The Washington times., 1912-10-14
CHAPTER I.
The Last Straw.
all for today. Rlgdale,"
said John Isbister. the head Of
the banking house OF Isbister

said John Isbister, the head of
the banking house Of Isbister
Bros. He rose deliberately
and turned In the direction of the closet
In which he kept his hat and walking
STICK. IN be down little earlier than
usual In the morning, but for the re-
mainder Of the afternoon / must have
fses.Irest, ,s.,st, Rigdale. rest-and time to
The speaker was a man of about sixty
years OF age. His square face was al
most as white as the mutton chop
whiskers he wore. He walked unstead-
lily and his hands trembled.
white te-haired man, was the cashier Of
the firm. Today he was almost as ag-
itated as his employer.
Il hope.I do hope. sir. that things
night. II Marvin & Co. will only give
us three days more. we'll weather the
storm-I know we will, sir. We've
accommodated them in the past Sure
Isbister shook his head.
Tomorrow will tell, Rigdale," he
replied. I'VE shall see everything more
clearly tomorrow"
taking out 1sbister's hat and walking
stick gave them to- his employer.
I'VE will hope for the best, SIR" he
said, with a pitifui attempt at cherri-
That's the least and the most we
can do. Rigdale." said the other. with
q sigh.
Isbister was about to put his hand
a Jerk and a stalwart-looking man OF
about twenty-seven years Of age con-
The visitor was a little above the
medium height. He was dressed In a
suit OF dust-fecked blue serge A white
straw hat, with a blue band, was drawn
well down on his forehead. Beneath
this his gray eyes were agleam with
anger, and there was a hard express
sion on his dark, clean-shaven face.
An exclamation Of surprice fell from
Isbister's lips, and both he and Rigdaie
involuntarily retreated a step or two.
David muttered 1sbister. in q low.
You can give me two or three min.
utes Of your time. l suppose?" said the
visit shortly.
Isbister hesitated.
Your uncle is not well, Mr.. Rylance, u
the reason he is leaving so early You
will excuse him now, sir?"
II shall not detain him long" an
swered Rylance, SHARPLY.
dale" said isbister resignediy. MY
nephew has come long way to see me
1t is only fair that l should grant his
He held out his hand. but the young
man appeared not to see 1t.
Rigdale left the room with manifest
| reluctance. Isbister removed his hal
and seated himself at his desk. with his
walking stick between his knees.
When did you leave South Africa p
he asked, after the door had closed be.
hind Rigdale.
'As soon as a letter from a friend OF
Mary's informed me of her plight"
sshe is very Ill. I'm afraid"
D.ylu fan a,ht
VERY ill!' he repeated. why, man
my sister-your sisters child-is dying
She is dying because you have with
with you tor her support during my alb
sence from England"
Isbister. his lips compressed. sat II
silence for several moments.
| ''She has not suffered because of thu
lack Of necessaries." he replied a
That is false" Answered Rylanct
hotiy. "Money-loving and hard-heartet
as you have always been, you hav,
that % the time in nv would come when yot
| would deliberately do So"
Isbister's figure stifrened and his fac
"Be Careful. David" he said in a low
when I left England. five years ag'
I placed in your hands Ave Thousand
pounds-all that remained of the for
tune left by my father. I told you t.
invest this in such manner that th'
income would suffice to support my sis
ter Mary until my return.
II did SO. David"
But ] also directed that. II for an!
reason this income should be found In
sufficient for the proper maintenance o
my sister you were to draw on th'
principal and promptly advise me o
| your action.
| Isbister nodded.
That is true" he said.
six weeks ago a letter from wo
man who was unknown to me, but VIII
was a friend Of Mary's, Informed M
that my sister had fallen a victim t
consumption: that she was not receiv
ing proper medical attention; and that
unless she were taken to a more fav
orable climate she could not live 70
six months. I came here as quickly a
possible, and found that the situation
was all that the letter had Represented
Il to be. My sister has been receivinl
from you a pitiful two pounds week
Under the circumstances. ten woul
have been little enough. have com
10 you to learn why she has not re
ceived more. and why you did not motif
me OF her condition"
/ at az Ar