Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1902-08-27

BraeeS heart seemed set on having
his friend with him. and as he
couldn't think of any serious 'scount"
tgainst Billy, the thing was settled,
and the two friends entered stimuli
taneously as cashier and credit man
of the Gale factory. Then it was Mr..
) Gales turn to be astonished, not at
Bruce's quick progress-that was to
fbe expected of the son of so famous
"a business man-but at almost super
natural aptness for all manner of
commercial achievements which Bill
] ly at once displayed In six months
he was easily the best informed man
about the place. He coached Bruce
now as he had coached him at col
lege, taught him the mysteries of
double entry and the science of
journalizing, worked him on the
books after Office hours and divided
the work with such effect that the
two young men between them were
soon equal to and familiar with
every department of the business.
Meanwhile Billy was frequent Wis
itor at the Gale home. Mr.. Gale
continued to dislike his cashier, but
he could find no fault with him. Mrs.
Gale was beginning to need" him.
Marjory-but that was her secret.
It was in November that Billy's
visits to the Gale house suddenly
ceased.
: 9.How is Mr.. Hereford?'' asked Mar
jory's mother, noticing the silent, sui
len faces of her husband and Bruce.
8 He's gone, absconded, rubbed us!"
roared Mr.. Gale, with an oath, SCOT
away with $4,000 before
s.How dare you'll" said Marjory,
turning very pale, but her father paid
no attention. Billy, he said, had made
away with the money; an overdraft
at the bank had betrayed the theft.
There was no doubt about it, Here
ford either could not or would not
explain. That was enough for them
to know. Mr.. Gale would let him go
his ways, not because he had any
doubts of his guilt, but, well, because
he was Bruce's friend, or had been.
It was early in June the following
year that the Gales went east for
Marjory's sake. She had been fail
ing for quite awhile, ahd the doctor
urged change of scene, sea air and
what not. When they were installed
in their cottage at Chelsea, Mrs. Gale
telephoned for phaeton with a
driver to take Martory along the
shore drive. Her mother cautioned
the man, who was bearded and
abronzed, to be very cautious. He
seemed very nervous, almost i'll, and
his hand shook, but the girl climbed
in and the phaeton started. When
it was in the thicket at the foot of
Rogers Hill, Marjory, tears in her
eyes, and her lips quivering, put her
wasted hand on his arm, on ''the
drivers" arm, and said:
81 know you, Billy"
81 wish you did, Miss Gale he an
swered, very quietly, looking out |
across the sea.
ST know you didn't do it, Billy" she
whispered, s'you needn't prove it, I'm |
quite satisfied
He looked round quickly, his fine
eyes dilating, bis brunei face flushing |
beneath the tan.
sWhat--who--did Bruce tell you?
He. should not have done it. He prom
iseds me he would keep silent. But
you won't hold it against him, will |
you, Miss Marjory. It was gambling,
nothing else. Bruce is all right, Mar
Miss Gale, just can't overlook bet.
as he used to say. He promised me
he'd OUTFIT"
sButso Bruce is all right but |
mean enough to let you suffer for
him? He
mo, no, he wanted to explain, to /
confess, indeed he did," interrupted
Billy, didn't he tell you? I wouldn't I
let him. He had everything to lose
and nothing to gain by disgracing
himself, and all of you. While !!
What did it, what did it matter?
have nobody, no friends except
Bruce and''
''You have me. Billy There was a
long pause before he said: ''God
bless you, Marjory. I hoped SO, and
and, intended to find out for sure,
but Bruce got away from me too
soon, and then it was too Late
And, though Marjory went driving,
every day till September, it took all
her ingenuity and all her eloquence
to persuade her driver that the best
thing to be done for Bruce, for her
self, for Billy, for all of them, was
to put up her brother on his honor
to square" Hereford with Mr.. Gale
at any cost. And he did it..