Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-04
"Yes | Know Your Weakness, You
We're Drunk and We are Ruined :"

Were Drunk and We are Ruined !"
added years, Irwin CROPPED angrily
FOR the telephone and in an impera-
tive tone called for his partners
house number.
Hello, Clay, this you? Well, hurry
down-while you have been dallying
at home we have gone undeE-we're
ruined-completely smashed"
This was the message that had
startled Clay at his late breakfast;
this was the message that had sent
him hurriedly downtown, his head
ache increasing with every step to
the curb, his burning temples throb-
bing in unison with the engine OF his
car.
Irwin wasted no time in prelimi-
naries when Clay hurriedly entered
the firms luxuriously furnished pri-
vate Offices
Fine business" he shouted, angrily
showing the letter at his junior part
ner. Zine business this, missing an
appointment of such Importance;
neglecting to secure the extension of
that note; fine business"
Clay, confused and ashamed, an
swered nothing.
"oh, Edgar, Edgar, trusted you"
continued the older man. my only
folly has been that I placed any re-
sponsibility in you. And this is the Re-
suit. Why didn't you get the extern
sion on that note? ?"
II forgot" began Clay in schoolboy
fashion, II forgot. I meant to at
tend - 1t. To tell you the truth I
started for Meals office. but I met
some of the boys there and Ill,
we'll, I made a night of 1t. I forgot
business and everything else. L
well, you know my weakness. Rus
sell"
"Yes, I know your weakness. I
know, too. that you inherited it from
your poor, dead father. Perhaps you
are not entirely to blame. 1 should
have known better than to have left
80 important detail to you.
II might have known what the re-
suit would be; I might have known.
YOU WERE DRUNK AND WE ARE
RUINED"
II hope I'm not intruding, gentle,
men,"
They both started. In the doorway
stood Clay's wife.
One look at Isabelle's frankly open
countenance assured them that she
had not overheard their discussion
and both men breathed more easily.
II they had any doubts as to their
belief. they We're quickly dispelled bI
her next remark
gar"
But your allowance, child?" in.
terposed the father. You've drawn
1t in advance now"
A scarlet flush slowly overspread
the young matron's features as she
hung her head.
II know, father, but I lost 1t. J
played at Cora's at Mrs. Blake's
and now, unless can get some money
at once. my name will be ruined.
simply must pay my gambling debts
They are debts of honor and must bG
met
Perhaps II Isabelle had made hei
demand at a more opportune time.
perhaps If Clay had been less harsh
in his refusal, old King Folly mighl
have been foiled; mig ht have lost two
promising victims, and what followi
might never have been written. Such
is the weakness Of man, however, suct
is the frailty OF human nature, thai
forgetting entirely for the moment
that his own folly of the day before
bankruptcy; forgetting that more
than half of his wife's folly might
justly be laid at his own door; for.
getting everything but his boiling, un.
reasoning rage. Edgar lashed himseli
into blind fury.
II can't give you a cent, Isabelle, u
he shouted, land If you foolishly
gamble again, I'll repudlate your
debts
"very we'll, Edgar" she answered
coldly, what follows will be on your
own head" And haughtily, majestic.
ally-like . queen of tragedy-shC
swept from the room, leaving the tive
men still more depressed to wrestl,
with their problem problem thai
seemed without answer And thert
we, too, will leave them for the pres.
ent.
CHAPTER III.
Peter West lay dying. And tht
secret that was dying with him grew
heavy on his conscience. At the verJ
time that Edgar Clay and his partner
were seeking to pierce the black pal
of ruin that was slowly pressing down
on them. he was seeking to penetrate
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