Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-30
! HAVOC:
3 PHILLIPS OPPENHElM
Author % The Moving Finger" The IlluD- I
uious Prince" The lest
Ambanador.- etc.
Copyright. 1910. 1911. By little. Brown
and Company ,
CHAPTER XIII.
Stephen Laverick's Conscience

and the morning following his late night
in the city was no exception to the gem
eral rule AT O'Clock the valet at
tached TO the suite knocked at his door
and informed him that his bath was
ready. He awoke at once from a sound
sleep. sat up in bed and remembered the
events of the preceding evening.
At first he was inclined to doubt that
slowly stirring effort OF memory. lie
was man of unromantic temperament
administrative and by no means of an
adventurous turn Of mind He sought
naturally for the most reasonable ex-
PLANTATION of this strange picture. which
no effort of his will could dismiss from
his memory. 1t was a dream. of course
But the dream did not fade. Slowly IL
spread itself out SO that he could no
longer doubt. He knew very well as he
sat there on the edge of his bed that the
thing was truth. He, Stephen Laverick.
man hitherto of upright character. with
d reputation of which unconsciously he
was proud, had robbed a dead man, had
looked into the burning eyes of his muir
derer, had stolen away with twenty thou
sand pounds of some one elses money.
Morally. at any rate-probably legally as
his safe on the part of an aStute detec-
tive might very easily bring him under
the grave suspicion of being criminal OF
altogether deeper dye.
Stephen Laverick was in his way, some
thing of a philosopher. In the cold day
light, with the sound of the water run
ming into his bath, this deed which he
had done seemed to him foolish and rep
rehensible. Nevertheless, he realized the
absolute finality OF his action. The thing
was done; he must make the best of It,
Behaving in every way like sensible
man, he did not send for the newspapers
1,r-s- hair
of last nights tragedy, but took his bath
as usual, dressed with more than ordinary
care and sat down to his breakfast before
he even unfoded the paper. The item
for which he searched occupied by no
means SO prominent a position as he had
expected. 1t appeared under one of the
leading headlines, but 1t consisted of only
a few words. He read them with interest.
but without emotion. Afterward he turned
to the stock exchange quotations and
made notes of a few prices in which he
was interested.
He completed in leisurely fashion an
excellent breakfast. and followed his
usual custom of walking along the En-
bankment as far as the Royal Hotel.
where he called a taxica5 and drove to
his offices. A little crowd had gathered
around the end of the passage which led
from Crooked Friars. and Laverick him.
self leaned forward and looked curiously
at the spot where the body Of the muir
dered man had lain. 1t seemed hard to
him to reconstruct last nights scene In
his mind now that the narrow street was
filed with hurrying men and stream OF
vehicles blocked every inch OF the road
way. In his early morning mood the
thing was impossible. In a moment or
two he paid his driver and dismissed him
He fanced that a certain relief was
visible among his clerks when he opened
the door at precisely his usual time and
with a cheerful Good morning made his
way into the private office. He lit his
customary cigarette and dealt rapidly
with the correspondence which was
brought in to him by his head clerk
Afterward, as soon as he was alone. he
opened the safe. thrust the contents OF
that inner drawer into his breast pocket,
and took up once more his hat and gloves.
Il am going around to the bank" he
told his clerk as he passed out. Il shall
be back in half an hour-perhaps less"
Very good, SIR the man answered.
'Will Mr.. Morrison be here this morn
ing?"
Laverick hesitated.
mo, Mr.. Morrison will not be here to-
day.
1t was only a few steps to his bankers,
and his request for an interview with the
manager was Immediately granted. The
latter received him kindly but with GER
tain restraint. There are not many Sc
crets in the city. and Morrison's big
plunge a particular mining share. not
withstanding its steady drop, had been
freely commented upon.
What can do for you, Mr. Layerick?'
the banker asked.
II am not sure" answered Laverick.
ITO tell you the truth, am in a some
what singular position"
The banker nodded. He had not doubt
but that he understood exactly what that
position was.
You have perhaps heard" Laverick
continued, slowly, that my late partner,
Mr. Morrison--'
Late partner" the manager inter
rupted.
Laverick assented.
I'VE had a few words last night he
explained, "and Mr.. Morrison left the
office. with an understanding between Us
that he should not return. You will re-
ceive formal intimation of that during
the course Of the next day or SO. We
will revert to the matter presently IL you
wish. My immediate business with you
is to discuss the fact that 1 have to pro-
vide something like twenty thousand
pounds today if | decide to take up the
purchases of stock which Morrison has
made
You understand the position. of course,
Mr. LaVerick. if you fail to do so?'' the
manager remarked. gravely.
Naturally" Laverick answered.
am quite aware of the fact that Morrison
acted on behalf Of the firm and that / am
responsible for his transactions. He has
plunged pretty deeply. though. great
deal more deeply than our capital war
TdHIGu. may du0 llldl iida iiol tlC
slightest idea as to the extent Of his deal
ingS.
The bank manager adopted a sympa-
thetic but serious attitude.
Twenty thousand pounds" he declared, |
lis a great deal Of money. Mr.. Laverick."
1T is a great deal Of money" Laverick |
admitted. II am here to ask you to lend |
1t to me-.
The bank manager raised his eyebrows |
MY dear Mr.. Laverick.' he exclaimed, |
reproachfully.
Upon unimpeachable security" Law
erick continued
The bank manager was conscious that I
to escape him and bit his lip with an /
noyance. 1t was entirely contrary to his .
tenets to display at any time during 4
office hours any sort of emotion.
''Cnimpeachable security he repeated
''Of course, if YOU have that to offer. Mr.. 1
Iaverck. although the sum is a large
one. it is our business to see what We
can do for YOU.
My security is of the best" Laverick
declared grimly. Il have bank notes
here, Mr.. Fenwick, for twenty thousand
pounds.
The bank manager was again guilty of
an unprofessonal action. He whistled
softly under his breath. very re-
spectacle client he had always considered
Mr.. Stephen Laverick. but he had GER
tainly never suspected him of being able
to prod lce at pinch such evidence OF +
means. Laverick smoothed out the notes
and laid them upon the table.
Mr. Fenwick." he said, 4 believe