Year: 1876

nv Ivy AeAAh Va A-A&Ns AA-g ONAAz
closed for the day the young cashier
thereof retired as usual to his daintily
furnished lodgings In the upper part of
the building. there to entertain himself
for while over books or papers and
then don the apparel suitable for hotel
supper table and evening calls. Several
private letters were upon his table await
ing persual, and one of these attracted
his particular attention by its unfamil-
lar and feminine handwriting The
contents commanded his reading more
than once, for they were an appeal from
a stranger to his courtesy and from a
woman to his generosity. The writer,
in as few words as possible, spoke of
herself as having arrived in Erie only a
few days before in the hope of procuring
loan from the bank upon certain secur-
tiles which constituted her widows dow
er. She had visited the bank in expec-
tation of an interview with the president,
but found her courage unequal to the
attempt, for, without speaking, she had
gone out again, though not until she
had noticed the kindly countenance of a
gentleman who was subsequently named
TO her as the cashier. For reason which
she could scarcely explain to herself that
countenance had encouraged her to ad-
dress its possessor in the present unwon-
ted manner and to beg his kind Office in
her behalf with the bank. She knew
nothing about business, had no mascu-
line relative or friend to call upon for
aid or advice, and was stranger in a
strange city on an errand absolutely be-
yond her power. Despair made her
bold to expose upon the chivalry of Mr.
Edward J. Warren, who, at such a mum
Der on such street. might find the visitor
of this poor appeal.


Mary Kinnaird was the name signed
to this somewhat vague missive, and
Warren poundered the latter with SEN
sations of mingled surprise and curios
ity. He remembered noticing vailed
woman Of graceful figure, who had ad


ruptly turned back from walking int
the bank during the day, and doubted
not that she was the author of the note
He was vain with the not unnatura
self-conceit Of cOmely youth who's,
position and manners had secured hin
high feminine favor in local society, anC
the promise of romance in the appeal o


his new correspondent was very tempt


ing. In short, he decided to see tn


lady forthwith. Repairing, after suppe


at his hotel, to a tasteful mere toy of


cottage in the environs, as directed, b


found there the young widow of the not


and her securities. The latter small il


amount but good of their kind, he though


might be negotiated the former, intel


ligent, graceful, and unaffected, he wa


delighted to find ready to receive an


trust him as friend.


Thus romantically began an acquair


tance which ran on with further notabl


incident for several weeks. Mrs. Xii
4 naird rented the little cottage until th


business calling her to the city shoul
be finally settled, and in that time SUI


prised the cashier by two calls upon hi
in his room over the bank. On one
! these extraordinary occasions her excu;


was that she had an Unsuitable woman
4 ly curiosity to see what bank vaul
t were like, and Mr. Warren politely e


corted her down stairs and explaine
I the mysteries of locks and iron doors.


As she had previously preserved t
ward him certain modest reserve in a
o their interviews, he was yet more anna
IS ed when, on the very next evening, 81
" again presented herself at his lodgiI


and, after much frivelity of discours
: asked him to send for bottle of win
. !, In this growing faulty he assented. al
had scarcely drained his first glass VIII
2, his strangely changed companion strur
IS an odd vein Of conversation. Did


remember that about six months ago
a lad had entered the bank and request
him to change fifty dollar bill ? u
" he recalled the matter perfectly. I
~ bill was counterfeit and he hasten
IS after the lad and caused his arresi
" Yes, of course, but why this questioning


Bewildered by the woman strange loo
le as we'll as words, the young man wOu
= = fain have demanded explanation, but
OF speech suddenly became thick and drea
J. ful stupor crept over his senses. ''TE
le boy would not tell where he got the bl
ne and on your evidence. Edward Ware
of he was convicted and sentenced to SO


tary confinement for seven years.
al is my brother, and | am here to aver
Mt him p Such were the words heard
be the hapless bank cashier as be sank 81
ad seless under the wine which the speal
- - had drugged for him


an When Warren recovered his cOnsciO
y ness fremen we're dragging him from
ad smoke which had aseended thiekly
- his room from the bank below, for


latter had been in flames. Upon
z = r :