The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-09-14
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
~ @S9RE~ -
3AoAA HyGl@h SeAz
= GI 81 R@5ERT LOUIS STEVENSON, \ ~
CHAPTER Iv.-tCoxrr xurp.,

i CHAPTER 1V.-(CoNrI NuHD.i
That same night the clerk entered
0pon bout Of drunkenness so con-
siatent as to surprise even his intimate
acquaintances. He was speedily elected
from the boarding house; deposited his
oortmanteau with perfect stranger
Who did not even catch his name; wan
Aered he knew not where, and was at
last hove-to, all standing, in hospital
ct Sacramento. There, under the I'M
3enetrable alias Of the number OF his
bed, the crapulous being lay for some
more days unconscious Of all things
and of one thing in particular: that the
police were after him. Two months
bad come and gone before the conval-
1scent in the Sacramento hospital was
identified with Kirkman, the abscond-
ing San Francisco clerk; even then
there must elapse nearly fortnight
more till the perfect stranger could be
hunted up, the portmanteau recovered,
end Johns letter carried at length TO
its destination, the seal still unoroken,
Ghe Enclosure still intact.
Meanwhile, John had gone upon his
holidays without a word, which was ir-
regular; and there had disappeared
with him certain sum of money,
which was out of all bounds of pallla-
don. But he was known to be careless,
and believed to be honest; the manager
besides had regard for him; and lit
tie was said, although something was
no doubt thought, until the fortnight
vas finally at an end, and the time had
come for John to reappear. Then, in
deed, the affair began to look black;
and when inquiries were made. ana the
penniless clerk was found to nave
lmassed thousands of dollars, and kept
them secretly in rival establishment,
the stoutest of his friends abandoned
him. the books were overhauled for
traces of ancient and artful fraud, and
though none were found, there still
prevailed general impression of loss.
The telegraph was set in motion; and
the correspondent of the bank in Edln-
burgh, for which place it was under
stood that John had armed himself
with extensive credits, was warned to
communicate with the police.
Now this correspondent was friend
Of Mr.. Nicholson's; he was we'll ac-
vuainted with the tale of Johns calam-
ttons disappearance from Edinburgh;
and putting one thing with another,
hasted with the first word of this scan
1ai, not to the police, but to his friend.
N nod regarded
Wis son as one dead; Johns place had
ahsen taken, the memory of his faults
bad already fallen to be one OF those
old aches, which awaken again indeed
upon occasion, but which we can al
ways vanquish by an effort of the will;
md to have the long lost resuscitated
In a fresh disgrace was doubly bitter.
"Macewen," said the old man, this
.anust be hushed up, if possible. If l
sxive you a check for the sum, about
which they are certain, could you take
It on yourself to let the matter rest?"
ST will" said Macewen. II will take
the risk of it."
~You understand" resumed Mr..
Nicholson, speaking precisely. but with
Ashen lips. II do this for my family, not
tor that unhappy young man. If it
should turn out that these suspicious
IRE correct, and he has embezzled large
sums, he must lie on his bed as he has
made It," And then looking up at
Nacewen with a nod, and one of his
strange smiles: Goodbye" said he;
and Macewen, perceiving the case to be
too grave for consolation, took himself
OF, and blessed God on his way home
that he was childless.