Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-06-23

quite right.
"Yes. The righting of q great
wrong; the rehabilitation of an hon.
ored name, dragged by foul treacbery
Into the mire of mems contempt; the
punishment Of a heartless scoundrel,
and the recovery Of a stolen fortune
that the thief has for many long
years enjoyed in triumph"
"a big contract" thought John,
(which would probably be handled
best at Bloomingdale."
1t was not unreasonable that he
should doubt her sanity, even had her
words seemed less wild, for in the ex-
citement of giving expression to her
absorbing thought her eyes blazed,
color mounted to her c. .eks, and her
voice grew loud and shrill. Moreover,
he noticed that the girl, instead OF
working, was covertly but intently
watching her, with a look that he in
terpreted to mean anxiety.
That you may not think" the wild
ow went on my words are only vapor
from the feverish imagings of an over
heated brain, l am going to tell you
briefly the story. When / have done
so, you will comprehend why the de-
cision l have announced to you must
be final.
Eighteen years ago when Addie
was an infant in her cradle, her father
vas n well-to-do merchant here in
New York, with a substantial capital,
a f1ourishing business and ain unblem-
ished reputation. Before she could
speak his name he was bankrupt in
purse and honor, and in six months
more he was dead. lie died of pneu-
monia, the doctors said, but L know he
died of a broken heart, the victim of
foul ~treachery and unmerited dis
grace. And all the i'll that came to
him was the work of a trusted
friend"
John Latham uttered an eXclama-
ton of indignant surprise, for he felt
that she was telling but the horrible
truth. For a moment the furious en-
ergy of her speech was checked, and
her lips moved in silence, us il she
were uttering an %inaudible prayer or
more probably voicing in her soul an
eXecration upon the dead mans faith
less friend. Then, with a sigh and
passing her hand YEARLY across her
brow, she continued in a somewhat
calmer tone;
My husband was not altogether free
form blame legally in the transaction
which afforded the opportunity for
his ruin, but ], who knew his heart
and all the circumstances of his ac-
ton, know that no shadow Of a dis
honest purpose ever entered his mind.
He had become security in a large
amount for a man with whom he had
business relations, and there was
nuarxy rnognn IN 1Na1tn,n 11n4 4hn ,<n,,
would not be able to meet his obliga-
tons when they fell due. Knowing
that the holder of the notes was an
avaricious, hard and merciless man,
who would grant no time and would
not scruple 70 prosecute the
indorser at once and sell
him out in order to seize upon
all the law would give him, my hus.
band temporarily put almost all he
possessed into the hands of n who
had been his most intimate ind trust.
ed friend from boyhool.
'In order 10 guar against question
of the apparent validity of the trans.
fer, 1t was made to appear that he had
parted with everything in exchange
for some stocks which were well un-
derstood to be absolutely valueless.
BY this means, it was thought, delay
would be compelled and time gained
to enable the drawer of the notes to
realize upon certain property he held
and to pay his debts. After which il
was understood, and even stipulated
between themina secret writing, that
my husband and his friend should
transfer the property and the value
less stocks. Thus no one would have
been injured or have suffered even O
small loss. But when the debtor had
satisfied his creditor, as he was un.
eXpcctedly enabled to upon the ma.
turity of his obligations, without the
solvency of the indorser being ever
called in question, my husbands
friend coolly refused to give ND the
property he held, denying all knowl
edge of any such understanding as
my husband alleged and declaring
bona fide the purchase of the worth.
less stocks. OF course my husband
brought suit against the audocious
robber, but at great disadvantages
The withdrawal Of so large q sun
from his business precipitated him in
to bankruptcy. He had scanty means
TO prosecute his suit, and the treach'
erous thief who had robbed him, hav
ing the money, could employ the best
legal talent for defense against him
Worse than all else, the most ma
terial witness, the man who held that
secret writing, mysteriously disap
peared. While the contest was still or
in the courts my husband died. Ther
the case was quickly decided in ia
vor of the robber, who is now a very
rich man and highly respected citizen
l read in the papers a few days age
a speech made by him upon some pub
lie occasion, in which he said tina.
heaven had prospered his endeavors.
suppose that is correct. And his mos
successful endeavor, the one that lai(
the foundation for his great wealth
was the spoilation of the widow ant
child Of the man who had trusted hin
as n friend"
although I fully sympathize will
you in your misfortunes and share
your Indignation at the abominabl,
treachery of which you hahye beer
the victim, L fail to see why thes'
things should stand in the way O
your daughter becoming my wife.
love her. She loves me. l shall be
good husband to her. 1t seems to m,
that it would be more philosopbic t.
seek whatever happiness may yet b,
in store for you and her unde,
improved conditions of life than to e,
on brooding over such II Elelanchol,
past and sacrificing all the JOY Of lif,
to it,"
You must permit me, Mr.. Latham
to be the judge of what is best for m
and mine. My life is vowed to aveng
ing justice, and my daughter ha
shared my vow Not until the los
witness is found, the robber and as
sassin of my husband punished, resti
tuition made and our honorable nam
cleared from the stain that scoundre
put upon ii to shield himself ma,
Adele think of love and marriage"
Perhaps if you would permit me t.
do SO | miuhf no ohIa IN old Won /,