The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-08-16

bis death you sold everything be bad
except the old house. put Il all into
cash for him and bought that stock.
You signed the check as his attorney
In fact aud il came back 10 you
through the Washington National
where Norbert Flitcroft handled il. He
has a good memory. and when be told
me what he knew had him to do some
tracing. Did a little myself also
Judge Pike ! must tell you that you
stand In danger OF the law. You were
,he custodian of that stock for Roger
Tabor. J., was transferred in blank
.hough I think You meant 10 be legal
a; that1tlme, and that was merely for
convenience In case Roger had wished
you to sell II for him. But just after
his death you found yourself saddled
with distillery stock. which was going
bad on your hands. Other speculations
of yours were falling at the same time.
You had to have money. You filed
your report as administrator. crediting
Miss Tabor with your own stock which
you knew was going to the wall, and
transferred her, to yourself. Then you
sold ii because you needed ready mon
ey. You used her fortune to save your
self. but you were horribly afraid! No
matter how rotten your transactions
had been, you had always kept inside
the law, and now that you had gone
outside of it you were frightened. You
didn't dare come fat out to Miss Tabor
with the statement that her fortune
had gone. 1t had been in your charge
all the time, and things might look
ugly So you put it of, perhaps from
day to day. You didn't dare tell her
until you were forced to, and to avoid
the confession you sent her the income
which was rightfully hers. That was
your great weakness"
Joe had spoken with great rapidity, |
though keeping his voice low. and he |
lowered it again as he continued: |
Judge Pike, what chance have you
to be believed in court when you swear |
that you sent her $4,000 out of the
goodness of your heart? Do you think
she believed you? 1t was the very
proof to her that you had robbed her,
for she knew you! Do you want to
hear more nOw2 Do you think this
is a good place for it? Do you wish
me to go over the details of each step
| have taken against you to land you
at the bar where this poor fellow your
paper is bounding stands today2"
The judge essayed to answer and
could not He lifted his hand uncer-
tainly and dropped it, while a thick
dew gathered on his temples. Inar-
ticulate sounds came from between his
teeth.
"You will come?' said Joe.
Martin Pike bent his head dazedly,
and at that the other turned quickly
rom him and went away without look
ng back.
Ariel was in the studio half an hour
alter, when Joe was announced by the
milling Mr.. Warden. Ladew was with !
Ter, though upon the point of taking
lis leave. and Joe marked, with
linking heart, that the young minis =
er's cheeks were flushed and his eyes
cry bright. >
at was magnificent thing you did, ;,
ir. Louden,' he said. offering his hand
earthly. II saw it, and it was even :,
ner in one way than it was plucky
somehow Strengthened things out :
nth such perfect good nature 1t !
lade those people feel that what they
yere doing was ridiculous"
$50 it was said Joe.
Few under the circumstances could =
aveNacted as If they thought So And te
hope you'll let me call upon you. Mr.
ouden." 81
Il hope you will" he answered and 81
len, when the minister had departed, Il
God looking after him with sad eyes &
which there dwelt obscure medita- W
ons. Ladew's word of farewell had
'vered deep look at Ariel. which. "
as not to be mistaken by Joseph
ouden for anything other than what In
was. The clergyman's seoRet was be
/ open one, and Joe saw that he was ia
frank and manly in love as in all W
her things. Hes good fellow" he
Id at last, sighing-"a good man."
Ariel agreed. "And he said mere to
e than he did to you"
Yes; think 1t probable" Joe r
liled sorrowfully. i
About you, l mean" He had time
fear that her look admitted confu-
m before she proceeded: He said he
d never seen anything 80 fine as
ur coming down those steps. All, he
Is right! But 1t was harder for me PEI
watch you, think, than for you to VIII
1t, Joe. l was so horribly afraid m,
] the crowd between us-if we could ro,
We got near you-but we couldn't :
~"
he faltered and pressed her hand Ire
se upon her eyes. spe
WEI" asked Joe slowly. "You mean sew
and Mr.. LadewT' shi
Yes; he was there, but / mean L
voice ran into little laugh with con
cattle quaver in it-"I mean Colo tho
Flitcroft and Mr.. Bradbury and y