The morning news., 1899-12-31


rah-the cook. The Chinaman and the gar
dener? She ran down into the kitchen: the
hack door was open, the fires were burning
dishes We're upon the table but he kitch-
en- was empty. Upon the floor lay a damp
copy of the Extra She picked it up
quickly. Five black headlines stared her
in the face: Enormous Defalcationw
"Montagu Trixit AbscondedP $4,000
NJ ssingH Run on the Bank
she threw the paper through the open
door as she would have hurled back the
accusation from living lips. Then, in a
revulsion of feeling, lest any one should
find her there, she ran upstairs and locked
herself in her own room.
So that was what il all meant; AM
from the laugh OF the Secamp girls to the
turning away OF the townspeople as she
went by Her father was thief, who had
stolen money from the bank and run away.
leaving her alone 10 bear i'll No! 1t was All
a lea wicked, jealous lie A foolish lie
for how could he steal money from his
own bank? Cissy knew very little of her
father-perhaps that was why she believed
in him. She knew still less of business;
but she knew that he did. She had often
heard them say it-perhaps the very ones
who now called him names He, who had
made Canada City what It was! He, whom
Windibrook said only to-day had, like
Moses, touched the rocks of the Canada
streams of public credit and prosperity
had gushed from iti She would never speak
20 them egain. She would shut herself up
here-dismiss all the servants but the
Chinaman, and wait until her father re-
turned.
There was a knock and the entreating
voice OF Norah, the cook. outside the door.
Cissy unlocked it and flung it open indig-
nantly.
"Ah! It's yourself, miss. and ! never
knew ye KEN back till met that gos-
soon of a hotel waiter in the street" said
the painting servant sure it was only an
hour ago while was at me woorrck in the
kitchen, and Jim rushes in and sez: For
the love of God If iver We want to see a
blessed cint of the money We put IN the
masther's bank, off wild ye now and draw
IL out for there's a run on the bankr -
1T was an Infamous lie" said Cissy
fiercely.
Sure miss, how was OF TO know? And
If the masther has gone away It's ownly
takin' me money from the other divils
down thare that's drawin it out and di-
vidin' 1t betwixt and between them"
Cissy had very vague idea of what a
run on the bank" meant. but Norah's
logic seemed to satisfy her feminine rea-
son. She softened a little.
Mr.. Windibrook is in the parlor, miss,
and a jintlemen on the veranda,' con in
ued Norah, encouraged.
Cissy started. I'm come down." she
said briefly
Mr.. Windibrook was waiting beside the
piano with his soft hat in one hand and
large white handkerchief in the other
He had confidently expected to find Cissy
in tears, and was ready with boisterous
condolement, but was a little taken aback
as the young girl entered with a pale face
Strengthened brows and eyes that shone
with audacious rebellion. However, It was
too late 10 change his attitude. "Ah, my
young friend he said little awkward ',
we must not give way to our emotions,
but try to recognize in our trials the BEN
ents Of great lesson. But he added
huIriedly, seeing her stand still silent but
erect before him. II see that you dol"
He paused. coughed slightly, cast glance
at the veranda--where Cissy now for the
first time observed a man standing In an
obviously assumed attitude of negligent
Observation-Disclosures toward the back room,
and IN lower voice said; "A word with
you in private
Without replying, Cissy followed him.
If" said Mr.. Windibrook with a sick
ly smile. you are ques ioned regarding
your fathers affairs, you may remember
his peculiar and utterly unsolicited eift OF
a certain sum toward a new organ-fo
which l alluded to-day You can say that
he always expressed great liberality to-
ward the church, and 1t was no surprise
to you"
Cissy only stared at him with dangerous
eyes
Mrs. Windibrook," continued the rev
erend gentleman, in his highest hearth
est voice, albeit a little hurried. "wlshed
me TO say TO you that until you heard
from-your friends-she wanted you to
come and stay with her. Do comel DoP'
Cissy, with her bright eyes fixed upon
her visitor, said: Il shall stay here.
But" said Mr.. Windibrook, impatient
ly, you cannot. That man you see on
the veranda is the sheriff's officer. The
house and all that it contains are in the
hands of the law"
Cissy's face whitened In proportion as
her eyes grew darker, but she said, stoutiy:
Il shall stay here till my pepper tells me
to co."
IT'LL your pepper tells you to go?" re-
peated Mr.. Windibrook harshly, drop
ping his heartiness and his handkerchief
in a burst of unguarded temper. Your
papa is a thief escaping from justice, you
foolish girl-a disgraced feion, who dare
not show his face again in Canada City
and you are lucky-yes, lucky, mlss-if you
do not share his disgraceP
And you're a wicked, wicked Harp
said Cissy, clenching her little fists al
her side and edging toward him with q
r long bantam-like movement as she ad-
Ndn1ed her 1reckfed cheek close to his
with an effrontery so like her absconding
father that he recoied before it, "And
a mean, double-faced hypocrit, tool Didn't
you always praise him? Didn't you call
him a Napoleon and a-Moses? Didn't
you say he was the making of Canada
City? Didn't you get him to raise your
salary-and start a subscription for your
new house? 0 you-you-stinking beastg
Here the stranger on the veranda, still
gazing abstractedly at the landscape, gave
a low and apparently unconscious MUIR
mur as if enraptured with the view Mr.
Windibrook, recalled to an attempt at dig
nifty, took up his hat and handkerchief.
when you have remembered yourself and
your position, Miss Trixit." he said lofti-
ly, "the offer have made you"
II despise it, I'd sooner stay in the
woods with the grizzlies and rattle
snakesw said Cissy pantingly. Go and
leave me alone. Do you hear2" She stamp
ed her little foot. Are you listening!
Co"
Mr. Windibrook promptly rereated
through the door and down the steps into
the garden. At which the stranger in the
,.aItfrfapt1u tore bipaeaff v