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

1t came to pass that he left the store
early one evening. excusing himself o..
the plea Of some slight indisposition,
and lost himself for the space of two
hours.
He found himself shortly after g. at
pause by the gaie to the Bohun place.
An aged negro butler. one Of the freed
slaves brought from Virginia by the
Rohuns. admitted him to the hall and
took his card. Smoi herring his own Won
derment. for In those DAYS nobody
disturbed the silence and the neace of
decay Of the Bohun nanSiun save It's
master Duncan hadalong 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 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
favor Of writing to Mr.. Henry Kel-
logg. the junior partner. and asking
him about me?'
The colonel stiffened. May 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 a considerable
sum Of money. and naturally you would
not do that without Knowing. some
thing about me-
Il 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 jerkcd
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 case like this"
Duncan could have sworn that the
eyes were twinkling beneath the say.
agely knitted brows.
You must understand I'm in bust
ness here in Radville-a partner in n
growing and prospecting concern-ah-
ioing-very we'll 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 a rather singular case.
that of 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.
$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 inished?" said the
colonel coldly.
Not quite, sir" said Duncan. Good
sign" he told himself. He hasn't or
dered me thrown out yet" &
ITO come down to cases. sir. she
ought to be sent to good boarding
school for few years. It'll make
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. If you'll in
- al hn' |
can be trusted to keep my word. Fur
thermore''-he galloped. suspecting
that his time was perilously short and
desiring to get it all out of his system
-"Ill guarantee You repayment within
q year and that you Shan't be annoyed
this way second time"
Bohun looked him over from head to
foot. bowed in silence and, turning
both had stood throughout this pas
sage-grasped bell rope by the chin
ney and pulled it violently.
In the desolate Businesses Of that
dreary house somewhere a bell tinkled
discordantly. A 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 glass of wine with me-"
"Yassuhw stammered the negro.