Evening star., 1899-03-11


almost unintelligible What do you mean
by your allus1on to last night? Have you
dared to connect me"
Pooh! Poeh!'' Interrupted the other. good
hamorediy. sDontlet us waste words over
mischanee word i may have let drop"
dont care anything about last nights s
work, or VINO was concerned in it, That's
nothing TO me. All want, my boy, is the
money ana that Fwant devilish bad, or /
would not have run I'D here from Boston
when L might have made half a hundred
on a countrymans Lewis brought in from
the Canada Wilds this morning.
WattleS, Iaswear-"
But the hand he had raised was quickly
drawn down by the other
Don T. said the older man, shortly. ut
won't pay, Sutherland Stage talk never
passed Ior anything with me. Besides, your
white face tells a truer story than your
IDS, ana time is precious. / want to take
the III o CLOCK train back So down with the
cash. Nine hundred and fifty-six 1t is, but
pelng friends, we will let the odd six CO..
"Wattles, | was to bring it to you tomor-
row, or was it the next day? 1 do not want
10 g1ve 1t to you tonight; indeed, l cannot,
but-Wattles wait sfoni Where arc pa,,
going?"
ITO see your father 1 want to tell him
that his son owes me debt: that this debt
was incurred in a way that lays him liable
1pr arrest Tor forgery: that. bad as he
picked up in Boston which would make
Frederick Sutherland's continued residence
under the parental roof impossible: that,
in fact, you are a scamp of the first water,
and that only my friendship for you has
Kept you out of prison SO long. Won't it
make a nice story for the old gentlemans s
earS?'
"Wattles-I-oh, my God, Wattles, stop
a minute and listen to me. l have not got
the money. l had enough this morning to
pay you, had it legitimately, Wattles, but
1t has been stolen from me and"
Il will also tell him." the other broke in,
as quietly and calmly as if Frederick had
not uttered word, "that in a certain visit
to Boston You lost $500 on one hand: that
you lost it unfairly, not having dollar to
pay with; that to prevent scandal l be-
came your security, with the understand
ing that l was to he paid at the end of ten
days from that night; that you thereupon
so that your debt amounted to 1855; that
the ten days passed without payment;
that, wanting money, 1 pressed you ana
even resorted to a threat or two: and that,
seeing me in earnest, you swore that the
dollars should be mine within five days.
That instead of remaining in Boston to
get them you came here, and that this
morning at a very early hour you tele-
graphed that the funds were to hand and
that you would bring them down to me to-
morrow. He may draw conclusions from
ton as your father anything but grateful
to him. He may even-Ah, you would try
that game, would your
The young man had flung himself at the
the words he saw trembling on his lips. But
the struggle thus began was short In
moment both stood apart painting, and
Frederick, with lowered head, was saying
humbly:
L beg pardon, Wattles, but you drive me
mad with your suggestions and conclusions.
l have not got the money, but L Will try
and get it. Wait here"
Ten minutes, Sutherland; no longer! Ihe
moon is bright, and l can see the hands OF
my watch distinctly. At quarter to 10 L
will receive the money from you here; or
seek it in your fathers study.
Frederick made hurried gesture and
vanished up the walk. Next moment he
was at his fathers study door.
CHAPTER XIII.
Mr.. Sutherland was busly engaged with
a law paper when his son entered his pres
ence, but at sight of that sons face, he
dropped the paper with an alaerity which
Frederick was too much engaged with his
own thoughts to notice
Father" he began without preamble or
excuse, 81 aln in serious and immediate
need of $3.50. 4 want it so much that l ask
YOU to make me check for that amount
tonight, conscious, as l am, that you have
every right to deny this request and
that my debt to you already passes the
bound of presumption on my part and in
dulgence on yours l cannot tell you why
/ want it or for what. That belongs to my
past life, the consequences Of which have
not yet escaped but that you will not be
the loser by this material proof of con-
fidence In me I fea bound to state, as I
shall soon be IN a position to repay all my
debts. among which this will necessarily
stand foremost "a " Z.
The old gentleman looked startled and
nervously fingered the paper he had let
fall. Why do you say you will soon be in
a position to repay me? What do you mean
by that:
The flush which had not yet subsided
from the young mans face ebbed slowly
away as he encountered his fathers eye.
II mean to work. he murnured. II
mean to make a man of myself as soon as
possible
The look which Mr. Sutherland gave him
was more inquiring than sympathetic
And you need this money for start
said he.
Frederick bowed: he seemed to be losing
the faculty of speech. The clock over the
mantel had told off five of the precious
moments.
Il will give it to you," said his father,
and drew out his check book. But he did
not hasten to open it; his eyes still rested
on his son.
Now" murmured the young man, there
is train leaving soon. 1 wish to get it
away on that train.
His father frowned with natural distrust
Il wish you would confide in me- said
Frederick did not answer. The hands Of
the clock were moving on.
II will give it, but 1 should like to know
Impossible" groaned the young man.
starting as he heard a step on the walk
without.
Your need has become strangely impera-
tive" proceeded the other HAS Miss
Page
Frederick took step forward and laid
his hand on his fathers arm.
''It is not for her. he whispered. "It
goes into other hands.
Mr.. Sutherland. who had turned over
the document as, his son approached
breathed easier. Taking up his pen, he
dipped 1t in the ink. Frederick watched
him with ever whitening cheek. The step
on the walk had mounted to the front
door.
Nine hundred and ffty?" inquired the
father.
Nine hundred and fifty" answered the
son.
The judge, with last look, stooped over
the book. The hands of the clock pointed
to a quarter to 10.
Father, / have my whole future in which
to thank you," cried Frederick, seizing the
check his father held out to him and max
ing rapidly for the door. I'm be back be-
fore midnight and he flung himself down
stairs just as the front door opened and
Wattles stepped in
"Ah." exclaimed the latter, as his eve
fell ON the paper 1uttering in the others
hand, II expected money not paper"
3e, Nd