Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-21
CHAPTER l.
The Lost Bonds.


urer received this morning a check
drawn on the Peoples National Bank
for ten thousand dollars, the amount
needed by the settlement for the new
playground"
Mr.. Bruce seems very much inter-
ested in our work; but then he enjoys
the reputation of being a most char
liable young man."
Madam President beamed benignly
about her; most of the ladies were
beaming; for the moment, the rou-
tine of business was neglected.
Quite a remarkable case!" 1t was
the treasurer who spoke. Here we
find a young man, not more than six
and twenty, preferring to spend his
money in charitable matters, instead
of fiinging it away in idle frivolities!'
Il have heard he doesn't spend any
of his inheritance on himself; that he
lives only on what he earns in some
sort of clerical capacity in a whole
sale store on lower Broadway"
And yet"-the speaker was young
girl, with dark hair and blue eyes
Mr.. Bruce does not convey the i'm
preston Of one so charitably inclin-
ed! l met him for the first time last
evening and his expression was that
of veiled raillery,-ironical amuse-
ment, l might almost term it, when
spoke to him of his numerous gifts:
Believe me, Miss Wood, l get more
pleasure and diversion out of giving,
than the ladies of the board do in re-
ceiving.' 1t was not so much his words
as his manner"
BY his deeds we will judge him,
said Madam President urbanely. This
is a cynical age; although If you had
seen him, as once did"
How was that?" asked the girl
quickly.
1T was in one of the poorest quar-
ters; l chanced to go there on an err
rand for one Of our societies. In a
horribly squalid room Mr.. Bruce-who
is immaculate himself-sat surrounded
by score of children, dirty, unkempt,
eating some sticky stuff he had given
them and listening to him talk. And
what" impressively, do you think he
was telling these poor waifs?"
"A biblical story?"
Not at all. Something that sound
ed like the Arabian Nights and related
to the benevolent deeds of a certain
old Chinese river pirate"
Miss Wood laughed. We'll, I'm sure
they were interested"
They were. felt almost like muir
muring something disappearing to Mr..
Bruce; but of course could not, re-
membering-"
He would probably take upon him
self to support, send to school and to
care for these little disreputable mites
of humanity"
Exactly! Besides the stories, al
though about pirates, were not quite
what you would call immoral. They
seemed to teach a lesson in their way;
not the conventional one, it is true!"
AT any rate he is charming" OBJ
served the treasurer. He is welcom-
ed in the smartest sets in spite of his
peculiarities."
Il hear he is to take part in the lit
tie Japanese play to be given at your
home, Miss Wood"
The girl answered in the affirmative
Mr.. Bruce should be well-fltted for
a role of that Sort" observed an
other lady. He was born in the Far
East, or lived there. His father was
a missionary, understand"
No, a physician!"
Official adviser to one of the vice.
roys, / have heard!
From whom"-a lady Of the board
who had not yet spoken, raised hei
voice-"dd he inherit his money!"
That" said Madam President, us
a question can not answer, Mrs. Van
Dusen. Perhaps some one else" She
looked around her.
II have been told his uncle was g
forty-niner."
"Ah. one of those California for
tunes"
But l really know nothing about it,
Miss Tucker, who had vouchsafed the
information. conscientiously hasteneo
to add.
ANY other business, ladies, to come
tones were again short. matter fact
IF not"
"One moment before we adjourn!'
the secretary spoke; she was plump
we'll dressed wOman-a little over
dressed, perhaps. Our special gym
nasium fund. l beg to report, has not
quite realized the proportions we hat
hoped. All the people on our list have
been seen; unfortunately, the usua
number OF them had other calls
A suggestion of a cynical smile ap'
peared on one or two faces; that or
the countenance of Miss Tucker, the
treasurer, was the most pronounced
she was a lady Of excellent qualities
descendant of an old" family; not be-
ing blessed with means, she contri'
buted her time to the cause.
Il suppose Mr.. Samuel Page was or
your list?" she said with a Tightening
of the lips,
Yes" The secretary laughed good
naturedly. "One always sees him jus
as a matter of form, because he is s.
rich. Not that he ever gives; or eve
will, Mr. Page certainly dislikes t
mart with any of his worldly posses
sions."
He has recently parted with a feV
nf them, if the morning paper IS u
hc depended upon" remarked MADAM
President vivaCiOusly.
"Tn charity? M?
Didn't you read about it? My hus
hand called my attention 10 it. MI
Page claims to have lost some bond
from his box in the Peoples Nationa
safety deposit vault. OF course, tn
officials of the hank think he is mis-
taken: that he must have mislai'
them. No one ever loses anything tha