Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-05-06
low was AM uncommonly elever rascal:

Ch tHis particular day, Mr.. &
sat in his private office long after the
hour for closing, aimlessly lingering
the telegram he had received from his
son, but i~ntently considering the days
report from Adam Carr. 1t was begin
ming to enter his mind that Carr was
not competent to handle a case so baf-
fling as this appeared to be. He was
wondering II it would not be a wise
move to dismiss him and employ u
Boston man who, it appears, had caught
a very clever defaulter after chasing
him for three years. But as Horace
was a prompt man In everything, he
was bound to admit that he was averse
TO hiring a MAJ who was so slow as all
that. He had talked it over with the
cashier and three of the directors. and
they had advised hiring the Boston
That was another reason why
he hesitated.
Carr's report for the day brought
nothing new to his impatient mind. The
ex-teller was behaving in a most
circumspect manner. There was no evil
dence that he gambled, specialized, or
kept a woman in New York. Payson
had not visited New York in two years
SO far as Adam Carr could learn, and
Horace was forced to admit that If he
had a paramour at all, she must be in
New York. She couldn't be in Cor
NTH.
The telephone on his desk rang. He
put the receiver to his ear with me-
chanical precision and said: Yes"
The voice that came out of the little
black tube was 50 loud and vibrant that
his eyelids twitched with pain; he held
the receiver a little farther away. 1t al
ways annoyed him to have anyone
shout In his ear. A look of surprise
followed Immediately. Eric Midthorne
was speaking.
yes, | am still here" replied Mr..
I Ria pHoy, abyHyInt l., ~ %, 4 A--.a
for a momen to the strident, excited
voice and then cut in with the curt re-
mark: ut isn't necessary to shout. ]
can hear you. Yes, | will wait
here If it is important. But don't be
long about 1t. Come up IL you must
see me-"
Three minutes later Eric burst into
the room without SO much as a tap on
he mahogany door.
Dear me, Eric, is this the way to
enter a room?" demanded Horace, in
that mild tone of reproof that never
failed to hurt more than a sharp repri-
mand.
Eric's. face was as white as chalk. He
came directly to the desk, but many
seconds elapsed before he could force
words through his twisted lips. Horace
stared at the boys %convulsed face in
actual surprise.
Uncle Horace" began Eric hoarse-
~ ~ was Wy oNl IlS lIlal LOOK the
prize. DO o know that? 1t was my
drawing. / have just seen it."
Mr.. Blagden's brow darkened: his
grey eye narrowed and seemed to turn
black as coal.
"What are you saying?" he demand
ed.
Eric struck the desk a violent blow
with his clenched fist. His ewes shot
fire.
1T was my drawing! Chetwynd stole
it.'
Horace opened his eyes very wide.
A look that no one had ever seen in
them before grew as he stared. with
parted lips. at him who uttered those
awful words. He closed his lips sudden
ly to hold back The gush of ice water
that seemed to fill his mouth. He swal-
lowed. and the chill spread through
out his body. He did not realize it at
the moment, but afterwards ne was to
recall that he was experiencing the first
touch of a blighting fear from which
he was never afterwards to be free;
the fear of Chetwynd.
In an instant, he was himself again.
a bit greyer than before perhaps, cut
quite as auStere.
What do you mean, sir, by striking
my table in that manner? Try to gov
ern yourself, sir, or leave the room" He
chose to resent the boys actions, rath-
er than his words. Afterwards, In an
alysing his emotions, he came to &C
knowledge a shameful weakness in
shrinking from h real attack.
" swear. Uncle Horace, so help me
God. that the drawing sent in by Chef
wynd is the n l made. 1 have never
seen the one that bears my name.
never drew 1t. oh. 1t was a dirty trick!
1t was fiendish! Uncle, you've Just got
to s~traighten it out. He took my draw
ing. l don't know how or when, but 1t
4 tr les, <loA lr, ~ 49, - ~
at the library"
Tears Of rage and despair filled his
eyes.
Mr.. Blagden had himself well in hand
by this time.
You are making a very serious
charge against your cousin. Eric" he
said levelly. II cannot permit you to
go on In this way. You"
"But 1t is true!" cried Eric wildly
II swear it's true!"
do not interrupt me. Why should
I believe what you say? How could
Chetwynd have come into possession
Of your drawing? You kept it under
lock md key; you presented it to the
committee with our own hands, die
you not? You would hardly go SO ia,
as to accuse the honorable judges OF
substituting one drawing for the other
of placing my sons name IN your work
or allowing him to do so, IL 1t could
have gone that far"
But 1t is my drawing and Il has his
name on 1t. 1t wasn't there when j
submitted the design to Mr.. Porter, the
librarian"
% 0 consider this a sportsman
like manner In which to AXE defeat q
demanded Horace sneeringly.
II don't consider 1t a defeat, Uncle
Horace" said Eric deliberately. my
drawing won the prize
Mr.. Blagden's stern gaze wavered
eve SO slightly.
IT you placed your drawing in Mr.
Porter's hands, then what. may l ask
inspires o to make this deliberate
charge against my son? 1t isn't likely
he could have wished his name to APP
pear pom 1t. to have it appear there
as II by magic. This is not the age OF
Aladdin"
II can't understand 1t any more thar
you. sir, but 1t is true, just the same
cried Eric doggedly. "Mr. Porter rays
that no one touched the drawings"
Then will you be good enough te
tell me how Chetwynd could have done
this thing you accuse him OF doing p
demanded Mr.. Blagden ~sternly.
II think 1t was done beforeI submit
ted the drawing" said Eric.
Oh was his uncle's expressive
Icomment.
II Or .,.-.-.-.S ~ 49, .--s Aa -ALn