The Lamar register., 1916-12-13


two other evenings, Pretty Maude was
courteous to both, and Dlrand often
wondered which had made the most
progress in her regard.
Ellis Bruce came to him at noon one
day with distressing story. He
bound Durand to secrecy, and then
told him that he had lost twenty dol
lars in a "friendly game" with Joyce
and a friend He had given tho latter
his |. o. T.. feared he would hetray
him at the plant or at hoH,e and make
Ln trouble and asked purand 70
,art'y him over until next pay day.
Durund looked grave at the confess
lion. He gave Ellis some good advice,
deprecated his own discovery of the
gambling habits Of Joyce, and wrote
out a check. He had u special en-
gagement with Mnude that evening,
md felt indplgent towards the brother
of the girl he loved. Durund was
amazed when Ellis came back with The
check II was stamped ~. $. f.
which meant not sufficient funds on
deposit to pay.
Durund hurried at once to the bank.
According to his account, he had over
five hundred dollars on deposit. The
teller showed him check that had
come from city bank, bearing his ap
parent signature. and payable to cur
rcncy" At once Durund pronounced II
forgery.
lie took the check and noted the
skillful duplication of his handwriting.
saw an officer Of the bank, arranged
To draw draft on his mother for a
hundred dollars, gave Ellis the loan
he had asked for, and started for the
city to investigate the forgery. 1t
was not until he was half way there
on the train that he was sorry that
he had been so precipitate. What
would Miss Bruce think Of his fall
ure to keep his appointment? 1t was
too late to worry over that now, how
ever.
The city bank that had cnshed and
sent out the check went over the mat
ter with Durand and asked an Oppor-
tunity to investigate and run down the
person who had got the money. Du-
rand forgot all about the check the
next two or three days, for Ellis i'm
parted to him a desolatlng fact-his
sister Maude was engaged to Joyce. he
announced.
Durand was fairly heartbroken.
Some new developments, however
aroused him. Two days later Ellis
came to him with a perturbed face,
Il say, Durand," he said confiden-
tially "Aiaude has made dreadful
mistake, realizes it, and is grieving
herself to death about H. ] hadn't
ought to tell you, but that night you
broke your engagement with her she
got piqupd. out Of retaliation she
somewhat encouraged Joyce, and he
hurried her into an engagement. Du.
rand"-and Ellis grew eloquent
save her 2"
How can do that7" faltered Du.
rand
"She loves you"
"But-Joycc."
Il know. and you know that he IL
a cad-and worse. She tried to get
him to let her OF the engagement last
night, and he only smiled in his sinis-
ter way and said they should get
along very well together"
Durund was In despair. He could
hardly pose as champion in the pres
ent case. That night, however. the
problem was solved. There came %
wire from the city bank. II informed
Durand that they had run down The
person who had cashed the forged
check. He was a city gambler. who
had accepted it in good faith from
Joyce.
With n lawyer Durand went to see
Joyce the next day. He gave him his
choice between a prompt disappear
ance from the town or prosecution foI
forgery. He Impaired some other rea
sons why 1t would be impossible for
Joyce to remain among them, mas.
much as his mother was one Of the
largest stockholders in the company
and his own term Of service had beer
undertaken simply to famlliarize him.
self. with the busi-ess preparatory tc
coming in MS an official.
Joyce vanished. Maude came tC
know all Of the details of the Occa.
sion Of Durand's breaking that engage.
ment with her. The good fellow
found his way back to the paradise OF
Maude BruCcs love.