Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-04-01

II took the money!" he replied.
1 must redeem my stock from you and
vote 1t against you at this meeting, I
declared to him that would take my
punishment before l would do such q
thing. said that would return what
was left of the money and raise the
balance somehow to make all square
with you. 5.
"'All right said he, but do it now;
or I'll expose you !,
"You. Mr.. Harrington, were standing
outside the office at that moment. I
made my choice and went to get the
money. 1t was gone. accused Archer
of taking it. but he denied the charge
in such way as to convince nae that
he hadn't ne 1t. l believed that some
thief had found it. suspected Tim
Healy-everybody. Archer promised to
help me recover it. He had me in his
power, for what could do without the
money?
More and more this man got me I'M
der his thumb until half agreed that
If the money could be found would
allow 1t to be thrust upon Donaldson.
I had known all along that Archer was
plotting against him. Carl used to
walk the floor in your office at noon
and say over and over again: Donald
son, Donaldson! I'll have him under
my foot! he used to do this even be-
fore my crime. overheard him once
as long ago as the early spring. had
opened the door suddenly when his
back was toward it,
"Why didn't you tell me, Jim?" said I.
"Tell you?" he echoed. "Would you
have believed it?"
was silent. Therein had lain the
weakness Of the case both for Bum
and for Donald. They knew that l
would not be convinced of CARTS real
character.
archer told me that Kelvin would
furnish any amount Of money that
might be required" continued Bum.
"Kelvin was to know nothing about
any robbery. 1t was merely that the
money was needed. Now, what was
to do, Mr.. Harrington? never would
agree to vote my stock against you
Not even the threat of prison could
make me do that. But did at last
agree to absent myself from the meet.
ing. II you want to know Just what !
really meant to do" he cried, rising
and selling me by the shoulder, 81
meant to go to New York and kill my.
self in hotel there, where no one
would know me. But l had their
pledge that the money which l had
taken from you should be refunded"
Considering that they had $35, 900
of it already" said Donaldson, at
wasn't much Of price to pay for the
control of the branch road, with my
disgrace and ruin thrown into the bar.
gain. They probably relied on Giles
pie to manage that"
II will tell you how they relied on
him." said l, "and how they failed to
count upon Donald; but, Jim, what
changed this crazy plan Of yours?"
Bum shuddered.
more and more" said he, through.
out all these terrible days have come
to fear Donald. l had no faith in him
ut first, but that night at Kelyin's !
saw my own fate in it. Well, let me
finish. Last evening l went quietly
across to Solway to take the train fol-
New York. No man can know what
misery endured. A traitor to my
best friend, ruined man. a suicide al
my age, unable to bear the weight OF
tha Npt xrN hof INr 4 4
me at the best! l was insane, truly
insane. / walked across to Solway
and Us I stepped up on the platform
of the railroad station there I came
face to face with Donald.
"tAh, Mr.. Bunn,' said he, 4 was
waiting for YOU
II would have fallen If he hadn't
caught me in his arms. He lifted me
into wagon, and when got my
senses I found that Isaac Thorndyke
was there. We rode slowly back tc
Tunbridge. and upon the way Donald
told me everything that had happened
to me in these dreadful weeks. He
told me what had said to Archer and
what Archer had said to me in oul
most private conversations. He knew
my crime and my temptations and my
sufferings us they are known in heav
en-. Do you think it's any wonder thai
not only l, who was at his mercy
but Thorndyke also, who was merely
a spectator, agreed to do precisely al
Donald directed? l was hidden il
Thorndyke's house, and Donald drove
me over here this morning. We were
hidden across the street. Thorndykt
signaled to us from the window whel
should come over"
$50 far rs my part OF 1t is concern
ed" said Thorndyke. this is all strict
ly true. OF course could have no par
with Kelvin when such business III
this was doing"
And he entered into weak explana
ton and Justification of his previous
conduct. He was interrupted by |
sound of confusion outside. We raj
into the hall and saw lnen looktn,
from the window down into the stree:
AS we went toward them Donald carie
flying up the stairs.
"Uncle," he cried, taking my arm IN
grip that nearly broke 1t. don. you
believe this! Don't you believe u ia
Their. tell him that had no kpwledge
Of It l didn't mean that che man
would der
mot Gillespie" cried.
YES" answered Donad. with white
lips. "He's dead. He. been sitting IL
his wagon before tie door here fol
hours stone dead, eAd no one suspected
1t. He was ther< by agreement will
Archer to stop Jim Bum in case he
should not beep his word-in case he
should nor Stay away from this meet
ing, as BE had promised"
"Dead" exclaimed.
"Fs heart disease" said Donald
"Jncle, you won't believe that knew
" / have no such powers. am {
frand=an absolute frard-and when
"