The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-02-20
WAYLAID

WAYLAID!
1t was always a puzzle to me how the
partnership between Edward Chapman
and Arthur Startling ever began, and a
still greater wonder how it continued.
It was we'll for the credit of the firm
that he was the predominant partner,
for his i~mpeccability, his parsimony
(which had ever a spice of kindness), his
strong sense of justice, and his industry,
were all needed to counterfeit the reck-
l%essness of MI. Startling. The latter had
come into the firm as an adept at liti-
eating business "a phase of the profess
sion which Chapman detested), and when
he was conscious of what he was doing
which was not always the case for GER
tain reasons-he was up to all the tricks
of common law practice. Each partner
had his own staff of clerks, his own set
Of chambers, and his own lot of clients.
1t was rarely that any business of i'm
! portance came to be intrusted to "The
Flier," and when the purchaser brought
the contract for a $4,000 purchase in
the summer of 1892, it naturally came to
SIDE or the office.
The preliminary work all fell to my
share, and all went smoothly. The com
pletlon was fixed by the contract for the
goth of. September, and, as all was. clear.
there was nothing to prevent the actual
day being adhered to. Chapman was
away with his family for the vacation,
but intended to come up specially to pay
over the fl4,4OO balance, after deduct
ing the 10 per cent paid on the signing
of the contract.
|. Oh the morning of the 28th all was in
readiness. The figures had been agreed
to by letter, and a. appointment made
with Isaac Blumenthal, the vendors So
]icitor, for completion to take place at
2 the next day.
I had all the papers in readiness on
the morning of the 2Sth. 1t was our
practice to close at s during the long
vacation; but I had some letters for
Startling to sign, and had to wait till his
return to the office. About 5:45 1 heard
his unsteady footsteps coming up the
stairs. He looked up at me hazily, and
threw a wire to me.
"\Vhat do you think of it? Are you
ready?"
The wire was from Chapman:
"Please attend Bathbridge completion.
Son seriously i'll; fear observation-disclosures"
"YessH said l. "Tm all ready"
ether be ready to come with me-" said
Starling.~* "Give Kreutzer figures in the
morning. He can draw check, and I'll
sign it. Is the cash at the bank?"
He had endorsed the purchasers check
that morning for payment in, but had
forgotten all about it.
He turned up at the office about noon
next day. The check was ready for his
signature, and he signed it. But the
man seemed dazed. I did not like the
prospect of the completion at all. Still,
liked less having the responsibility my
self.
"lou ready?" he said, opening his eyes
| with an effort. "Then meet me at Blu
menthaPs at 2. Get everything fixed
| and I'll attend with the ca sh."
"Very WE'LL" said I, and left the room.
But I had no intention Of doing wha:
he said.
l put the papers together in the Office
bag, and Slipped out to the solicitors ell.
trance to the law courts. Presently
saw Startling come prancing along out of
New Square gate on his way to our bank,
the Chancery Lane branch of the Union
of London. L watched him go into the
bank, and presently emerge and turn 70
the left up Chancery lane. Then I fol-
lowed quickly. I was within twenty
yards of him when he crossed Holborn
and went up Gray's Inn lane.
l followed across and turned into the
lane: AS l rounded the corner 1 heard .
scuffie and a yell. Running up quickly
l saw Startling on the ground, with two
rough-looklng men holding him down and
pulling him about. I had a stout ash.
stick with a root.knob in my hands, and
rushed up just as they were leaving him
caught n of them-a tall, thin man
with a bushy red beard and large, mis-.
shapen spectacles-a sounding crack or
the back of his head. He went down
doubled up in a lump, and I FASTENED
after the other. But ne was fleet, and
did not care to 60 far from Startling
who was still lying on the pavement
with the ruttian I had floored beside him
At least he ought to have been beside
him: But when l returned from my
futile chase of number two I could SCI
no sign OF him. He had recovered befor,
Startling, and made the best of his, wa,
of. But on the pavement lay a piece 81
false red beard! I found Startling sit
ting up, looking dazed and disreputable
Have you got the money all right 2
I cried; cor did they get it,"
He felt in his inner coat pocket. Eli,
face fell, and he looked up blankly.
"Heavens!" he cried. 'That@ red-whis
kered man asked me where the ETA 90,
was! And that's all I remember!"
"What2". I cried. did he name tn,
sum % :
Eyes," said Startling. "'Why!" 4.