, you are
quite safe as far as your money Is
concerned
WELL" said Monckton, II must be
of. Won't you come out and take a
drink?"
Il think not" said Grant; I'm
busy to-day, but II you wish a drink
have glass of wine with me-"
II don't mind II do" said young
Monckton.
Grant pushed toward him glass Of
wine in which he had sprinkled the
morphine, then he poured out wine for
himself In another glass.
Here's to you,' he said, drinking.
Young Monckton drank of the wine
and smacked his lips after.
II think I'll have a hanson. /
feel rather drowsy."
"Oh, you'll be all right when you get
into the fresh air." rejoined Grant.
The young man staggered slightly,
as II he were intoxicated; the other
watched him 60 down the street and
hail a cab.
Poor devil" said Grant to himself,
as, he turned away.
The medical men said the young
fellow had died Of disease with a
long name, and then the insurance
claimed 1t had been defraud-
ed by the fact of his having the mall
ady concealed from 1t. Thus was the
honest man defrauded out of his in
surance money, and he was nabbed
by the police for bis defalcations be-
fore he could purchase more poison.