The Washington times., 1908-02-02

door closed Grafton settled back Ter
fresh meditation on the problem Of
his existence.
And now in business hours i'm his
business office. The case began 10 take
on something OF a new phase. a strict
" business aspect
Plainly that was a side to merit his
deepest thought-much Of the future
might depend directly upon H. Here
he stood. within f0rty-eight hours OF
the time when he should have col
ieeted a fabulous sum % money he
had loaned. The time might come
around-woUld. 10 all present appear
anee-zud he would have l. admit
Frankly that he had no papers what
ever to show the debt Of Colson 20
himself
After that? Wen. az the very best.
IL was bound 70 look rather queer in
some ways. Colson, TO be sure. would
know that ne was perfectly honest. or
at le0st would know e until the
knowledge involved his risking OF
S7.00O-O00 on Graftons bare word.
Would he DO that? Emphatically ne
would not and Grafton could : IDLY
blame him IN the slightest degree.
The whole business would simply
have to be held UP until Burleigh or
the police or some one else succeeded
in locating the notes. That, too. prom
ised 70 appear rather peculiar. Graf
toms credit and his reputs aon were
Of the very best. yet in such an occur
renee as this there would always be
enough TO hint at strange dolngs
somewhere.
Grafton might have become pressed
for money n some unknown way; he
might have given the notes to-whom?
for security. They were worth a
pretty figure, certainly. as collateral.
He might deny It upon oath and con-
sent to having the original notes can
caled and new ones signed and half a
dozen more things Of the sort: yet
not soul could say positively that he
had not made improper use Of the
original papers.
The more he considered this view OF
the affair the less 4 pleased him. ABB
solutely answering uprightness and
honesty had carried him 20 the point
he had reached, both in the money
sense and in the estimation OF Ken
yonville at large; he was intensely
proud OF his good name and IF its
solid foundation. Even for 100000
he would hardly have cared to see It
risked.
1t was a snag and a miserable one!
Grafton took TO pacing his Office at
last. and when he had covered the
distance a dozen times, a way ap-
peared to him. Colson. too. was an
upright individuel-Or always had been
in his dealings with Grafton. He was
q decent fellow. too. with a heart and
a capacity for reasoning. so far as
Grafton had ever been able TO Judge.
The time might well come now when
he would be forced to make a strong
appeal to Colson's good nature. II
nothing more; why not take the bull
by the horns and lay the case before
him now In all candor?
That was the best that he could do:
at least. % the fair minded, he could
no more than report the catastrophe
as soon as possible after its occur
renee; ana such a move too, would
cispel any suspicion that might have
been caused had he postponed the
revelation to the last minute
As he viewed matters then, Il was
the one course, and, having decided
upon It, his action came promptly.
He picked UP his hat and STROBE out
Of the Office, leaving word with Jenni-
son TO hold Burleigh should he come
during his absence.
A ride of some FIVE minutes brought
him TO the smaller building where
Calson maintained his business head
HIN TON TIMES J