Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-10-02


told him Of an Investment by which
he could get all the money back with.
out any risk and could make good the
loan. Mr.. Garrison took his advice,
used the banks funds for the purpose
and-the investment proved worthless.
The bank was insolvent Mr.. Garrison
shot himself"
"Horrible! Horribler' murmured
Dallas.
"The horrible part Of the whole story
came out later" said Alwyu Bennett.
ut seems the Hnancier had deliberately
ruined Mr.. Garrison and was on the
other side Of the deal by which the
banks funds were lost In other
words. he persuaded his friend to put
money In what he knew was losing
venture. then took that money himself.
"He did 1t willfully." chimed In Mrs.
Bennett, "knowing bis friend would be
ruined and that the banks money
which he lured Mr.. Garrison into In
vesting was going to swell bis own III
gotten fortune"
81 did not think any one lived who
could do such things" shuddered Dali
las. "Poor Cynthia!"
Cynthia suffered least Of all" said
Mrs. Bennett. "She was little more
than a child at the time. Her mother
died Of grief, and her brother-a prom
ising, clever young fellow just enter
ing college-disappeared."
Deserted Cynthia"
"Not so bad as that He probably
went away sooner than face his "a
theirs disgrace and began life some
where far from home. That was nine
years ago. yet ever since then he sends
Cynthia a little money every month
not much, but no doubt all he can
scrape together above his bare living
expenses. She has tried In every way
to get In touch with him, but she cant
locate him anywhere. There Is no
clew except that monthly money order.
I never knew him very well--in fact. !
only saw him once or twice-but I've
heard he was a fine, manly boy. The
shock must have been worst OF all on
him."
$50 a man lost bis good name and
his life, his wife died, his sons lire
was wrecked and his daughter impov-
erished," mused Dallas, "and all that &
financier might grow little richer. !
can't believe itr'
A little ashamed Of displaying sueh
yehemence In the presence OF one OF
her uncle's dependents, the girl glanced
toward the table. But the secretary
had gone.
my husband" prattled Mrs. Bennett
complacently, always said that the
men who rose highest In the money
world reached their lofty places over
the despoiled bodies Of hundreds OF
victims. Thank God, my boy has no
such parental record to look back On.
NV husband was one man In a MIL
Iion-the soul Of honor both In busi-
ness and in private life. You've read
of his splendid civil war record. Then
he went into business as a contractor
and engineer and earned a fortune,
every dollar s0f which was honest
That's something to be proud OF IN
these money loving times"
"What was the name OF the fnancier
who ruined Mr.. Garrison?" asked Dali
las, still haunted by the narrative she
had just heard.
'No one knows. 1t was suppressed
at the time. The facts in the written
confession left by Mr.. Garrison be-
came public property; but, through po-
litical influence. the name OF the man
responsible for the tragedy was sup
pressed. Here / sit chatting on dole
full topics, while those two young peo-
pie are running all over the place un-
chaperoned. Excuse me. won't you.
and I'll look them up?"
She smiled at Alwyn as she left the
room, and his answering smile showed
how fully he understood and appre.
ciated her motive in leaving him alone
with Dallas Wainwright Perhaps Dali
las. too, understood, for she made as
though to follow Mrs. Bennett out into
the lawn. But Alwyn stepped between
her and the window.
Don't 60 just yet" he begged. i've
50 much to talk over with you. When
they came In we were speaking OF that
paragraph about Gibbs and yourself.
You don't love him. do you, Dallas?
Tell me you don't"
"What right have you to ask me such
a question:
"Only the right that my love for you
gives me, dear heart. You must have
known I loved you even though I've
never said 1t before. I love you, Dali
las, though till today. think. ! never
realized how much. Tell me 1t isn't
true that you're going to marry Gibbs"
Gwen II 1t weren't true should not
marry you, Awyn."
"Ahv"
The exclamation was wrung uncon'
sciously from his whitening lips. II
was as though papg Of physical pain
had pierced him.
81 wouldn't marry you," went on
Dallas, though more gently. because
you don't really love me-"
81 do! I do! With my whole heart.
IT,
"Oh, Alwynw she exclaimed with al
most mother-like tolerance. what a
child you are! What mere child!
Some one tries to take away from you
a plaything you've grown used to hav.
Tag. You never cared especially about
the plaything before; but. now that
you're In danger Of losing It, You cry
out: oh, ! love It'll I love itr You'll
soon find another toy thatll make You