People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1893 — ALITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS

By SSMORTON.

CHAPTER Vll.— Continued. North nodded carelessly and .stood for a moment contemplatively gazing out of the window; then, summoning all his resolution, he quietly approached the door and entered the private office of North and Wescott. His first impression was of a rather luxuriously furnished chamber, with easy chairs, a whist table, a shelf of novels and other similar adjuncts to relieve the severely legal aspect of the place. But before he could glance critically or comprehensively around the office, his attention was arrested, his faculties were absorbed by a startling discovery. Behind one of the desks, and evidently in rightful possession thereof, he saw an awkwardly bent figure, a familiar shock of dark brown hair, a familiar pair of English whiskers and eyeglasses. Tossing down his pen after affixing a few hairline flourishes to the signature that he had just scrawled on the paper before him, Mr. Wescott suddenly straightened up and met North’s astonished gaze. “By Jove!” was North’s mental ejaculation as he surveyed his brother’s partner with mingled emotions. “It’s Wee!” “What’s the matter, North?” demanded that gentleman, leaning forward with both elbows on the desk, resting his chin on one hand and directing a keen glance at North through his eye-glasses. “Oh, nothing at all, Wee. I thought I would drop in for a few moments and see how you were,” said North, as he threw himself into an easy chair oppo-

site Mr. Wescott and coolly returned his scrutiny. “Quite a condescension!” growled Wee, sarcastically. “Seen old Archer this morning?” “Oh, come now, Wee, why are you forever thrusting old Archer fipon me?” began North, waving his hand with an air of languid protest. “Because you’re so confoundedly negligent that you’ll not attend to anything of the sort unless it is kept before your mind,” retorted Wee’, sharply. “Oh, is that it? You take my interests very much to heart, Wee,” observed North with an indolent drawl which, as he perceived with secret satisfaction, was particularly exasperating to Mr. Wescott. “It isn’t your interests,” returned Wee, shortly. “It’s my own, which are being sacrificed by my business connection with you.” “My dear fellow, you don’t say so!” exclaimed North, lifting his eyebrows with innocently amazed inquiry. “It’s a fact! You are standing in my light as well’ as your own, and I say it’s a shame to sacrifice so many important interests to mere selfish indolence and mismanagement Here’s this note to Archer; no one with any sense would have indorsed for Amity, but you •wouldn’t listen to my advice, and so

you became surety for a man who finally rewarded you by running away when the note fell due and leaving you to settle with Archer. It’s a swindle, pure and simple, on Amity’s part, but since you’ve assumed the obligation you ought it in a prompt and busi-ness-like way. Instead of this, you have put old Archer off from time to time, always promising to attend to the matter and never doing it, till now the note is overdue by goodness knows how long, and the old fellow is raising the dickens about it all over town. If you imagine that you can manage, or rather mismanage your affairs in this way without injuring the credit of yourself and everyone else who is unfortunate enough to have any business connections with you, then you are vastly mistaken. It’s an outrage, North, and I protest against it!”

Mr. Wescott’s temper had gotten decidedly the better of him during this address, and the fact that he could elicit no response from North only increased his irritation. With a mighty effort restraining his strong desire to pitch the senior partner out of the office, the ruffled junior continued in a voice that trembled with suppressed wrath: “It’s all very well, Mr. North, for you to assume this air of indifference —it’s all very well for you to ignore my frequent advice and remonstrance; but in the very nature of things this cannot go on forever. If you are determined to let your credit go to the dogs, I must refuse it the company of mine. Ido not share your sublime disregard of public opinion, and my standing among business men is a matter of great importance to me. If this sort of thing goes on much longer I’ll dissolve partnership—l swear I will!” “Will you?” inquired North, provokingly. “Don’t, Wee; what would become of me?”

This was too obviously a satire, and Mr. Wescott’s anger rose to a white heat; but smothering it sufficiently to mutter: “It’s all very well, but there’ll be an end to it before long!” he returned savagely to his writing and vouchsafed no further answer to North. The silence which thereupon ensued was as welcome to the latter as Wee’s merciless attack had been unexpected. He allowed himself a few moments in which to regain his equilibrium (for, notwithstanding the calm exterior that he had succeeded in preserving, he had felt greatly disturbed by Wee’s harangue); then noticing on the desk beside him a folded newspaper, he took it up and scanned it idly. It proved to be a New York daily of recent date, and on the margin he saw Ollin’s name. Before unfolding the paper he drew from his pocket a cigar, and lighted it, so entirely from the force of habit and the association of ideas by which, in his mind, newspapers and cigars were inseparably connected, that he was only half cons<*ous of the act. With the first puff of fragrant smoke he had finally settled himself to glance over the paper when Wee looked up and sharply addressed him. “It seems to me, North, that you are trying to carry things with a particularly high hand this morning,” he exclaimed, sneeringly. North glanced up over his newspaper with an air of surprise. “Well, what now, Wee?” he demanded, holding his cigar lazily between two fingers and throwing his head back against the cushioned chair in which he was reclining. “Oh, nothing, nothing! As one of our future city officials, you are of course privileged to ride rough-shod over everyone else!” returned Wee, with chilling sarcasm. “Ah!” thought North, smiling a little, “Wee is jealous of Noll’s political prospects. Is that the sequel at the heels of all this amiability?” Then aloud he continued, with slight impatience in his tone and manner: l, My dear Mr. Wescott, are you not a trifle unreasonable? I give you my word that I cannot imagine how I have annoyed you now.” “It seems strange,” said Wee, still with the angry sneer on his face, “that you, who were the very first to insist |hat there should be no smoking in our private office, should also be the first one to transgress the rule. Yet no, it’s in character, after all —unreasonable and inconsistent to the last degree!” North instantly rose, tossed aside the newspaper and took up his hat. He was struggling to maintain an outward gravity that should conciliate the muchoffended Mr. Wescott, while inwardly he was convulsed with amusement.

“I beg your pardon, Wee,” he said, gravely. “You are certainly justified in complaining of me in this instance; but I faithfully promise that I will never again transgress my own admirable rule. Since I cannot forego the pleasure of this cigar, I must deny myself the salutary influence of your society, painful to both of us though thq separation be; Mr. W’escott, good morning.” Wee shrugged his shoulders with an air of supreme contempt, and condescended no answer beyond an inarticulate growl which might have been translated into a very unflattering comment on North’s deportment. Nothing daunted by this gracious benediction, North retired at once from the office. “So much accomplished,” he reflected, complacently, as he regained the street. “I have located Wee and safely passed through the perilous ordeal of visiting the office, and I consider that my position is materially strengthened by both of these achieyements. And now for a more agreeable duty. I must seek an interview with Mrs. Maynard.” CHAPTER VIII. Ham.—l will speak daggers to her. —Hamlet Ant. E.—l tell you, ’twill sound harshly in her ear. —Comedy of Errors. During the time that intervened between his leaving the office and presenting himself at No. 33 Delaplaine street, North had hastily arranged the plan of his attack, his own assumptions and conclusions being the basis thereof. There was a pitiless mood beneath the suavity with which, on. reaching Mrs. Maynard’s residence, he inquired for that lady.

Williams, answering that Mrs. Maynurd was at home and at leisure, took Mr. North’s hat with an air of great solicitude, leaving that gentleman to make his own way to the drawing-room and enter unannounced. Mrs. Maynard Was quite alone there. Leaning back languidly in a crimson fauteuil, with the train of her white •ashmere morning dress sweeping in graceful folds around her, she presented a picture that struck North’s artistic fancy at once. She was partially turned from him, as he entered; and, as she rested her head thoughtfully on one slender white band, the clear, delicate profile of face and figure in its perfect repose reminded him of an exquisite piece of statuary. He involuntarily paused to contemplate her; and, proof though he was against the fatal spell of beauty, even he, the cynical North, felt a singular thrill which was all admiration, but which might have been something else had the soul of an unspoiled man been in it. Suddenly recollecting himself, North advanced toward Mrs. Maynard across the rich, velvet carpet. The scarcely audible movement aroused her from her reverie. Lifting her head quickly she met North’s eyes; a slight change came over her as she rose to receive him. She stood for an instant ***** “neither self-possessed Nor startled, but betwixt this mood and that, Divided in a graceful quiet.” A delicate flush, a faint, sweet smile, a doubtful, questioning, wondering perplexity; swiftly as a ray of light or a passing thought these changes came and went; and then, as if by magic—so

quickly that North almost doubted whether she had changed at all —a cold stateliness came into her manner, a touch of hauteur that made him feel as if an impassable distance had suddenly been put between them; as,acknowledging his greeting with a gracious formality, she said, in her low, flexible tones: “Is it possible, Mr. North? You never came more opportunely. I am suffering from ennui.” “You, Mrs. Maynard?” cried North, in gallant amazement. “Surely you should be exempt from that affliction; I thought it was the peculiar privilege of commonplace mortals like myself.” “Together with humility and all the other graces of character?” queried Mrs. Maynard, as she motioned to him to be seated and sank back languidly into the crimson depths of her fauteuil. “I always knew, Mr. North, that the latter were your peculiar privilege and possession.” “Is sarcasm an infallible antidote for ennui?” inquired North, as he wheeled a chair forward slowly and seated himself near Mrs. Maynard, while his eyes held hers steadily for a full moment by their direct, quizzical glance. “If so, Mrs. Maynard, proceed. Your most cruel satires will sound in my ears like sweetest music.” “Then I shall have no inducement to utter them. You quite disarm me, Mr. North. Besides, some mysterious intuition warns me that you have come this morning for something of far greater importance than a mere passage at arms. What is it, Mr. North? Word from'New York at last? Ah! 1 see that lam right! Tell nie at once, please, is the news favorable? Oh, it must be —I cannot endure the thought of disappointment!” The delicate color that had flushed into her cheek deepened now and her dark eyes were sparkling with excitement as, clasping her hands daintily, she looked up at North with a bewitching expression of hope and suspense. A peculiar emotion which was neither pity nor remorse, yet curiously resembling both, held North silent for a brief time; then, with his grave, keen glcnce resting on Mrs. Maynard, he answered, in a low tone:

“Unhappily for me, Mrs. Maynard, it has been beyond my power to control this case or determine the results to suit ourselves. But, whatever we may have to regret, our suspense on at least one point is ended, and on this we may well congratulate ourselves.” An expression of dismay, .succeeded quickly by incredulity, swept over Mrs. Maynard’s countenance. Leaning forward in her chair, she exclaimed, imperiously: “You are speaking in riddles, Mr. North! Pray tell me, to what important announcement are these vague and general observations the prelude?” “Why—ah—in fact, Mrs. Maynard, nothing could be worse;” and North, after vainly casting about for some happy phraseology by which to soften the intelligence, now plunged recklessly into the explanation. “Nothing could be worse than the news that Hopkins and Shepherd have sent us. It is my duty to inform you that a decision was reached in our case on Wednesday.” “A decision at last! and what is it?” “A deathblow to your hopes and to mine, Mrs. Maynard. We have suffered a total defeat!” As he spoke, in a cool, deliberate way, Mrs. Maynard sank back in her chair as if quite overcome by the announcement. Quickly rallying, however, she exclaimed, in resolutely incredulous tones: “Then we have lost our case? Oh, Mr. North, how can this have happened? We were so well fortified at every point, even granting their claims concerning the niece to be correct; so you have repeatedly assured me yourself, Mr. North —so Hopkins and Shepherd have reiterated again and again!”

A grim little smile crept upward from the drooping ends of North’s mustache and just illuminated for an instant the sharp glance of his eyes. When he spoke his tones seemed full of mocking sarcasm. “Well fortified? So we did appear to be. It was a strong case until the tearing and rending of our opponents began; then our really unsubstantial fabric went to tatters in an instant.” “Mr. North, what do you mean?” demanded Mrs. Maynard, while her beautiful eyes grew darker stilt with alarm and excitement. “Let me know the whole truth—the-worat that there is to tell! Speak plainly, if you please!” “I will do so, Mrs. Maynard, if you insist, although the plain truth is not always an agreeable thing to hear. In brief, then, the will that was put forward in support of your claim to Mrs. Dunkirk's fortune has been openly declared, and furthermore proven to be, a forgery!” “A forgery!” Mrs. Maynard repeated these words mechanically, as if she were unconscious of speaking aloud; then with sudden vehemence she cried: “Who says it is a .forgery! Who dares to say so? How can they prove it?” North was watching her closely, realizing with how much significance )ier words and manner at this crisis would be weighed; yet he was unable to determine the precise effect produced upon her by his announcement. That she was startled and dismayed he could of course perceive at a glance; beyond this he could not analyze her emotions Holding himself steadily in hand and continuing his watchfulness of her, he replied to her last excited w’ords with a touch of reckless nonchalance in his manner:

“Oh, the proofs are invincible, Mrs. Maynard. I, myself, see clearly now that it was very poor policy to risk that business.” He spoke at random, knowing that his first venture must be made more or less daringly in the dark; but no sooner were the words ultered than he congratulated himself that his random shot had hit the mark. “Poor policy!” repeated Mrs Maynard, in perplexed tones, while she raised her eyebrows inquiringly. “And pray, Mr. North, who sanctioned this poor “Precisely what I propose to find out,” said North to himself, with grim determination. “By strong implication, myself —or rather Noll. However, that remains to be established.”

Then to Mrs. Maynard he added, in his most conciliatory tones: “Oh, well, Mrs. Maynard, we can scarcely afford to discuss that point at the present interesting crisis. Of course, whatever has been done thus far has been undertaken with the very best intentions and a confident anticipation of success. A few days ago our position seemed tenable enough; now, however, since the case has been subjected to such a merciless examination, I see very clearly the weak and utterly untenable points. The fact is, Mrs. Maynard, that forgery, as I now perceive, was far from skillfully contrived, and the best we can say so the perpetrators thereof”—he paused just for an instant here, with a meditative little laugh, while he mentally commented: “There! I got over that very ndatly!”—“is, that it proves them to be rather inexperienced in such work. Now, let me go over the whole ground, Mrs. Maynard,” he added more seriously, “and point out to you the fatal discrepancies that ed to our de—defeat.” He had commenced to say “detection,” but just as the word was trembling on his lips he substituted for it the more non-committal term. Mrs. Maynard having assented silently to his proposition, he proceeded at once to his critical review of the forged will. Ito be continued.]

[Copyrighted, 1891, by S. S. Morton, and published by special arrangement.]

SUBVEYED HIS BROTHER’S PABTNER.

LEANING BACK LANGUIDLY.