Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-04-30


in the opening ard heckoned 10 him.
Hugh rose, and with cheerful alacrity
proceeded to reioin his employer.
Come in, Hugh" said Mr.. Beale,
srsvely, "snd shut the door,
Hugh did ne he was bii.
II have had" said Mr Beale, seating
himself &C the table anil speaking with
out looking at his ward. "a most aston
ishing and distressing interview with Mr..
Foster. l can hardly believe now that
what / have heard and seen is true
that your fathers son could have doale
such thing"
Hugh turned first red aud then white !;
he felt his heart give sudden lnecm-
Portable ihimp in his breast What hor-
Tible thing could his guardian he going
tn say For the life of him he could
not find word To utter.
Mr.. Beale kept silence for moment;
he was busily scraping with his pen
knife a. some little blots of ink on the
desk, as if that proceeding absorbed his
whole attention. lie spoke at last, in a
quick, jelky tone.
Foster" he said, has presented to me
for payment = promissory note made out
IN your favor. Now, Hugh, | am quite
certain | have never put my signature
to amy such thing"
"Why, sir" gasped Hugh, almost too
astonished to speak, 1T is the one YOU
told NE to sign yourself Surely YOU re,
member! 1t was done merely in Joke.
L was to return the money to YOU"
Mr.. Beale shook his head grayely.
lis it likely" he said, that business
man would lend himself to such y Joke
as that-it is too poor an excuse, Hugh"
Hugh stated at him in an agony of
CONSERVATION and dismay. Had Mr..
Bsale lost his memosy, or suddenly gone
mad?
"Mr. Beale," he said again, us it pos
sible that you don't remember suggest
ing this to me the very morning you
went away as n good joke, as a test of
how far my imitation of your signature
could deceive people? Have you forgot
ten that you offered TO bet me Go upon
it, and ! refused; that You have many
times requested me to sign Your name to
letters, saying that the facility would
come in useful some day."
Keep to the point, young man. il You
please" said the hop merchant, irritablv !;
'of course / know you have often signed
letters for me. 1t proves nothing but
the fact that il would be the easiest
thing in the world for you to commit a
forgery"
But the note-the bet." cried Hugh
III an agony; try and remember that
Mr.. Beale. Indeed. indeed, | am speak
ing the truth. | am sure if you try you
will be able to recollect."
But horrible trought was growing in
his mind; the man must have been under
the influence of drink at the time, and
not only unaccountable for what he SAID
but had absolutely, hopelessly forgotten
it. Beads of perspiration stood ON the
unfortunate young mans brow as Ia
watched the stern, hard face opposite
him, and saw no sign of relanting in it
cat least, sir" he went on, after a
painful silence, believe, if you cannot re-
member it. that am speaking the
truth"
81 have every wish to believe you,
said Bealc; you don't suppose 1t is q
pleasure to me to find my old Friends
son guilty of such conduct; but the tale
is too wildly improbable. / should de.
serve to be tabooed by all sensible bust.
ness men if / permitted such n thing. il
il likely, either, that | should be away
when the thing became due, if | intended
TO be responsible. No, must have some
proof
Hugh, who had been standing, white.
faced and miserable, leaning against the
table, which he required for actual physi.
cal support under this terrible accusation
here started forward eagerly.
why, sir, l have proof" he cried
eagerly. How silly of me to have for.
gotten! / have the money at my lodg.
ings, intact, just as i got it, ready fr
hand over to you. | put it in an envaB
ope at the time, labelled Mr.. Beale's tl.tg.
ty pounds'-two tens and two fiyes
can run home and fetch it in five min
utes"
He reached out his hand for his hat al
he spoke, and would have dashed off theu
and there, but his guardian laid lletain.
ing hand on his shoulder.
81 am sorry, Hugh, he said, "but can.
not allow it. | cannot let you out of my
sight till | have got to the bottom OF
this"
Hugh's face famed.
do You think, sir" he said. with o
break in his voice that all his self control
could not prevent, that I--should not
come back"
Il won't put temptation in your way:
find the envelope you speak Of"
at is in the table drawer in my bed
room-the top right hand drawer; here
is the key to it,"
TO BE CONTINUED.