The Washington times., 1912-10-10
CHAPTER XIX.
The Stab Of Conscience.

CHAPTER XIX.
The Stab of Conscience.
l~F All the rsm.r..sls % things i,s. tina.
~ IN the eventfui day or tive. the
oldest. II seemed 10 him. was
the opportuns appearance Of his chief
clerk. Jennison. ,s
That he should have covered tile hum
4 dreds OF miles between Kenyonville and
Chicago. that he should have come 80
accurately TO the very. spot where Graf.
| ton was In trouble. was little short OF
miraculous. The man. saved by 30 bare
against the wall and stared stupidity at
his conftdentiaf assistant
The officers were hurrylng about;
| lights appeared here aud there IN the
wtSoS, SH pnSs pdfcusy ses ,Se Ses wSoe sSoe saSd
with q strange sort Of dumb agony.
Then the spell broke as the policemen
sh.:sS. as.n ans iasd ..psS aS
the stairway and seized his employers
hand in cold fingers.
| "Thank God. sir!' he mumbled. ''oh!
thank God. Mr.; Graftonr .,s
| I'm inclined to think that the thanks
1 are partly yours, Jennison.' he said.
How under the sun did you know
What What brought ,sa you ,,,her here to the very
That's what I've come TO tell that
and more, and I shall have to tell II
quickly. sir; Where can we 60 In this
"I-wcii, 1 don't know. They have q
very fine dressing room. II I remember
correctly. Perhaps It's safe there now"
It's safe anywhere now" the rounds
@sn the oRSeT RfsaDss'ah q the ssy' left even
| Then we'll find II. :"
Grafton passed into the bar. Jennison
| at his heels, and In q moment or two
had located the scene Of his own dis
% tied beside one % q ths " upsppeti.ins 1 % NJ @ ta-
life he had never Imagined such deli
cious reiaxation possibie Business
troubles OF other kinds. sickness and
personal sorrows: but this. reprieve
from death. was different from all.
party. He glanced across At the chief
clerk with more gratitude In his eyes
than words could express. The secre-
tary flushed before the gaze and hib
mouth worked convulsively for a
Then. to Grafton's amusement, Jenni:
sons head sank to his folded arms and
he sobbed violently.
"But, my dear fellow!'
lust q moment, sir-I can't help it,"
| came thickly.
| But, Jennison-"
Mr.. Grafton!" The other looked up
II isn't the nervous strain that set
me on. yon know. It's something q
Worse. Jennisonr
sirl God help me. you've always trusted
"of course, I've trusted you"
You brought me out Of cheap:
me into a business man. You gave me
charge of matters involving thousands
and hundreds OF thousands. and you
trusted me with them ALL"
"Just q minute more, sir. I've come
to tell you how ! have repaid all your
kindness. Mr.; Grafton. stole those
"Youtyou did steal them?' Grafton
sat back. literally Mortified. Despite
the episode OF the envelope. his belief
in Jennison's honesty had hardly been
shaken. YOU
Yes. l stole them, sir-night before
last Jsnnison s,raightened I ss,s TR AND AND
briefly as i can, Nj. Grafton. and then
we shall have to act"
Grafton watched him wonderinsiy.
Jennison, taking breath. glanced al
his watch. and then spoke quickly:
Il may as well begin nt the beginning
Mr.. Grafton-youn understand better.
This whole Kenyonville traction bust.
ness has been one mass Of graft from
end to end"
Graft"
Nothing else In the world. sir. The
full details can't tell, for don't know
them, but ] have a very fair idea OF
how matters have been going. Col.on
nallyt for what he could make out Of It.
legitlmately or otherwise. He has {
criminal recordp'
"Colson hasT
believe that he's been making more OF
less OF an honest living for years; but
suppose this was too much for him. Al
any rate. Mr.. Grafton, that is the fact
well. and from what have learned
Colson has been making q very goot
thing all through the buslness--on con,
tracts and rake-offs and SO on. He
was involved In some Of It with Brady
In a very quiet fashion. and after 9
time they got to talking over possi
matter ] cannot say. either; but be-
tween them they shaped plan-th,
plan that has been worked out"
To, "To steal the papers"
Grafton shook his head.
so Brady was In 1t as well! In
afraid my, faith in human nature hai
been misplaced. Go on"
| . iuty uIu not KNOW now 10 go abOu
1t. The notes and the bonds and al
were, OF course. In the safe deposit
vaults at the bank, and, consequently
where they never could be reached. il
was q week or 30 ago that Brady toel
me aside one day, when I went to hi.
office. and broached the subject.
I'm not saying 1t to excuse myself
Mr.. Grafton. for nothing can do that,
said Jennison: but I did refuse the
offer he made at the time and an,
nounced my intention of revealing tn,
Il BRADY was furious. He wouldn't LEI
|, me out of the ofhce--indeed, 1 fav,
sometimes doubted II I was not Ar
serious danger. that day. He promised
TO make Kenyonville too hot to hole
!. me II told you. On the other hand
he promised me large sum n woult
heip him and Colson."
How much?" said Grafton, angriIy
Jennison avoided hi1 gaze.
TT was 800, 900. sir"
And I've trusted you with more thai
that--fool that was!"
p "You can't make me secs the matte,
In any worse light than ] see It now,
, [ SAID Jennison,! wretchedly, II under
: stand what a contemplate cur I am
Mr.. Grafton, and Tn doing what littl,
al can 10 atone for IT,"
II well. we compromised upon m,
promise not TO mention the AFFAIR, ant
Q left. I don't know how ] faced yu,
: for a week every day, with that o,
my mind. However, day before yester
. / day Brady was waiting for me at moo
y u,ba 7 % I,tr, To ~.