Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

"s 5h ri IlH' Lord Damer's chal,
lenge to billiard
match. He had distinctly stated that
he should not join in the hunt tha'
Colonel Hungerford had arranged
What was the matter? Lady Caraven
was, as usual, bright, beautiful ano
graceful; but those who knew her bes'
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
he went over to his wife. you do not
feel nervous at the task you have un-
dertaken?" he questioned.
mo-" she replied, calmly, "but
fancy that Mr.. Blantyre will feel ner-
Sous before we have done with him. u
The earl smiled. If this trusted SER
want of his had deceived him, the
sooner he was unmasked and punished
the better.
Il think" said Lady Caraven, ut
would be quite as well if we looked
over that balance sheet before Mr..
Bfantyre comes-it will shorten the a
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
lance from her. Silently she bent her
head over the papers.
"You have seldom, 1 suppose, looked
f-ovor one of these balance Sheets" she
saif to the earl.
"~.Yo,'' he replied, IT do not remember
" that have ever examined one"
Then l will look over Them" she
said, quietly. Before long she added,
"Will you look at this, Lord Caraven?
All this DIS quite wrong-several en-
tries are incorrect, and the reckoning
= Is falsified"
The earl was slightly embarrassed.
II do not think, to tell you the truth,
Mildred, that I am very clever at ac-
ecouGts,'' he stammered.
But surely you can see whether this
Is correct? Believe me, child could
zee it."
'Then ] am not so wise even as
child he said, rue!uliy; but, leaning
over her shoulder, he tried to under
r. stand what she said.
It was indeed easy enough-the
whole sheet, as she pointed out, had
b been got up to meet the eye.
-"And you have never noticed this?"
said the young countess.
mo, indeed" he replied, II have
never even thought of it,
"Then you have been very easy
master to please she remarked. Il
need hardly say, Lord Caraven, that
the man who falsifles his accounts is
l. rogue. You know it,"
81 know that much. am afraid to
.s1hink whether all the balance sheets
he has prepared since he has been my
gent have been like this"
-'You have never looked into ono. I
imagine"
mo, never"
They were interrupted by the en-
trance of the agent himself-the man
whom from his face Lady Caraven sus-
oected from the first of being dishon-
Est.
John Blantyre was tall, gentleman
" looking man of specious manner and
good address. A rogue from liking as
much az anything else, he would not
have cared to be honest If he could.
He had contrived to ingratiate himself
Into the favor of Lord Caraven from
the conviction that he could do as he
fixed with the easy, indolent, pleasure
nying nobleman He had done so.
The result was irretrievable confusion.
John Blantyre had laid aside fair for
g. tune for himself.
Let the worst GOMEZ he said to
himself: 'if am caught there will be
univ a few years imprisonment; then
can 20 abroad and enjoy my saw
ings."
Yet he relied implicitly upon his
,xood fortune that he should not be
>canght.
He entered the room smiling, with
-his usual bland, obsequious manner.
His face changed when he saw the
Countess Of Caraven looking over his
balance sheets. The earl pointed to
a chair; the detected thief sat down.
The young countess eyes were rails
I'D to the bland face Of the agent; they
seemed to burn him. The earl left
!, che discussion to her, as he had SAID
he would. Words could not have ex-
pressed the proud, cold contempt OF her
face as she spoke to him.
"You are we'll aware. Mr.. Blantyre
that this balance sheet is worth moth
ing? The accounts are all falsifled.'
"I am not aware Of anything Of the
xind, your ladyship. There may be
esv mistakes-it was hurriedly mads
out. May l ask permission to
"You may ask nothing, sir" she re
olied. CURLY. Tell Lord Caraven II II
se correct that you have taken bride
from some one Who wants Bromhii
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