Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-07-17

my name II Patterson. have puf>
chased this house-or rather have ar.
ranged to purchase 1t. through Mr..
Jenkins. your agent. I have four thou
sand dollars In the Benderville bank
to meet the first installment, and you
shall have the balance of twenty-four
thousand dollars in twenty-four month
ly payments"
"But-but-" stammered Robertson.
Il understood from Mr.. Jenkins that
II you had not returned from Europe
by the time the house was decorated
was to have free residence here pend
ing your arrival. moved in three
days ago."
Robertson had never thought 90
hard before.
Tomorrow morning, Mr.. Robert
son." resumed the other, I'VE can
transfer the title-deed. II you are
agreed. I understand that 1t IL at the
bank now. And then we can sign the
agreement"
Robertson's brow cleared; he smiled
and. sitting down. bit on the end of
a cigar. OF course! What an ass he
had been so nearly to betray himself.
He had not hoped to get more than
SIS, 900 at most, and here Jenkins had
obtained three thousand dollars more.
by all means, Mr.. Patterson" he
said pleasantly. II hope you will for
give my abruptness. At what hour
will it suit you to be at the bank?"
How would eleven do?" asked Gray
beard. II can step into my lawyers
ONCE and have him meet US In the
directors room. That will enable us
to wind up the affair in a single ses-
sion"
THAT will suit me admirably" said
Robertson. His caution had been
completely overcome by avarice. 1t
would be the work Of q few minutes
only to complete the formalities and
then he would arrange to have the
monthly installments sent to London
and leave America forever. After q
few trivial remarks he rose and took
his leave cordially.
When he had gone Haynes went to
the telephone and called up police
headquarters. Afterward he tele-
phoned his banker at his residence.
well. gentlemen. here we are. !"
smiled the old man as he welcomed
Robertson in the directors room on
the following morning. "Mr. Robert.
son." he continued, you are. be-
lieve. almost q stranger here. Allow
me to introduce you to Mr.. Carpenter.
q director of the bank. Mr.. Carpen-
ter's assistants" he continued. waving
his hand comprehensively toward two
gentlemen with large. unpublished
boots. who sat behind the table rather
glumly. "Mr. Robertson-my lawyer.
Mr.. Franks. Mr.. Franks. have you the
title-deed readyr"
Franks placed 1t upon the table and
Robertson read 1t over carefully. Then
taking a pen from Carpenter. he held
It over the document,
Where shall l sign?" he asked.
You may sign here" said Franks.
But not unless you want to-" he add
ed impressively.
why. of course I want to-" said
Robertson genially. 1T isn't often .
man refuses to sign for eight and
twenty thousand dollars. IL it," He
wrote his name In Q large. legible
hand.
Then Haynes took OF his beard and
the two men rose from where they
were seated and stood one on each
side Of Robertson.
Come along" said one Of them
briskly.
Il beg your pardon!" said Robertson
briskly. Then. - he turned. he found
himself looking into the face Of
Haynes. He knew him at once. He
gasped. staggered. fell backward: and
the handouts were snapped on his
wrists.
What IL the charged" he muttered
a. they helped him to the door.
Forgery" replied the lawyer CURLY.
Robertson felt the net close round
him. How could he deny himself. he
who was known to all his friends in
Omaha a. Haynes? He could not call
on anyone in Nokomis to identify him.
He had forged his own name for $3os-
nm