El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-02

with tears. She shrank from his touch
and exclaimed in hurt and saddened
tones, "Oh, Mr.. Croxton. don't do that.
Please let me co.
Not until you know all" he replied,
as he led her to a seat.
What more is there to tell?" she
asked, YEARLY.
Not much to tell, but something to
do and with the words ne went TO the
safe, took from it a paper and, return
ing TO her side, placed it in her hand
She looked at it, but it conveyed no
meaning to her. What is it, Mr..
Croxton?"
only a bit of paper. but it means
much to us both. The day after l mis-
appropriated your money l was able 10
return il, so I placed il in the Trust
company and took out this certificate OF
deposit in the name OF B. CrOxton,
whoever that might prove to be, and
it has been drawing interest ever since
The money is yours. Miss CroXton, and
the certificate of deposit is yours, and
It eases my conscience a little 10 re
turn it to its rightful owner. I Gid not
know 20 whom the draft belonged when
L received it, but 1 knew it did not
belong to me. IT was in my name,
however, and I was about to fail: 1t
offered a chance of escape and / used
1t, and I was guilty of embeZZlement-
The girl twisted and twisted me-
chanically the paper in her hands. as If
still it had no meaning for her. Her
cheeks flushed and paled by turns.
then letting the certificate of deposit
fall on the desk, she said: Il don't need
that money, Mr.. Croxton, now that
my brother wants are more than sup
piled. and if 1t is of the slightest pos
sible use to you, I won't take it.. Nor
will I touch a dollar of it. If you per-
sist in calling yourself an embezzler-
You did not you could not know that
the money belonged to me. nor even not
to you. I cannot say that what you
did was right. I do not think it was;
out you did what many would have
done under similar conditions, and I
have not one word of censure for
you"
Touched TO the quick by her words,
Croxton played for a moment with his
watch chain, and replied: "The money
in the Trust company, Miss CroxtOn. is
earning three percent which amounts
to fifteen hundred dollars a year. So
you see that even with that you are
quite independent But you can do
better. I should pay you at least two
thousand. or twenty hundred, and
you must make it do So advise that
=
to invest il for you"
But, Mr.. CrOxton, I know OF no one
more trustworthy than you, even If 1
we're disposed to seek one, which I am
not 1 have no men friends in this city
Is it a liberty. Mr.. Croxton, to let it re-
main in your hands?"
"Oh, that viii never do" he ex-
claimed You must get some conserva-
tive person; or better still. the Title
company will attend TO it for you. Yes.
go to the Title company. 1 am a specu-
lator, and it will never do for me to
touch that money again. And there is
one thing more. Miss Croxton. now that
you are independent, I can no longer
expect TO keep you in my employ as
OF course. you would not
care to remain"
Gam 1 discharged. Mr.. Croxton?,
Discharged? Certainly not"
Then I shall remain she replied
steadily.
''Bnt why, bless my soul. Miss Crox-
ton. don't you see that that is quite i'm
possible? I would never do. You will
Of course leave at the end of the week"
She gasped. clutched at the desk for
support, and arose. every vistige of
color having left her cheeks. and with
put word started to leave the room
You, understand, Miss Croxton?"
I understand I am discharged" she
nurmured. with choking sensation in
her throat
Well, discharged, II you will have It
hat way, but simply because-oh, hang
I. Miss Croxton, why don't you under
'tand?' The girl paused, mystified be-
7ond measure, and he continued
Don't you understand that want to
7isit you at your own home and talk
20 you of something else than stocks !
IND quotations and business letters?"
Don't you see. won't you see. that I /
want 10 know you socially. and to tell /
Tou, If I may. what is quite impossible. /
'r. to say the least. quite improper. to I
ell my stenographer?
Her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, and |