The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1920-03-04
4.
Wild Night
gap
BY ESTHER WALDORF
u MESSENGER
Ru ESTHFP WALDO
Copyright. 1912. by the Western News
sasN paper Union)


sasN paper union.)
IT Victor !1nd hafsf glanced twice at
Miss Airline Drury, hAsinight have dis
covered interest, and possibly some
thing deeper in the face of the only
daughter and heiress of his employer
Robert Drury. Hie.yery fact that she
was such, however, seemed to place
an insurmountable barrier between
them. He WIS therefore contented
| with q mere casual look at face rath-
er intellectual than lovely, although
the eyes Were deep wells of EXPIRES
sion likely to attract the seeker after
real heart worth ana fidelity.
Victor held only fairly paid posi-
ton in The establishment OF Drury K
Co., but lie stayed on, making up for
the boredom of routine days by spend
ing leisurely evenings as enioyably as
possible.
Miss Airline Drury had visited the
| plant occasionally. 1t happened ar
ter Victors first sight Of her that she
came more frequently. She had pass.
ed his desk several times and beStow-
ed upon him the slight nod she award
I'd all whom she selected as knowing
by sight He WAS passing down
narrow roadway between two build.
ings OF the plant one day, when
dashing into its other END came Il
team of horses attached to wagon
loaded with iron. At glance Victor
recognized a runaway AMI fifty feet
ahead his vision took in girlish form
shrinking to the brick wall. Victor
realized her danger. He swiftly dash
ed toward her, sEafched at her sway
! ing FORM Backed into niche where
there was a door. burst it in with a
| powerful lunge of his stout shoulders,
and held her shivering and overcome.
| For just 4 moment the grateful, express
sive eyes of the girl held his own in
| thrall. Then he recognized her as the
daughter of his employer.
I'VE can pass through the store
room to the office, if you please" he
said. Airline Drury, pale and trcm-
! 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 4 higher position.
AS Victor went back to his desk Young
Ernest Drury followed HIM He WAS
mere lad, but there was deep sim
certify in his bearing as he graSped
yictor's hand.
"My sister told me to convey her
deep gratitude to YOU for saving her
life" he said, and shor-she asked
me to tell you She will not forget
There was a thrill in the boys tones,
hut the molhentary impress of emotion
passed from Niclor's mind. He and
some boon companions had arranged
| .or n meeting and late. hours that
| 'evening and his thoughts were cen
tered on that. 1t was wild night,
| tor some registering members of the
cotcrie INDUCED freely in strong
drink, an adjournment was made to q
| place where gambling was going Oh
and Victor found himself in his room
! the next morning with no recollection
of how he had arrived there.
lie was mortified. then Shamed and
I repcntant, and then. as his memory
| cleared. startled and appalled,. With
| the yividncsS of q lightning fash there
| recurred to him the events of the pre-
vious evening He had fallen into the
| hands of q group of card sharks and
| had been induced TO risk the money
ha had, and then he. had Endorsed
craft given to him for collection and
! aad signed the name of his employer
| TO Il check for n large amount. He
| recalled the man who had lured him
| into this net Of peril and guilt His
name was Jackson, and, realizing that
he was in n terrible position, his rep
| utation gone, his future blasted, Vie
cor hurried on his clothes to seek
| jackson. There was knock at the
| door OF his room. Serious faced, Err
nest Drury entered.
! mfr. Lind" he said, "here are some
! papers you had better destroy and for
get. ] have no explanation TO make.
] come AS ernissary of another, whom
! ! am not free to name, and 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 tlle draft and check lie had given
| Jackson. Then conception of his
! narrow escape from ruin Oyercame
! him. He sank to his knees beside
| his bed and arose pentent 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 il quite in
ridentally he invited Victor to the
I 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
MD advancement II, Inn SiunSS - nd Iiq