Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-24

| sure, IT you VIII CaKe CnIS Slanu, pe- cause of your fathers connection with Crane It will save me from dis l honor"
 "Mr. Porter" 1 It was the cashiers voice of Damas- GUS steel cutting in on Mortimer's low, pleading tones.
 Alan turned his head, and MT. Lane, beckoning, said: "Wil you step into my office for ninute?" .< [ The cashiers one minute drew it's weary length into thirty; and when Alan Porter came out again, Morti- mer saw the boy sought to avoid him. Had he denied taking the money? The full horror of Mortimer's hopeless po- sition flashed upon him like lurid light of destroying forest fire. He could read in every line of the boys face an accusation of himself.
 Mentally his argument, his analysis of the proper course to pursue was tortuous, not definable, or to be ex- plained in concise phrassology; but the one thought that rose paramount over all others was, that he must take his iniquitous punishment like 8 man. He had fought so strongly to shield the brother of the girl he loved that the cause in al it's degradation had &C., crued to him.
 At one o'clock the president, Crane, arrived from New York, and in him was bitterness, because of his yester- days defeat Lauzanne. tho despised, had kept from his hand a small for tune, when his fingers seemed tight ening on the coin, too. That was one happening. John Porter had gained over twenty thousand dollars. This made him quite independent of Cranes financial bolstering. The bankers diplomacy of love had been weakened. That was the other happening. Crane was closeted with the cashier not more than ten minutes when Nor timer was asked to join the two men.
 The cashiers hand had been strengthened, by Cranes evidence. Mortimer had told the same falsehood about his mother being i'll to him at the race course. From Alan the cash fer had learned that Mortimer had been betting heavily; he had admitted to the boy that he had won enough to replace the thousand dollars he had stolen. Mortimer's words had been contorted into that reading in their journey through two personalities. He had even begged young Porter not to speak of his betting transactions. He had denied taking the money-that was but natural; he had been forced to admit replacing it-that was con- elusive. Indeed it seemed waste of time' to investigate further; it was utterly impossible to doubt his guilt.
 "Let us question him." said Crane, and in his heart was not sorrow, nor hate, nor compassion, nor anything but just joy. Greater than the infiu- ence of money in his love ambition would be this degradation, this reduc- ing to a felon man he felt stood be- tween him and Allis Porter.
 The probing of the already con- demned man elicited nothing beyond a repeated denial of theft With the precision of Ma'selle Guillotine, Cash fer Lane Topped off everything that could possibly stand in Mortimer's de- fense, grating into the cleaved, places individual facts which confirmed his guilt. Mortimer contended nothing, threw suspicion upon no one. Was 1t Alan Porter? Was it Cass-but that was impossible. Was it the cashier himself? Still more impossible. Nor timer answered nothing. He had not taken the money. Yes, he had re- placed it-because he was responsible for its custody.
 Cant you see," cried Crane, i'm patiently, that this simple denial of yours is of no value as against so much that points to your" he hesi- tated-"your implication?"
 Gro Be Cont1nued.3