Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-23
PAYING OFF A DEBT.


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.
i 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 it might be delayed for
month, but it was sure to come, un-
less he had one thousand pounds in
hard cash, and that amount he knew
he could not get.
Old Monckton, Grants employer,
was hard-hearted old skinfiint, who
would have no mercv when investi-
CATION showed that his assistant was
defaulter.
Young Monckton owed Grant money,
but even if he had paid it all that
night 1t was not enough to cover the
defalcation, and so was useless.
! He walked that night to his rooms
overlooking the Thames embankment.
He went to a cupboard, and spent
some time in choosing with particular
care a bottle of wine he intended to
drink. He poured out small draught
of the beverage, and, taking a paper
of morphine he opened it carefully
and sprinkled the white contents on
the surface of the wine. He watched
| 1t as it slowly settled, and finally
disappeared in the liquid; then he
poured another glass of wine and
drank it off. There was no hurry
about drinking the poisoned cup; he
had all tho niuh haf bo
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 a moment
with 1t in his hand, thinking he heard
step on the stair. The next mo-
ment his surprise was 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 radiant look
on his face.
We'll, Stillman. l have come to
secure my debt to you. | 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, Il don't need the money"
No, | 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 un-
concerned voice. Il shall always be
happy to lend you money when you
need it 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 | received
the money | thought of you"
"Ah,' said Grant, with his eyes
Frightening somewhat. How much
Five hundred pounds in a lump"
answered the other.
"Oh," said Grant in a disappointed
tone.
You don't congratulate me-" cried
young Monckton. Five hundred
pounds are not to be scoffed at"
No" replied Grant still E5OO isn't
fortune, you know.
1T isn't, but it might be turned into
a tidy sum of money. Now, let ME
tell you what | have done, Grant. |
know | will never be able to pay you
that sum of money; If | became a
partner in the business it might be
different, so | took part of the $500
and insured my life for f2.00O, making
it payable to you at my death. If |
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 threw the policy on
the table. 'Tll leave it with you be-
cause you are d Sleduy, SODeT IellOW.
If l can't pay the next premium when
it falls due you'll pay it for me and
charge it up to the account l already
owe you. You see, my friend, you are
quite safe as far as your money is
concerned"
WELL" said Monckton, 81 must be
off Won't you come out and take a
drink"
Il think not" said Grant; I'm
busy to-day, but if you wish a drink
have a glass of wine with me-"
Il don't mind If | do" said young
Monckton.
Grant pushed toward him a 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 off the vino
and smacked his lips after.