The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-12-20

perfect. hut Langsinlc was cslehratin
Christmas in some secure retreat. n
ats knew where.
ON Satpalay morning Macmiilai
went to i,ie city and spen, an hour o
Are la bis office. He was ai wori
I ere and singing as he toiled whel
there came tap at the door. Mac
an a,in,.ttrd young man, WHOM
be presently recognized MS a clerk o
l.angdale's.
"Mr. Macmillan" said this man
without so much as bow by way o
I greeting. "dld you receive a lette
I with . cheek IN ~"
yes" answered Macmillan cheerlly
Il resolved Il Thursday afternoon"
The visitor moistened his lips.
"you haven't cashed II yetr h'
askc1
"But | have" was the reply. :"
needed the money right away"
The young man sank down In |
chair.
I'm knocked out, guess" he salt
III high keyed voice. I'm done for
that's the truth about me.
why. what's the matterr
ave been sI,aculatlng we all doll
Lans,lalc's shop. We get tips. yo,
know some good, some bud, but the,
All ioot good. \ fellow who IN a sort
Of an office boy there has made ovel
$4,000" and he laughed nervously
but | couldn't make cent. oh, u
was my own money. There's nothing
wrong. But It's knocked me out
don't know what I'm doing. drew
that check Of yours. Here's Mr.. Lang
dalc's memorandum, 5000 Well,
couldn't see the decimal point. and
though I'd heard him say ffty, drew
1t for $1,000, and he signed IT,"
He passed crumpled slip of paper
to Macmillan, whose hair had begun
to stir at the roots. Upon the paper
were these words scribblcd in pencil
Draw check to order Of Richard Mae
milan for $1,000"
Most mea wouldn't write the last
two clphers at all," said the clerk, but
Mr.. Langdale always does. So
might have known what the amount
was. I've drawn enough checks for
him In the last three years
Macmillan passed his hand along the
top of his head.
This is very important" he said.
"Of course 1t shall be rectihed, but
but I'm afraid ! can't command the
money Immediately. will explain,
however, to Mr.. Langdale on Monday,
and" he added, moved by the weari-
ness and misery in the others counte-
nance, Il will put In good word for
you"
It's kind Of you to say So" respond
ed the clerk. my name Is Tunbrdge." ;"
He rose and stretched himself like a
weary animal, then moved stlffiy to-
ward the door But Macmillan called
him back and talked to him for long
time cheerfully, SO that he went away
In better spirits. This kindness was
very III requited, though not willfully,
for poor runbridge was wholly una
ware that he had added to Macmll
lan's burden. The fact is, however,
that he had made Macmillan see clear
ly what an egregious blind owl he had
been. Surely the feeblest perceptive
powers should have sufficed to inform
him that the check had been sent In
error The whole tenor of the note
which accompanied 1t was relevant OF
Langdale's design. He had malicious
ly renewed his contribution Of $50 to
Macmillan's charity fund In order to
imply that he believed the clergyman
had called upon him for the purpose OF
reminding him Of It.
Macmillan had spent about $4,000 Of
the money in such way that he could
never get It back, and Amy would not
be benefited one penny unless he
should disburse about 1,500 more on
Monday, and this, Of course, he could
not do. How he was to return the
s., 800 to Langdale within reasonable
time he did not know. He had stolen
Il, in effect, for the simplest common
sense should have kept him from such
frantic haste Monday would have
served him quite as well as Thursday
for the payments and would have
given him opportunity to assure him
self Of the reality Of Langdale's gen
erosity.
Mr.. and Mrs Langdalc returned from
a Christmas visit on Monday morning
md the lady went on alone to their
home In Larchmont, whence she telc
phoned to her husband at his office
nbout II O'clock The chief part 81
her message was that she had found
some very pretty presents that had
been sent by Miss Amy Branford and
Miss Martha Macmillan. How did her
husband account for thisY Had he
not told her Of a quarrel with Mr..
Macmillan year ago. Had he not
advised her against sending anything
o Miss Branford and Miss Macmillan
I.angdale had neglected to tell his
wife about Macmilan's call and had
concealed his own malign jest
n the matter OF the fifty dollar check.
Vow therefore he disclosed the one and
till hid the other.
You'd better hustle around and get
hem something" said he, something
ather nice, and invent some excuse for
he dclny"
The Incident passed from his mind
for he was called to con
ider matter OF considerable gravity
This developed In the visit OF Mr. |
ridley, one OF the very few persons
0 whom Mr.. Lnngdale told the truth.
We'll, Gridley,' said be when that |
'entleman had drlfted noiselcssly into |
he office. have you looked him upY'
Its Dr. Hayward. all right" re |
ponded Gridley. Il took one OF your |
,oys up there TO see him. and rye
card from Omaha The cousin racket
! n fake. and ! don't suppose there's
NY doubt that somebody has got Hay
rard to make a report on your health.
hough can't find out who II is"
''Its the Dey Street bank gang, OF
responded I.angdaie This
Iceounts for the blur that they're