The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-11-08
A Knave Of
Conscience
By FRANCIS LYNDE.
Copyright 1900, By Francis Lynde.)
CHAPTER NNVII.

SboHe-WdS IfauSnU Will Quiet
happenings to more than one of
those whose trivial tale this is. The
first of these fell upon Jasper Grier-
son, as we have seen, and was little
short of rebellion in his own house
hold. The next was of import to one
Andrew Galbraith.
The president of the Bayou state
bank was spending very pleasant
vacation in the quiet Minnesota sum-
mer resort. The people at the hotel
were chiefly from New Orleans, and
hence congenial the cooking was
good, the weather perfect, and the
few social doors Of the town that MIR.
Galbraith cared to enter were opened
wide to him. Moreover, Mr.. Jasper
Grierson had been exceedingly kind
to grabbed old man who was with
out kith or kin to make much of him;
and Miss Margcry had quite neglect
ed the younger men to be gracious
to him.
1t was in the forenoon of this day
of happenings, while Mr.. Galbraitli
was smoking his after-breal<fast ci-
gar on the great veranda which over
looks the lake, that a caller was an
nounced. a bellboy brought the card
from the office, and Mr.. Galbraith ad-
justed his glasses lesurcly and read
the name.
"'Mr. Kenneth Griswold,' eh? 1
don't recall the name. Stop bit
yes, do. He is Miss Maggie's writ
er friend. Ask him if he will step
out here, where it's cooler"
The bellboy disappeared, and pres
emily returned, towing Griswold.
The old man rose with the courtly
good breeding of the elder genera
ton and shook hands with his visitor.
81 am glad to met you, Mr.. Girls
void. Miss Grierson has often spoken
of you. Sit down--sit down and be
comfortable. If you could only have
our Louisiana winters to put with
your summers, this would be Para
disc itself"
Griswold made shift to make some
acknowledgement, sat down, and be-
gan to tumble for his cigar case.
What he had come prepared to say
to Mr.. Galbraith was not made any
easier by this instant Juggling in of
Margery Grierson as his social spon-
sor.
"A cigar?" said the banker, inter-
negatively. cry one of mine; they
are Cubans with a pedigree, and it
may foot my own pipe II bit, I'll say
they are not to be duplicated this
side of New Orleans"
Griswold took the proffered cigar
and was still more ill at ease. While
he hestated, not knowing exactly
how to begin the tale which should
twist itself into Il warning to the
would-be purchaser of worthless pine
lands, the old man leaned back in his
chair, regarding him with kindly in
tcrest. But all at once he sat up
very straight, and the kindly g;lz,.
became Il sharp scrutiny.
''Ilave you ever been in New Or
leans, Mr. Griswold?" he asked, alb
ruptly.
G rswold was instantly on his
guard, but in the thick of it he set
his teeth upon sudden resolve not
to lie.
81 have; but not very recently"
''H'm; may ! ask how recently"
81 was south for IL few weeks last
spring, and spent part of the time in
New Orleans"
Andrew G"lbrAith sat back in his
chair, and for arabs apparent lapse
into disintercst Griswuld could Sc.
the long UPPER Ii, twitch nervously.
''Hm; last spring, you say? We
had quite II bit of excitement last
spring, Mr.. Griswold. Did you chance
to hear of the robbery of the Bayou
bank while you were thcrc?"
Now Griswoid knew that. notwith-
his Questioner. he was under the
sharpest surveillance that Il pair of
well-trained old eyes could bring to
bear; knew this, and made sure that
the slightest hesitation, the mcrest
uuivering of Il muscle. would hetray
him. SO, though his lips were
parched and his tongue clavc to his
teeth, he answered with well-simu
lated nonchalance:
II read of ii in the newspapers on
my way NORTH he said. with exact
aud literal truthfuIness. g! rcmem,
Der thinking it was the most brazer
thing 7 had ever heard Of presume
you know all the parties concerned?'
This was said with the milGcst pos
sble shading of decent curiosity. anc
was {. very master stroke Of evasion
which did its work cIfcct,lnlIy for tn,
time. Andrew Galbraith smiled F:
sour little smile and confessed thai
ae knew one of the parties very wei
indeed, and went about to explain
that the Bayou bank was his bank
Griswod listened respectfully, sale
"Ah? it must have been Il thrilln.
experience" and said no more. Ant
If he had been from his earliest child
hood the closest student of the va
rious methods of averting a crisis h
could not have done better.
A little interval Of smokers silenc
intervened, and Griswold was til
first to break it. The thing he ha
come to say admitted no preface, S
he began in the midst.
What came here this morning t.
tell you, Mr.. Galbraith, may stril
sou as an odd. thing with which to bt
gin an acquaintance; but as we hav
" no mutual friends, and as commo
Justice is, or should be, more fan
s reaching than mere acquaintance,
] felt it my duty to come. I happene