The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-07-01

''''lt ~ a very tIG4udIs messenger
boy, and It was altogether very
plain. businesslike document. But
its effect on the already discouraged
business man could not have been
worse if it had been dropped from
above by a winged messenger Of the
gods Of financial ruin:
VI Russell Irwin.
CITY
C,oar s,r-As Mr. Clay ,,t,sa 20 Apply
y an extension last might hay. placed
~ collection. d." note / hold against II
w & clay for a loan ~ $4,000 Out of
SET - s."'I' and SUNDAY. rn%,. 70: ~r must
Dazed and stunned. and seemingly
bending under weight OF suddenly
added years. Irwin CROPPED angrily for
the telephone and in an imperative
tone CALLED for his partners house
number.
Hello. Clay. this you Well. hurry
down-While you have been dallying
at home We have gone undcr-we're
ruined - completely smashed
This was the message that had
startled Clay at his late breakfast.
Irwin wasted no time in prelimi-
naries when Clay hurriedly entered
the firms luXuriousIy furnished pri-
vate Offices.
Fine business" he shouted, angrily
showing the letter at his junior part
ner. Fine business this. missing an
appointment Of such importance: neg
lcCting to secure the extension Of that
note; fine business"
Clay. confused and ashamed. an
swered nothing.
"Oh. Edgar, Edgar. | trusted you"
continued the other man. My only
folly has been that | placed any re-
sponsibility on you. And this is the
result. Why didn't YOU get the extern
sion on that note?"
Il forgot" began Clay in schoolboy
fashion Il forgot. | meant to at
tend to To tell you the truth
started forNeals Office. but | met
some of the heys there and IL.
well. | made a Hight of it. forgot
business and everything else. /
well. you know my weakness, Rus
sell"
Yes. | know your weakness. |
know, too, that you inherited i. from
your poor, dead father. Perhaps you
are not entirely to blame. | should
har-n hattnr hon 10
so important a detail to you.
Il might have known what the re-
suit would be; | might have known.
You were drunk and we are ruined"
Earnestly but without passion the
two men entered into a discussion OF
ways and means.
So earnestly were they engaged IN
conversation that neither heard the
entrance of Isabelle. Her manner, wss
stlIl nervous and the agI,c,sd state-of
her mind was betrayed. if in no other
way. by the restless flash in her eve
and the quick. sharp jerk of her
words
Il hope I'm not intruding. gentle
men"
They both started.
One look at Isabelle's frankly open
countenance assured them that she
had not overheard their discussion
and both men breathed more easily.
Il came to get some money. Ed
gar"
But your allowance. child" in
terposed the father. You've drawn
it in advance now"
Il know, father, but | lost it.
played at Cora's-at Mrs. Blake's, and
now, unless | can get some money at
once, my name will be ruined. sim
ply must pay my gambling debts.
They are debts OF honor and must be
met"
Perhaps II Isabelle had made her
demand at more OppOrtune time:
perhaps IL Clay had been less harsh
in his refusal. old King Folly might
have been foiled; might have lost two
promising victims. and what follows
might never have been written.
Il can't give you a cent, Isabelle"
he shouted, and IL you foolishly gam
BILE again, I'll repudiate your debts"
Very well, Edgar" she answered
coldly, what follows will be on YOUR
own head" And haughtily. majestic
ally-like a queen of tragedy-she
swept from the room, leaving the two
men still more depressed to wrestle
with their problem-a problem that
seemed without answer. And there
we too. will leave them for the pres
ent.
Peter West lay dying. And the Sc
cret that was dying with him grew
heavy on his conscience. At the very
time that Edgar Clay and his partner
were seeking to pierce the black pail
OF ruin that was slowly pressing down
on them, he was seeking to penetrate
the still blaCker curtain Of the future
seeking to know his fate.
I didn't do it; | didn't have anv.
thing to do with it. God knows I'm
innocent" he mumbled over and over
10 himself.
The nurse leaned over him.
Did you CALI" she asked.
1t was nothing" he feebly an.
swered. Il was talking to myself.
i didn't 90 It. God knows It's moth |
ing on my soul-Im innocent-inno-
cent-innocent"
But the still small voice could not be
Ard so Peter Man. honI