The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-07


cubus OF Peltus. They had escaped
into life aud love. ana the sun and
moon sang 70 them from the heavens.
Blake did not anticipate any dlfii.
Guilty Ia tlndlng work. He was known
to many prominent men In the Wall
street region He had an intimate &C.
quaintance with securities and credits.
Surely he could get q better position
than the one which be had left. And,
indeed. this proved more easy than his
rosiest itlreams had pictured II, but an
unexpected obstacle barred bis way.
Men .were willing TO employ ln-they
even sought him with oIfers-but be
discovered that every one Of them was
looking Tor the secrets of Lemuel Pet.
tus. The instant that Blake revealed
sense OF honor In this matter ali
negotiations were ct an end
He had never before realized the IA.
ture Of his position with Pettus, al.
though he had occasionally been 'ap-
preached" by the enlssnrIes Of money
cd interests. Now he perceived that II
be should spend one week IN the In.
dustrious distribution OF information to
those who we're eager to pay for II he
could live the rest Of his days upon
the proceeds. On the other hand, his
possession of this information was so
well known that no one would employ
him except upon an understanding that
he would do ''the right thing"
Moreover this situation had been
foreseen by Pettus, and he had ex.
tended the long arm Of his influence to
close many doors against Blake. Dis.
covering this fact, Blake ragged the
more against his former employer.
The state OF the family exchequer
had become desperate when Blake re-
celved d note from a lawyer named
Hofnagel, who was Pettus' chief adj.
wiser II was delivered to Blake In
the tiny apartment which was now so
sweet and dear a home. and the tone
Of the communication seemed particu.
larly offensive In that sacred spOt.-
Come to my Office ut once" etc. This
was too much for a man just clothed
In brand new self esteem,
Blake wrote across the lawyers let
ter with a heavy blue pencil. "If you
have any business with me, state It,
and | viii take such action as the mat
ter seems to warrant"
Hofnagel was furious, but he needed
Blake, so he sent word that he de.
sired to offer him some work which
would pay we'll
II think he has quarreled with Mr..
Pettus and wants your help against
him." said Amy.
ITS probably crooked, whatever II
Is" said Blake "I'lI decllne-a little
more politely this time"
late that afternoon he met one OF
Hofnagel's clerks on the street, ap.
parcntly by accident.
"Mr. Hofnagel wants to see you"
said the clerk. There's a document
In Mr.. Pettus' handwriting, and no
body can read It, Pettus himself has
forgotten what It Is, You can make
$50 In half an hour by translating that
scrawl"
Blake believed that there was truth
In this, 1t was a fact that Pettus was
often unable to read his own writing
and that Blake was the only man on
earth who could he depended upon to
perform that feat The pettus hand Is
famous
f'Tll consider the p,St:cg." SAID Blake
and at the moMcat II "ws hts !ste.,
tion to see Hofnagel next day. hut H.
was occupied with the fruitless search
for work and the matter was forgot
ten until too late.
Blake returned home that afternoon
really disheartened, seriously alarmed
He Ind detected the Pettus influence,
strongly agalnst him, and his heart
was full Of bitterness
TO his unspeakablc amaspment, aa
found Mrs. rcttus lii his gltt!sg room
The rigid, pale old woman In her chrp