Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-11-16

the store a success. / put In a thou
sand dollars of my own money. You
would not drive me into bankruptcyW
"If we are not married on the day
your notes are due / shall demand my
money If you go into bankruptcy ]
shall buy in the stock and put some
one else in your place"
Her declaration lost her her boarder,
but when he walked out Of the house
he knew that he was ruined in busi-
ness. He could not pay her the half
of what he owed her, and q call at the
lawyers brought him no comfort. She
had spoken of marriage, but he turned
away in disgust at the thought. She
had said she would ruin him, and she
was woman to keep her word.
There Is always way out for the
merchant WHO finds bankruptcy star
ing him In the face, and few take 1t
who cannot excuse themselves to their
own consciences. The merchant went
over the ground time and time again,
but he always came back to the ono
thing. If his store was burned out be-
fore the year was up the insurance
and leave him something to start
anew. Men recofl from this idea at
first, but is the situation is pressing
large proportion grasp it in the end.
Young French looked around his
store and saw the favorable situation
Of things. All he need do was to leave
q lighted candle among the litter un-
der the stairway when he went home
at night. By midnight or an hour later
the whole building would be in flames,
with 10 possibility of anything being
saved. Tho widow Allen alone might
suspect him, but she would have no
proofs.
The merchant debated the Idea with
himself for two weeks before he adopt
ed it. In the store he gave no sign
that he was troubled, but the book
keeper was not deceived. She knew
what the profits were, and she knew
who had q clutch on him. She even
interpreted the glances he cast around
the store, and when she saw him add
ing to the litter in the closet she could
have told him his purpose.
One windy, rainy night, when there
was excuse for shutting up early, and
when only thirty days remained be-
tween French ana business ruin, ne
made a pretext to be the last one out
and the candle was placed and lighted.
The young merchant went to his board
ing house and to his room, and all he
had to do was wait.
The wind rose and the rain fell more
heavily, and he was rejoiced at the
thought that none of the villagers
would be on the street in such storm.
Between midnight and l o'clock the
flames would start. When the alarm
was given people could only turn out
and look on with folded arms. French
went to bed at the usual hour. He
left nothing to chance. He lay there
hour after hour thinking. scheming and
pIannlng. It was close upon mlunlgf1
when his other self came to the rescue.
The two personalities debated and ar.
gued and fought. The one self con-
tended and the other protested.
After a quarter Of an hour the mer-
chant arose and hurriedly began to
dress. He was pale faced and trem-
| criminal and branded before the
world. Bankruptcy might come, he
| might be forced to most menial employ
| ment, the widow Allen might triumph
| and he might lose the one he had
| learned to love, but he would save the
| store.
The wind was blowing a gale and
| the rain coming in sheets when he
stepped from the door and ran through
the mud and storm to the store. Not
even dog was in sight. AS he ran he
prayed that he might not be too late.
With shaking hands he inserted the key
in the door and pushed it open. There
was no smell of smoke. Striking a
match, he made his way to the closet
The candle had been blown out hours
ago. 1t had not burned half an inch.
With a new fear at his heart the man
turned away and lighted a lamp and
leaned on the counter to think. He
heard the rustic of garments and light
footsteps, and Miss Warder came out
Of the darkness and stood before him
and said:
mr. French, blew the candle out
long, long time ago"
"You-you found and blew it out!'
he gasped.
Eyes, and 1 have been waiting for
you to come"
II was going to burn the store for
the insurance" he said. after long