Middletown transcript., 1907-07-27

as parbueI, oo
enough money to pull the firm
through,
But the price, the price! / can
not save the firm By sacrificing
my daughter.
Nor am I asking you to do any
such thing, answered RaWdor
Cross. I have a great love fol
Claire, and Wouldlgiye anything
to call hermy wife. All ] Wanl
is a fairchance to win her and
I cannot get that chance
without your consent.
But nay daughter has no atfec'
ton for you.
: Pshaw! What does a girl OF
nineteen know about affections
But be that as it may, take me
in as a partner, and give me q
fair field for six months; if | win
her in that time, I marry her;
but if I fail, you can buy me out
Of the firm on easy terms.
What do you want me to dos
asked John Freeman, slowly.
My conditions are very SIM
pie. In the first place Claire
must not know of our compact.
You may tell her ] am a partner
in the firm, but nothing more.
Next week my sister is having q
house party at my place at Mey-
ring; Claire will receive an invi-
tation. and I want you to see
that she accepts it.
I can do that.
Then / have only one other
condition.
And that is
You must get rid Of Christie
pher Robson.
What! Chris. Robson, my con-
fidential clerk? / could not get
on without him.
You must, Mr.. Freeman. My
eyes, perhaps, have been more.
open than yours with regard to
Claire, and ] know that your
daughter and Chris. Robson are
as much in love with each other
as any young couple could pos
sibly be.
Robson in love with Claire !
Impossible!
It is true, Mr. Freeman! l have
seen them together time after
time; he is always up at your
house on business, and the op-
portunities they have of being To-
gether are fatal to my chances.
I did not suspect this, Mr..
Gross. OF course, Robson is a
nice, clever young fellow, but
Claire
OThen give him a check for five
hundredl dollars and discharge
him in the morning. You need
not say what for, but put it down
to this financial crisis; tell him
the firm is going to smash any
thing.
When John Freeman walked
home that night he felt more like
a criminal than an honest man.
He had saved the firm but sacri-
feed his daughter by accepting |
the attentions of Rawdon Cross.
When he reached his Office on
the following morning he realiz-
ed that he had an unpleasant
task before him, and it was with |
much nervousness that he called
Chris. Robson into his room.
/ am sorry to tell you, Mr..
q III
Robson, that the financial trou-
bles Of the firm are much greater
than / feared, and nothing can.
save us from ruin. I have been
thinking matters over, and have /
come to the conclusion that it is
only right that | should give you
your opportunity to leave
before the crash comes.
/ should not think of doing so,
sir.
I excepted you to say that,
Robson, and ! thank you for it;
but for your own good | am
afraid I must. insist. Everyone
must 60 sooner or later.
Then, in that case, Mr.. Free
man, I hope you viii allow me to
be the last.
I cannot accept your sacrifice,
. ~ u
Mr.. Robson, and it will be much
better for you to gonow. | have
made out check for FIVE hun.
lrea dollars, WHICH i Want you to
sept in lieu of notice.
Do not ask me to leave you,
Mr. Freeman. I cannot take the
heck. I have about fifteen
honsand dollars OF my own, and
am sure the firm could be saved
18th a little assistance. Let me-
hrow my money in. and
One moment, Mr.. Robson. j
I'D not wish to mention the mat
er, but il has lately come to my