The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1920-06-18
A
Wild Night
BY ESTHER WALDORF
MESSENGER
Copyright, 1919. by the Western News-
paper Union.)

! covered interest, ana possibly some
thing deeper in the face OF the only
daughter and heiress of his employer,
Robert Drury. The very fact that sh6
was such, however seemed to place
| them. He was therefore contented
with a mere casual look at face rath-
or intellectual than lovely although
the eyes were deep wells Of express
sion liFely to attract the seeker after
real heart worth and fidelity.
Victor held only fairly paid posi-
ton in the establishment of Drury &
CO., but he stayed on, making up for
! the boredom of routine days by spend
/ ing leiSurely evenings as enjoyably as
! possible.
Miss airline Drury had visited the
plant occasionally. 1t happened af'
| ter Victors first sight of her that she
came more frequently. She had pass
ed his desk several times and hestow'
I'd upon him the slight nod she award.
/ ed all whom she selected as knowing
! by sight. He was passing down
narrow roadway between two build
ingS of the plant one Nay, when
dashing into its other end came a
team of horses attached to wagon
loaded with iron. AT q glance Victor
recognized a runaway and fifty feet
| ahead his vision took in grlish form
shrinking to the brick wall. Victor
realized her danger. He swiftly dash
cd toward her, snatched at her sway
ing form, backed into niche where
there was a door, burst it in with a
powerful lungo Of his stout shoulders,
and held her shivering and overcome.
! For just moment the grateful, expires.
sive eyes Of the girl held his own in
thrall. Then he recognized her as the
daughter of his employer.
1--WE can pass through the store
room to the Office, if you please" he
said. Airline Drury, pale and trem-
bling, bowed an assent and he left
her as they entered the office building.
The next day Victor was sent for by
Mr. Drury. The latter did not relax
from his habitual cold dignity, but in
a business like tone announced to Vic
tor his promotion to higher position.
AS Victor went back to his desk young
Ernest Drury followed him. He WIS
II mere lad, but there was deep sim
cerity in his bearing as he graspcd
Nictor's hand.
"My sister told me to convey her
deep gratitude to YOU for saving her
life" he said, land she,-she asked
me tG tell YOU she will not forget"
There was thrill in the boys tones,
hut the momentary impress of emotion
passed from Nictor's mind. He and
ZONE boon companions had arranged
!or a meeting and late. hours that
evening and his thoughts We're CEN
tered on that. 1t was wild night,
.or some registering members of the
cotere INDUCED freely in strong
drink, an adjournment was made to n
place where gambling was going on
and Victor found himself in his room
the next morning with no recollection
of how he had arrived there.
He was mortified, then shamed and
rcppntaut, and then. as his memory
cleared startled and appalled,. With
the vividncss of lightning flash there
required to him the events of the pre-
vous evening. He had fallen into the
hands of a group of card sharks and
, had been induced to risk the money
he had, and then he had Endorsed Il
,iraft given to him for collection and
aad signed the name of his employer
70 a check for large amount. He
recalled the man who had lured him
into this net of peril and guilt. His
name was Jackson, and, realizing that
ne was In n terrible position, his rep
utatiOn gone, his future blasted, Vic
:or hurried on his clothes to seek
Jackson. There was a knock at the
door of his room. Serious faced. En-
nest Drury entered.
"Mr. Lind" he said there are some
papers you had better destroy and for
get. | have no explanation to make.
1 Come as emissary of another, when
l am not free to name, Aand who ex-
presses the hope that you will never
again yield to the influence of those
who last night nearly led to your
ruin"
Then the visitor was gone Victor
stood staring in startled bewilderment
at the draft and check he had given
Jackson. Then conception of his
narrow escape from ruin overcame
him. He sank to his knees beside
his bed and arose penitent and CRATE
full man, resolved never again to skirt
the delusive path of guilty pleasure
After that, young Drury seemed to
put himself out Of the way to act
friendly and helpful toward Victor, but
never would he discuss the matter OF
the forged documents. AS If quite in
cidentaliy he invited Victor to the
Drury home, and within half-year
Victor was engaged to Airline Drury
1t was just after their first child
was born that Victor came across the
papers that revealed to him that Ar
line had loved him from the first time
she met him, that to her was due his
rapid advancement in business and his
rescue from the power of scheming
gamblers. He replaced the papers
reverently. He never told of their
discovery, but the inspiration of the
same gave to his life new devoted