Avenged At Last
COPYRIGHT, 1890.1 [ CONTINÜED. ] au nour later tfioy wcre back in the same spot, and as thoy sat talking tho gentleman whom they had watched earlior ín the evening carne toward thom and stood beside t.hoir chairs almost boforo thoy had noticcd hhn. "Good evening. Miss Marlow. Where have you been hlding yourself of lato? Your prosonce has not graced the ballroom during the entiro ovoning." "No, I havo been loo weary to dance. Tho hard society work of the past fow weeks has almost prostrated me. But pardon me - Mr. Enicrick, allow me to introduce Mr. Lovel. " The two gentlemen oxchanged gree fringa, and tho older one remarked: "Our charminff young friond Miss Marlow is in great demand amonj tho gentlemen of our circlo hero. Wlll you not both join us in tho ball-room?" "I iear you havo mistaken tho lady's name," said Percy, looking bis listener straight in the face; "her name is not Marlow, but Dolaro." The strangcr seeroed confused, apparently on 'ccount of his blunder, but he quickly recovcrcd his polite composure and profusely apologised to Armida. "I hopo you will allow that it was quite a natural mistake," ho said. "1 trust 1 am pardoned; the fact is that a pistol shot was fired near to my loft e-ar when I was quite young which doafoned me, and as I stood to tho right of the lady who introduccd me to Miss Delaro, the mistake is accounted for. Am I pardoned?" bo asked, turning to Armida. "Certainly," was the reply. Tho tall stranger did not remain long in their company af ter that A few ordinary civilitics were passed and ho lcft them, ostensibly to return to tho ball-room, but Arfnida aftcrwards remarked to Percy that ho had not done so. "I share your disliko for tho affable gentleman," said Percy, as ho and Armida returned to their rooms. Late that night when nearly everybody had gonc to bed Percy went to Mr. Wilcox's room to havo a fow words with that worthy individual. "Won't you smoke a cigar, Percy?" the old man asked. Percy accepted one, and when he had Ut it he threw himself back in his chair andopened up quietly by saying: "Mr. Wilcox." "Well, my boy," for he still called Percy a boy, "I am all attention; wbat's in tho wind, another clow?" "No, not th is time. We are called upon to protect and not to prosucuce," 3aid Percy. "Who claims our protection?" asked his friend and counsellor. "Armida Delaro," was the reply. "Who has" designs on that sweet creature?" asked the millionaire. Then Percy told all ho had seen and heard that night. "This mystorious man is undoubtajdly bostowing Us attontions on Armida for a purposo of his ovvn, and as it only distrosses her we must stop it." "You seem very much afraid that Armida is falling into danger in that man's prescnco, butdon't you thinkthat she is able to care for horself'.'" "That may be," 3aid Porcy, "but if I mistako not, that man is a designing old villain, and tho loss he sees of Armida the botter I do not like nis looks aml he rominds me too much of the man wo are looking for. At thoso worde Mr. Wilcox sat bolt upright in his chair [Ie was full of interest now. "How do you mean? Does thia fellow resemble him in features?"' ho asked. "As I nevor had rauch opportunity nor was over suöïciontly interosted in Velasquez' features to examine them I can not positively say, but if this man looks like him he certainly does net walk liko him, for Velasquez stooped a littlo and this man is upright almost to absurditf. No, vvliat I mean is that his character and method of action is notsuch as I should imagino Velasquez' to be. I only wisli lie had been Velasquez." "Guoss 111 havo to take a good look at that gent in tho morning and seo what ho looks like. It won't do to have any suspicious characters buzzing around Armida, even if they aro shipowners." "Armida says he has invitod hor and her mother to take a few days sail in his yacht" "Did she accept?" "No, sho gavo a quiet but very positive denial. IIo also told hor somo story aboutburying a wifo years ago in Italy, and altogethor has been quite communicative with her," said Percy, botween the puffs at his cigar. "Woll, we can mako it impossible for him to get another chanco of annoying 'her during tho remainder of our stay here, and when we got back to Now York it is hardly posslble that he will moet us." "One good thing about it is that our address is not yot settled upon, so wo can not give it to him," wasPercy's last remark. Then tho subject changed a littlo, akhough Armida was still the ono dUoussed. Mr. Wilcox loancd on tho table, and with a picasant sinile on his face he looked across at tho man soatod opposite to him. "Percy," he said, "you are a good deal older than Armida, but toll me now, like a man, don't you love her?" The question was so sudden that Percy was non-plussed. Ho blushed, glanced at his fcet, and then up at his employer, who shoiild moro propcrly be called his friond; then ho answored frankly: "Yes, sir, I do." "Just what X have imagined for some time," said tho old man. Then he remarked inquiringly: "15ut you have never told her of it?" "JN'o, 1 nevcr havo. and for the present I do not intend to do so." "For what reason?" "Firs: and foromost, I am too poor." "That is no reason at all. You have sacrificed your future to help me and I am responsible for your poverty, and in like manner I am morally responsible for your future well-being and shall make it my business to seo that you get your sharo of tho good things of this world. I have plnty and to spare and I guess when you want to marry Armida, you can get all the money you want for tho asking. " This was a long speech for Mr. Wilcox to make, but it was in good faith. "Yet," Percy replied, "the probabilities are that if you had not taken me out of San Francisco I should be still as poor as over." "Nay, not so, Percy; you have ability and it would have been ileveloped. Look at tho way you havo handled my aftairs, for instanco. Ilavon't I follovved your advico in all my investments, and haven't they paid well in nine cases out of ton?" "Still I was o.ilv doing myduty toyou as your servant.'' "Percy Beaufort Lovel," said the good-hearted mülionaire, "I havo often told you that I object to tho word servant being used and appüed to yourself. It may 'go' over in England, but it don't go hero, so picase don't use it." Now Percy knew that whon Mr. Wilcox addressod him by his full name the old gentleman was annoyed, so he feit he must do somothing to pleaso him and bring him back to his usual even temperament. "Itis kind of you to place such entiro confldence in me, Mr. Wilcox," ho said, "but even if I did accept your assistanco I eould not ask Armida to marry mo at present. I have sworn to mysolf to follow up every trail I find until that vilo Velasquez meets his deserts and until ivo find him or proof of his death, I can not settle down. At any moment I might havo to go off to a distant part of the country or abroad and under sucb circumstances a wife would be a burden Moreovor, my thoughts are so intent upon the work of running her father's murdurer to earth, that in my abstractodness at times sho might think that I did not love her. Then there is another matter quite worth eonsideration Supposeshe would not havo me?" "Ilardly any fear that she would refuse you, my boy I can't seo through a brick wall, but 1 can seo through a ladder, and if that girl is not in love with 'tho secretary' I am very much mistaken," remarkod Mr. Wilcox. "You have novor heard Armida talk about an Englishman's love, though," remarked Percy "Can't say I ever did," was the reply. "Why, sho says an Englishman's love is the most cold-blooded kind of love in the world. One night she became quite enthusiastic. She had been reading an Italian love story, about a young couple who committod suicido In each other's embrace because their parents would not let tliem wed I said that I thought an Englishman's love was as true if it was not as demonstrative as any other man's; but she put her hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes and said with an intonsely dramatic effect: 'You Englishmen do not know what lovo is. Love which is lovo is only known beneath the sunny skies of my father's nativo land.' Her words had uuite an effect upon me for a time and I almost feit as though I really did not know how to lovo, but when I have aocomplished, with your assistance, the desire of my beart, I will prove to her that I at least can love." As Porcy uttered his last words Mr. Wilcox looked at him with an admiring glanco and said. "Percy, my boy, I believe you." By this time each had Hnisbod his cigar and they parted for the night- Mr. Wilcox promising to take a good look at Mr. Emerick next morning But when the next morning carne he was doomed to disappointment, for on inquiring for Mr. Emerick at the hotel office ho and Percy were told that the gentleman of t!at name had left on the early morning train for New York. Neither could havo explained exactly why, but each feit a keen disappointment that they did not áee the reputed wealthy ship-owner again. Besides they wero puzzlod to understand why ho should have mado such a hasty departure. They did not gain much satisfaction from the clerk, for that functionary said he did not know the reason, except that Mr. Emerick had told him he was called to New York on business. In an hour the ship-owner had almost passed from their thoughtand they began to mako proparations for their own departuro on the following day CHAPTEK VIII. In one of tho darkest parts of Pearl street, Now York, asectionof tho stroot mado dark by tho elevated railroad, not a great way from the Battery, thore is an old-fashioned building which doubtless has a hiatory of its oivn, but which was many years agocon vertod into morcantile offices Not so very long since, on tho glass door of a room on tho second Hoor, the following lettering might havo been read 'lOmericli & Co., South American Merchants." On the left-hand corner was printod in smaller letters "Juliua Emerick." and on the right was the name "Ilenry tlowo," indicating that these were the names of the two partners in tho flrtn. Inside thi.s room, seated at his desk in a private office parütioned off with glass, sat Juhus Emorick, tho senior membor of tho lirm. It was tho afternoon of the day on which that gentleman had made a burried departure from Long Br&nob II s sudden return had upset the caleulations of the clerks, and two out of tho threo whora the flrm employcd ivere away to a base-ball game at Staten Idland The discovery of this fact when he carne down to the office after lunch had irritated Mr. Emorick beyond measuro. and the solitary clerk who had been left in charge was having a rather unpleasant time of it with his employer. Emerick was naturally an irritable man, and to-day he actcd in an excessivoly disagreeable manner. "Qooch," he callod out to the clerk. 1 "Sir?" was the submissive response. "Has tbo Trinidad cleared?" "Yes, sir, she cleared this morning, and every thini 13 ready She sails this evening atsundown. " "Have we received any dispatches from Mr. Howe lately0" "Only the one lying on your desk, sir, which has not yet been oponed. It camo in about one o'clock, after the other clerks had gone away " Mr. Emorick walked to hi3 desk, and at once cal led out In a sharp tone: "Thoro is no dispateta bere." "It must be thore, I placed it on your desk raysolf, sir. " Then the clerk bean to look for it and found it almost immediately. It was covered up by a pile of papera which Mr. Emerick bad placed on lt himsolf. The elerk went back to his desk and Mr Emerick sat down toread the dispatch. lt Kas to the effect that Mr. Ilowe. bis partner, who was down at Rueños Ayros, was sick and wished to return to New VorU As Mr. Emerick read, somothing almost amounting toa smilo boamod oh tus face, only that woon ho srailed bis personal appearanco was not at all improvod, for tt was such an unmeaning, sliastly smilo compared with what smiles are generally understood to be. that thero was nothing pleasant about lu Again he called out: "Oooch." and mot another roady response. "Go over to Staten lsland and find Mr. Bellew Teil hira to come to the office without a moment's dolay, no matter how interesUng the game may be." "All riht, sir," replied the clerk. "But before you go ring up a District Messengor boy 1 want to sond a note to Captain Oacre. I am going to sall for Buenos Ayros on the Trinidad tonight, and there is not a minute to be lost. Take a cab to the ferry and do not let any thing interrupt you. öse every effort to find Bellew, at wbatover expense. I will be here in the office to meet him at five o'clock.'" Gooch went off to fultill Emerick's bidding and the merchant sat down to write a note to send over to Captain Dacro at the Iirooklyn doek. lelling him to preparo quarters for blnortelf f ti a iew moments the note was on its way and Mr. Emerick busied himsolf for an hour straightening up various matters. Then ho walkod out to send a cablegram to his partner advising him that 'he could now leave Buenos Ayres at hia pleasure, as he proposed to start immediately to take charge of their office there. After doing this he jumped into a cab and was driven to his apartments, where ho soon had overy thing packed. and was ready to start on his voyage. In the meantime Gooch was hunting all over the base-ball grounds to find Mr. Bellew, the managing clork. He was all of a fliitter with excitoment and the minutes wero flying past with aggravaling rapidlty. It was after four o'clock beforo he found his man, and then the t"vo ran down to tho landing and just managed to catch the ferry-boat. Another instant would havo buen too late; as it was, they had to jump aboard tho boat at tho imminent risk of fallinsj into the water. Tho bystanders laughed at their actions and shoutod after them, but they heeded not. Thcy reached the office a few minutes beforo five o"clock and found their omployer awaiting them. rio did not waste any tiiuo upbraiding Mr. Bellew for leaving the office during his absence; timo was too precious. Ho spoko sharply enough, howover, when lip said: "Gooch, you stay and lock up tho office, and you. Mr. Bellew, jump into tho cab with mo and I will givo you your. instructions as we ride." The instructions which he had to give wero brief but positivo. Xo one was to know whore ho had gono and his reasons, he said, wore purcly personal. Ho would attend to the business of tho house in Buenos Ayres, but his name would not bo usod conr.picuously. As thoy alighted from tho cab at the doek, Mr. Emerick looked around for a newsboy to buy an evoning paper. He did not seo a boy luit npproached a middleaLTPd woman wbo was ealling1 out "Evening Telegram," in a voico rondered husky by constant shouting. Ho had bought the paper and was walking away whon tho woman dropped her papers and, running aftor him, shoutcd: "Alphonsel Alphonse!" in a wild yei almost joyiul manner. Sho caught up with him and laid hor band on his coat Bleovo, but he rudely shook hor ofl and said: "Hands off, woman. Whatdoyou mean?'' "Alphonso, don't you know me?" she piteously cried. But sho did not havo the opportunlty to hear tho reply, for the doek policeman supposing she was supplicating for alms laid rade honda on her and soon forced her outsido tho gates. "Let me follow him; ho is my husband," sho said. "A rathei likely story. Why, that ia Mr. Emerick, the wealthy merchant and ownor of the cargo in the Trinidad, lying at tho doek yonder," replied the polioeman. "lie ií not. IIo is Alphonse Bregy, my husbanJ, who d 'Serted me many years ago - it must lie twenty - and I will follow him." "You'ro crazy, woman," wastherough reply. By tli i s timo quite a orowd had gathered and a lot of ltalian neivsboys wero fighting ovr the newa papers wbich they had stolen from tho poor woman when she dropped them. The crowd only laughed and joerodat her, whloh so enraged the poor woman that she became ahno3t frantic, and in wild, despairin aeconts i.ried out: "Oh, my God, I wish I w?.s doad!" With theso wild words she rushed off towards the water'a edge as though to jump in, but a man in tho crowd intercepted her and in tho end thepoliceman arrested her on a chargo of disorderly conduct. The woman who caused all this disturbanco had sold nowspapers in lirooklyn to gain a livelihood for the past six or seven years. Xo ono knew and few cared to know where she camo from or any thing of her history. Tho only name she was called by was "Freneh Emilie," though her speech only slightly indicated her nationality. She was, or rather had boen, a good-looking womán, but her features showed signs of dissipation which was soraetimes so much intensified as to mako her appearance horrible. Once sho had grown communicative and told some other wotian who also sold papers ncar to Fulton Ferry that she was married in New York more than twonty years ago. lier husband, sho said, had desorted her and her boy baby soon after tho birth of the latter, and she had never heard of him since. The baby had grown into :i fine fellow who had found employment in a Now York office, but growing tired of city lifo had gone West to the minina distriets of Colorado, since which timo she had never heard a word from him. This was all that anybody know about Frenen Emilie's history. As the unfortunato creature was being locked up in the pólice cell, the "Trinidad" was stcaming out into the East river and Mr. Emerick was fairly on tho way to South America. Mr. Bellew rodo back to l'carl street wrapt in contemplativo thouglit. Ho had always thou?ht his employer a strange man, but knew nothing of his history other than Mr. Emerick himself had related. Mr. Bowe, the junior partner of tho firm, had built up a reputation by working his way in an incredibly short space of time from the desk to the position of manager in a large shipping house, and having had a small legacy left him had resolved to go into business for himself. So he chose tho South American trado, with which he was perfeetly familiar. His capital not being quito sufficient to purchaso a vessel (upon which he had set his fancy) and still leave a suiïient amount to work with, he had advfcrtised in the columns of a Ne w York paper for a partner. The result was that he formed a business agreemont with Mr. Emerick, agentl"man who had just returned from abroad whore he said he had amassed quito a large amount of money in disposmg of American mining stocks. Mr. Emerick had given as his reason for embarking in trade that, being tired of exciting speculation, ho wished to sottlo down in some logitimato business. The partnership appeared to be a pleasant one, for so far thero had nover been any trouble. The flrm prospered, and a fow years after it commenced operations Mr. Howe went to Buenos Ayres to open up a branch office and had remained there until the present time. Mr. Howe's opinión of his partner was that ho was a rather eccentric individual, which opinión would doubtless be confirmed upon his receipt of the cable message announcing Emerick's sudden intontion of coming to Buenos Ayres to exchange places with him. He was accustomod to sudden and unexpected aetions from his partner, but this was excoptional and inexplicable. Tho followingmorning EVenoo Emilie was brought up beforo the pólice magistrato and flned for disorderly conduct; she wildly protested h:-r innocence, but it was of no U30, and having no monoy, sho was sent out to tho work-house to work out her uno. Late that same evening a young man sat in tho office of a cheap hotel near tho Ferry, reading tho evening paper, when ho suddenly clutched it tightly and starcd at it in an incomprehensible manncr. IIo was reading otho pólice items and had just come to a paragraph stating that Emilie Bregy, botter known as "Fronch Emilie," had boen arrested and fined for disorderly conduct the night beforo. The report went on to state that the poor crazy woman had followcd Mr. Emeriok, a prominent New York merohant, clairaing that ho was her husband who had left her yoars ago. The young man who read tho paragraph was non othor than Eugene Bregy, tho son of th ■ poor woman. Ho had only just returned from the West, where he had Baved a few hundred dollars, intending to e m bark in sume kind of business in New York or Brooklyn. Aftor reading the i oc nnt in tli' paper ho knew in ;i momo;it that his poor mother had bocome the victlm of the officialism embodiod in a blue coat and silver buttons. !!. at onee pought the polioe office, but. was told ho would have to wait untll tbe, follówing moroing when ho could pay hia mot :, r a lino and she would bo i ' ITO BE CONTINUED. I - ■■- Some men receive impressions after the maniier of a blotter. They get things directly opposite frotn what they were originally.
Article
Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register