The Washington herald., 1916-06-11

I'm as much to blame as he. ! should
have watched him more closely. l.
Nonsense" returned Turnbull.
You've stood between him and trouble
a million times: but this time you can't"
Perhaps can." was the stesdy an
swer. as an odd light came into the
brothers sorrowful eyes.
You can'tp' contredicted Tunbull.
You are mistaken" said Henry.
'There is one thing can do. And II
necessary I shall do ii. You handed
those bonds to me. handed them to
Hugh. At least, I just said I did. If
worst comes to worst, I'll tell the police
You're insanei" said Turnbull,
sghast.
Perhaps. But that Is what shall do.
Unless you give me your solemn prom
tse not to prosecute Hugh"
My-my promise not to prosecutor?
TUNED Turnbull. IT am going to
You are going to refuse to prose-
cute" said Henry. with quiet assur-
ance that startled Turnbull. You are
going to promise me that. II you don't
promise 1t / shall confess to the theft
myself"
mo one would believe such an idiotic
storyr'
mo? My experience is that everyone
believes man who confesses to crime.
And, in any case, the evidence is as
much against me as against Hugh. He
will deny, l shall confess. And we'll both
be believed. Nor wifi 1t be light mat
ter for you. because people will think
the amount / embezzled is far more than
this $4,000"
You would do this?' sputtered Turn
bull. You would blackmail me into
promising mercy to thief? tt"
tIf the THAT he IN he IN
brother, yes"
But / have trusted you. ] am as fond
OF you as II you were my own son-as
hope one day you may be. You would
shake my firms credit by saying"
You must give me your word not
to prosecute, persisted Henry. Not only
for your own sake, but for the sake of
our father who was your friend"
Turnbull threw up both hands in sulky
surrender.
Have It your own way" he snapped.
II promise. But you'll let me scare him
a little first for his own good. I'll make
the police find hir-i and bring him back.
I'll let him think I'm going to press
the charge. Do you agree to that?"
Yes" said Henry regrettully, after
brief pause.
He needs a lesson. The fear Of prison
will help him to keep away from tempta-
ton in future. Let the police find him
and bring him here. Let him believe
you will send him to prison. Then set
him free and give him another chance. "
Another chance?" echoed Turnbur.
DO you mean another chance in my
office? Another chance to rob me?"
He is not a thief at heart. He was
tempted beyond his strength. The lesson
of flight and capture will give him a
horror of theft and OF the laziness and
dissipation that lead to theft. You will
have no better or more honest employe
than Hugh when your discipline has done
Its work"
"Tll-Tn think it over" said Tu-nbull
grudgingly.
"One thing more" persisted Henry
From the time I came here, fifteen
years ago, you've advised me in the IN
vestment Of my salary and my inheri-
tance; and this advice has enabled me to
turn my money over faster than most
men of my age. So I can make good to
YOU on my brothers defalcation-on every
cent Of IT"
Wait till he is caught before we dis
cuss that. Perhaps the police can bring
him back before ne has time to convert
the bonds into cash. Hugh left no note
CT goodby, l suppose? A sentimental
young fool like that would be apt to-"
II think I'd have seen it If he had.
| looked pretty thoroughly through
everything. I'll look again.
Henry left the inner office, closing the
door behind him. and crossed to the safe,
As he was bending over to open it, he
heard voice in the corridor that brought
him TO his feet. staring in dull amaze
ment. Into the outer Office arm in arm,
came Hugh and Marjorie Their faces
were alight with happiness.
Hugh" cried Henry, dumfounded, as
he stood gaping DULY at his jubiIant
brother.
Listen old chap" cried Hugh, in glad
triumph. I've got a whale of a secret
to tell you. We're married. Marjorie
and l."
Henry staggered back a step as though
he had been struck across the face. He
went deadly ] ale and his strong body
shook in every nerve. Forcing the words
from his lips, he demanded:
Where are the bonds? What have
you done with them"
THE bonds?" repeated Hugh. in a be-
wilderment that his brothers disordered
senses twisted into an aspect of guilt.
What bonds
THE police are after you" said Henry,
stung to anger by what he regarded as
Hugh's attempt to deny his guilt. They
are searching the city for you, at this
minute. The"
The police?' quavered Hugh. chang
ing color For me IL don't under
stand"
THE police?" echoed Marjorie.
Henry turned on her in a sudden fame
of anger.
Your dear husband, he said hotly,
has stolen a packet of bonds, whose
face value is $4,000. The proof against
him is complete. Mr.. Turnbull has noti-
fed the police. They are looking for
him. 1t is a miracle they didn't nab him
when you and he came in. Probably
they were not expecting him to return
here. They"
1T is not true" flashed Marjorie. as
wrathful as Henry. There is not one
word Of truth in 1t! Hugh she cried.
turning to her bridegroom. Tell him it
Is not true"
1T is true" reiterated Henry
And briefly he set forth the evidence
against his brother. As the chain of
circumstances was completed Marjorie
shrank back with a gasp of dismay. The
confusion of innocence is much the same
as the confusion of guilt to the onlooker.
And Hugh, listening to the recital, was
dumfcunded. In vain he protested his in
nocence. Marjorie noted his dilated ewes,
his deadly pale and sweating face, his
trembling hands. 1t all seemed con-
firmation of Henry's mercilessly logi-