Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-06-23
Copyright. 1910 by Wincheil Smith
and Louis Joseph Vance

hours.
He found himself shortly after 8 at
pause by the gate to the Rohun place.
An aged negro butler. one of the freed
slaves brought from Virginia by the
Eohuns. admitted him to the hall and
took his card. smothering his own won
derment for in those DAYS nobody
disturbed the silence and the npHce Of
decay of the Bohun manSi';i. -"ve It's
master Duncan had long TO wait
"Cunnel ROhun will see yo'. sub"
The servant said and uShered him into
the library.
Bohun received the young man
standing He was as courteous be-
meath his own roof as he was impos-
sible away from 1t.
The colonel nodded. AT your serv-
ice. sir" and waited grimly.
Duncan had his own way of getting
at things.
MAY l inQu'"e. sir. if you are ac-
quainted with the firm of l.. ]. Bart
lett & Co. of New York;
81 have heard of it. Mr.. Duncan"
''Then would you mind doing me the
logg, the junior partner, and asking
him about me?'
The colonel stiffened. May I ask
why should do anything so uncalled
for?"
Because it isn't uncalled for. sir.
mean you won't think so after I've
explained"
Bohun inclined his head. searching
Mats face with his keen, bright eyes.
You see. sir. it's this way. | want
you to intruSt me with considerable
sum of money. and naturally you would
not do that without k~'wing some
thing about me-"
IL incline very much to doubt that
can"
"Oh. don't say that. You don't know
the circumstances as yet" Nat jerkcd
his head earnestly at the colonel. You
II
est men in town. and I'm certainly one
of the poorest, so of course | turn to
you in case like this"
Duncan could have sworn that the
eyes were twinkling beneath the saw.
agely knitted brows.
You must understand I'm in bust
ness here In Radville-a partner in Il
growing and prospecting concern-ah-
ioing-very well in point of fact"
"Yes?'
But we haven't any spare capital.
In fact. We haven't got any capital
worth mentioning. But the business is
entirely sound and solvent"
Il congratulate you. sir"
THANK you very much. Now. Pm
interested in q rather singular case.
that of a young woman-a girl. |
should say-daughter of my partner.
She's a good girl and wonderfully
sweet and fine. sir She comes Of one
Of the best families in these parts"
ION her mothers side" suggested
the colonel dryly
so I'm told. sir. But she's been
neglected. Circumstances have been
against her. She hasn't had a real
chance in life. but she ought to have
it, and I'm going to see that she gets it
one way or another"
You haven't finished?" said the
colonel coldly.
Not quite, sir" said Duncan. Good
sign" he told himself. He hasn't Or
dered me thrown out yet" &
40 come down to cases. sir. she
ought to be sent to a good boarding
school for Il few years. It'll make Il
new woman Of her-a woman to be
proud of. She's got that in her. 1t
only needs to be brought out"
And before you leave, SIR said the
colonel with significant precision. will
you be so kind as to inform me why
you think this should interest me?"
NO" said Duncan candidly; II
haven't got the nerve to. But what |
wanted to propose was this-that you
lend me $500 to cover the expense OF
the first year on condition that | rep
resent the money as coming from the
profits of the business and. in short.
keep the transaction between our
selves absolutely quiet. If you'll in
quire of Mr.. Kellogg he'll tell you |
can be trusted to keep my word. Fur
thermore'-he galloped. suspectins
that his time was perilously short and
desiring to get 1t all out Of his system
I'LL guarantee you repayment within
q year and that you Shan't be annoyed
this way a second time"
Bohun looked him over from head to
foot, bowed in silence and, turning
both had stood throughout this pas
sage-grasped a bell rope by the chin
ney and pulled it violently.
In the desolate Businesses Of that
dreary house somewhere bell tinkled
discordantly. 4 moment later the
white headed darby butler opened the
door.
subj" he said.
Colonel Bohun essayed to speak,
cleared his throat angrily and indi-
Gated Duncan with a courteous ges-
ture
"Scipio." said he. this gentleman
will have a glass of wine with me-"
"Yassuh" stammered the negro.
Bohun turned to his guest. Wont
you be seated. Mr. Duncan?" he said.
"You have interested me considerably,
sir, and l should be glad to discuss
the matter with you"