Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-04-06
CHAPTER III.

'btdhiH- thelf taSI COIN upon dlt-f LaFuIit'
candidate. the race for wealth in th'
city was for the time being almost at N
end.
The thoroughfares around the Elk
change were blocked up. and rendered
almost impossible by groups of ashen
faced, trembling mon. who, bat one shori
week ago, were men of afiluence and to
day were little better than beggars.
The news was being telegraphed to ev-
ery quarter of the globe that the great
discount and banking company of ken.
dali, Burton & Co" had suspended ply
sment
George Temple had all the circum-
stances by heart half an hour after leay-
ing his pretty little home, from 4 city
friend Georges friend does not notice
the white shade that has crept over the
young mans face, or take note Of the
twitchiug of the hands. or the working
of the eouvulsed features.
He is wondering what was done yes
terdc. calculating whether his books
had been examined, IL this had been
postponed for one day, then he might
have time to further tamper the ac-
counts; but IL this had led them to his
ledSers. with their duplicate keys. then
he was lost indeed.
For n moment. Il thought Of escape
crosses his mind. but he has no ready
money and, before any could be raised,
days, perhaps weeks, may elapse. But
over and above ali IS the thought Of
Maggie cannot leave her: and so
be plucks mp heart.
There is a general pretense OF set
fling b0ts-u IN business az (tAartro ourpps
his office, and he is soon prepared for
the work Of the day. He is going over.
for the thirteenth time. long letter
from a foreign agent. taking in but li;tie
OF its real meaning. when the clerk spe-
cially attached to the partners room
cotnes up and says The frm wish to
see YOU. Mr.. Temple ii you please, as
soon as you are at leisure"
Certainly Mr. Bates: be kind enough
TO say ! will be there directly" And
he carefully puts the little weight upon
the correspondence AMI enters the sane
tum OF Messrs. Mangle. Holhein q Co.
Good morning. Mr. Temple" observes
the senior partner The other partners
nod gravely, and settle themselves in
their seats You have heard. / pre-
sumo, that Kendall's people have gomez
Oh, for a glass Of water. anything.
anything. to hide the tell-tale trembling
OF the voice. as he replies, in falter-
ing tone. Yes. sir, | have heard some
ching about it. bat there have been re-
ports aboHt for some days Perhaps il
is not SO bad as it appears"
The senior partner who seems to have
neen deputad to be the spokesman and
oracle OF the firm generally. says, coldly,
From information we have managed %
obtain, we think there is not tie slight
est chance OF their ever going on again,
and we fear we shall have to stop BUSH
ness for the present. So be GOO. enough
gta let us have ii statement Of moneys
owing and acceptances out. and we will
draw up a rough statement Of accounts"
George trembies as he comes back TO
his desk and unlocks his ledger. He
pores over the pages hour after hour
the figures taking strange and fantastic
Notwithstanding nothing to him but
chaos In the preseut-ruin and disgrace
in the future And he sits. needless OF
the running in and out. the exciting ri
nors that are ever and anon poured into
llis ears. as the day slowly wears on.
and the gas is lighted
Evening comes ence more. The part
ners leave at their usual hour and the
clerks, one by one. drop of until George
Is left quite alone He closes the book
With a heavy sigh, and murmurs to him
self that. under the circumstances, to-
morrow win do for the statement as well
rs to-day. He will have at least one
more evening with his darling, and be-
yond this he has no thought.
rTIn ,F.ras not Eun4s That airnaIv
sworr information has been laid against
him. that a rough. keen man is walking
up and down outside, prepared 20 follow
him wherever and whenever he goes He
feels, by his heavy heart. that thrfe IS
something amiss; but he does not cream
of the fatality to which that something
will tend He has no intuitiye feeling
that he is taking his coat and hat from
his accustomed peg for the last time;
only that he fears something. he knows
not what, and so he passes cut into the
cold raw night.
George stops the sab at the little gate,
and putting handful Of silver into the
drivers hand. says. Good night. cabby."
in a strange tone that sounds hollow and
far away.
The lights are lowered in the cheerful
little parIor. and Maggie rises lauguiGiy
from the depths Of an armchair and
tells him poutingly that she has waited
aud watched SO long for him that she
has got n bad headache, and he mustn't
talk TO her or worry her, and then sinks
back again.
Then he kisses her. and kBeels by her
side and fondles her hand within his
own. So for ten minutes there is silence
in the room. broken only by the rick
tick. tick of the clock, and then a little
whirriug sound. and the cuckoo clock
strikes twelve.
The little bird has just popped in. and
the door shuts with slight click and
then loud pealing ring at the doorbcll
brings Maggie 10 her feet, half fright
,ened and half angry. and presently two
burly forms are pushing into tha room.
Mr. George Temple, | believer says
the stouter OF the two. inquiringly, and
BE takes q rapid glance round the room,
as il to note any means OF escape, and
be prepared to foil any such attempt
That is my name. sir" replied
George, trying 10 speak haughtily and
ecoldly, though his heart has sung Ike a
stone. May l inquire what business
has brought you here at this time OF
,aightg''
i hold a warrant for your arrest on a
charge Of embezzlemeut aud forgery. and
81 you will take my advice you will come
with US quietly
For Il moment all the manhood Of the
young mans soul flashes up into mad
opposition 10 the quiet power OF the OH
GERS of the law, and springiug back. he