Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1911-01-27

It came to pass that he left the store
early one evening. excusing himself on
the plea of some slight indisposition.
and lost himself for the space of two
hours.
He found himself shortly after s at
pause by the gate to the Bohun place.
An aged negro butler. one of the freed
slaves brought from Virginia by the
Bohuns. admitted him TO the hall and
took his card. smothering his own won
derment for in those days nobody
disturbed the silence and the peace of
decay of the Bohun mansion save its
master. Duncan had long to wait.
"Cunnel Bohun will see 20, 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 it,
The colonel nodded. AT your serv-
ice, sir" and waited grimly.
Duncan had his own way of getting
at things.
May l inquire, sir, if you are &C.
quainted with the firm of L. j. Bart
lett & Co. of New York;"
II have heard of it. Mr. Duncan
"Then would you mind doing me the
favor of writing to Mr. Henry Kel-
logg. the junior partner. and asking
him about meY
The colonel stiffened. May ask
a 4 a
for?"
Because it isn't uncaled 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 a considerable
cum of money, and naturally you would
not do that without knowing some
thing about me-"
81 incline very much to doubt that
! should do it in any event. Mr.. Dun
can"
"Oh. don't say that. You don't know
the circumstances as yet" Nat jerked
his head earnestly at the colonel "You
see. you're said to be one of the rich
est men in town. and I'm certainly one
of the poorest. so of course l turn to
you in a 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 Radyille-a partner In a
oh
doing-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"
y congratulate you, sir"
THANK you very much. Now. In.
interested In rather singular case.
that of a young woman-a girl.
should say-daughter of my partner.
She's good girl and wonderfully
sweet and fine. sir. She comes of one
of the best families in these parts"
"On her mothers side" suggested
the colonel dryly
$50 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 eoldly.
Not quite, sir" said Duncan. Good
sign" he told himself He hasn't or
dered me thrown out YETI
ITO come down to cases. sir. she
ought 10 be sent to a good boarding
school for a few years. It'll make a
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?'
mo" said Duncan candidly; 81
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. II you'll in
quire of Mr.. Kellogg he'll tell you
can be trusted to keep my word. Fur
thermore'-he galloped. suspeeting
that his time was perilously short and
desiring to get it all out of his system
-''Tll guarantee you repayment within
a 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. moment later the
white headed darky butler opened the
door.
.Suhf" 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-"
"Yassuhw stammered the negro.
Bohun turned to his guest Wont
you be seated. Mr.. Duncanf he said
lyon have interested me considerably,
sir, and 4 should be glad to discuss
the matter with you"
Speeches., Duncan gasped incoher-
- 80 -~~-Aa toward q chat .. -