Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-03
CHAPTER XXII.

 ss was summoned to Hallam's
 house for supper. With only Mrs. | \ Hallam for auditor, Hallan wished to tell the young man all that had occurred, for Duncan had not been permitted to know aught of it, since Hallam had turned him out of his room in order that the conference with Dick Temple might be strictly private one. s Nor had Duncan seemed very great sly concerned to inquire. He had 8 not expected Hallam and Temple to s succeed in accomplishing anything, and at this time bis fate was at crisis in another and, to him, a dearer way. His interview with Barbara had been held, as we know, at the precise time when Hallam and Temple were in con- sultation with regard to the matter of Tandy's accusation. In some degree at least the painful character of that in- terview with Barbara and it's unsat- isfactory result had dulled his mind to the other trouble. In view of Bar bara's seemingly final rejection of his wooing he was not sure that he greatly cared what might become of his repu- tation or his career. He was too strong a man in his moral character, however, to remain long in state of such indif- ference, but for the time being he found it impossible to regard his future as matter of much consequence now that Barbara refused to share that future with him.
 "There is still one more chance" he reflected, .one more interview with Barbara, one more hope that l may win her. If that fails, the other thing won't matter much; GFil ~hersewhip Tandy and then go away. No; won't go away. I won't desert in the pres ence of the enemy. wont-oh, don't know what I will or won't do! All that must wait till I know my fate with Barbara"
 This was on the morning after his evening with Barbara-the morning on which Temple first made acquaintance with Handy. Duncan was sitting idly in his office, mechanically toying with pdDtI ONCl- turned the inkstand, spilling it's con- tents over some legal papers that he had drawn up the day before.
 That's fortunate.' he calculated as with plotting pads he sought to save what he could of the documents. Tt gives me something better to do than sit here idly incoming. Those papers must go off by the afternoon mail, and l must rewrite them first"
 He set to work at once. and close ap- plication to the task for several hours brought him into a healthier condition . of mind. When he had finished the ! task and had taken the papers to the . postoffice he realized that his state of mind had been a morbid one. He real , ized, too, eat he must end the sus- pense as quickly as possible in order that he might take ID work and grow sound of soul again.
 Returning to his office, he sent a note to Barbara:
 shall go to see you tonight. unless you forbid. I must hear what more you have to tell me. and I must in my turn tell you something of myself. When that is done I shall renew my efforts to win you to myself. Please send me word that may come.
 For answer he got the single word Come" written in the middle of a page, without address or signature. Thus it came about that while Temple was sitting in his hotel room in nego- tiation with Tandy over a matter that involved Duncan's future more vitally than any other event had ever done. Duncan himself sat with Barbara. try ing to adjust another matter which seemed to him of even greater conse- quence. .j
 Barbara had her emotions in leash now. Without hesitation and with a Dravely controlled utterauce she went at once to the marrow of the matter
 i told you" she began. that I am ste daughter Of a thief. Ny father vas trusted absolutely by my grand father. He betrayed the trust He made use of his authority as a member of the banking honse not only tp wreck it in speculation. but al~p to rob all the people who had iutrusted their noney tO f. I d5a't understand such matters very vel. bu;. st any rate. my father ruinc,i tlle Hrzl and robbed it's 1 customers At a single st-pke he re dnced his father to poverty and for ever dis-Tzocd his honorable name. . When he f8GrIlI tat tic facts must be- ( come known at 0Iee my father went hone sBd tieu his brains out was ( torn that day. and my mother died of shock and grief within the hour My I poor grzndfatier lived for a month. ! vitkozt speaking a word to anybody. | hen he quit Iiriug- Tt Is a terribly sad stC-y.- said Dun . nm Il s1sssd Es. have let yOu tel it. ,o0r eHEd- s -OE. but I wsS obliged to tel you-- s Ae fnter-zpte1 -It vzS nE duu-