A DARING IMPOSTOR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5266, 9 July 1888, Page 4

A DARING IMPOSTOR.

fny ALFBKD R. OALIIOUN.]

CHAPTER VII.

IN HEW YOKK

" You must not follow mo," said Allen Gilbert, coming to a halt near his cabin in Pine Place, and facing tho ex-convict, who called himself " Mingo Pete." " Well, blow me, but this is n. nice way to treat an old churn," blurted out the exconvict; and hia face and manner all shewed the most unmistakable (surprise. This was not the kind of a reception he had beeu accustomed to receiving from his criminal associates, for there is a frutorual feeling among the«o men who are banded uguinet the law, mid they arc always generous in helping, with their ill-gotten gains, a friend in distress. " You must keep awuy from me. I do not know you," said Alien, hotly. *' And what if I shouldn't keep away from you ? " sneered Miugo. •' r jJhen I shall make you." " How wiHyou do that?" " I will thrash you first, and hand you over to tho police nftorwurde," eaid Allen, again turning away ;but there was no mistaking his determination. Miugo watched him till he entered tho cabin, then he gave a long whistle to express hia amazement, and slouched away to a shanty,' about which the children, goat« Mid old tin cans wore particularly thick. The meeting with tho ex-convict disturbed Allen greatly, for it not only brought up all tho horrors of tho past, but he caw in it a danger that might shadow hie future.

. But when he caught eight of Florence, who dropped her sewing uud hastened to kiss him when he appeared, in the door, the good nows ho had for her and her mother, made bim forget all else, and so he embraced them by turns as he narrated the events of the day. "To-morrow .'" he exclaimed, joyously, when tho lamp was lit, und tho little blinds drawn over the eight panes of gloss that mado up the two windows, "we shall be away from this wretched place. I wish, mother, that you and Florence had been along to help me select rooms ; but I think you will like tbo four I have rented. They are in a tenement, but I think the people are of a better class than is usually found in such places. But, bo that as it may, it will be a change for tho better." "No change can be for the worse," sighed the old lady, adding, after a pause: " Wβ havo sounded tho lowest depths of poverty and suffering ; it is a comfort to think that any movement afc ell must bo upward." - i ■

'* Ah, mother mine !" cried Florence, as slio knelt beside her mother, and kissed the thiii, trembling hands, " let ub thank God for the light ahead, and let it comfort us to know that poverty has brought no stain, end suffering left no hate in our hearts." * Having decided to move to New York, Allen sot to work with that energy that distinguished him of old. He found the landlord who owned the cluster of shanties lit Pine Place, and paid him the rent in full till tho end of the month. Early tho next morning all tho furniture wan placed in a wiigen, and Bent over to Mastera-strcot, whero rooms had boeu secured.

Then Allen hastened over with his mother and Florence, reaching their destination a short time before tho furniture

All that day Allen ami his sister worked like beavers, und as a consequence their now quarters were as cony by supper time us if they had been lived in for months. During hie much coining in nnd going out that day, Allen discovered tlmt the tenement was occupied by v dozen or moro families, mou and women who did sowing at home, for the continued whirr of sowing machines made the pluco sound like a factory, to which, even nt the noon hour, there was never an instant's stop. After sepper, and when Mrs Gilbert had gone to bed wearied with the labors and excitement of the day, Allen and Florence sat in the darkness, with the doors and windows open, for tho night was hot: but still, like the hum of a swnrming hive, they heard tho machines going, and tho beating of ceaseless feet along the bnre stairs.

It whh a familiar sound to Florence. During tho long years of her father's illness and her brother's imprisonment, she and her mother had kept their sewing machine going for sixteen hours out of tho twenty-four, day in and day out; and there were times when even on Sunday thoy had to work in order to get money for bread, rent or medicine

Until far into tho night they discussed the futnro, turning despite their resolution not to do so, to that past which they vainly tried to forget, or at least to leave unnientionc.l.

'* You have been a bravo, noblo sister," said A lon, ac he kissed her before retiring that night. " The wonder is that you did not go down :n the struggle. JJut the future is full of promise, and if you und the dear mother are not huppier from this time on, it will bo because lovo and.duty have fled my heurt." "And that can never bo, dear Allen, while your heurt continues to beat," she said, with a sob of joy.

The next morning, in 11 modest but becoming business suit, Allen was about to start off and begin tho -work of collecting, when, to his surprise, his good friend, Doctor Putnam, appeuri/d nt tho lodgings. I called to see you, Mr Gilbert," said the doctor, after Allen had introduced his mother and Bister, " and to say that I. shall be away from my office for some weeks, business and pleasure calling me to Canada. I shall leave the keys of my office with you, and I shall be glad if you make it your headquarters. Indeed, even when not away, I only uso the office for a few hours each day, for, as you may know, I bavo to lecture at the University during the regular terms, and then I have clinics in v number of tho hospitals, so that tho office will be practicully yt.urs, and I will have the satisfaction Of hawing it is in good h«nds."

Allen Gilbert, like all men capable of feeling profoundly, wae of ten at a loss foe words to express his feelings, and co he could only.blush and stammer a few short sentences; but tho dootor understood them, and to him they were eloquent with n manly gratitude. * . But the doctor was himself confused, and without being able to give himself a reason for it.

From the first instant he looked into Florence Gilbert's eyes, and heard her sweet, low voice, his heart was touched with a strange power, and experienced tho sensation of a new and thrilling emotion. Skilled though he was in medioino and anatomy, and experienced as he wns beyond most men of his years in the physical illsreal and imagined—that trouble humanity, yet he was not able for many a day to diagnose rightly the heart trouble —perhaps "trouble" is not tho correct word—that came to him then and there.

And when ho went away ho tried to_ explain to himself why he had such a desire to go back; and ho reasoned himself into tho belief that his interest in tho gentle, Madonna-like sister was duo to the interest ho already felt for the brave but somewhat mysterious brother. "That ia my friend, Florie ; what do you think of him !" asked Allen, when Doctor Putnam had left. .

"Your friends must be my friends," she replied, " and our liet is so limited, Allen, that wo can givo them all the regard we might distribute among a thousand friends if wo were so favored."

It was under these favorablo circumstances that Allen Gilbert began tho new life.

From the very first hour he went to work success became* his attendant, and good fortune illuminated all his walks.

No matter how ready and anxious people may be to pay their .bills, they- are never rejoiced at seeing a collector, for such a man is generally a.reminder of a duty neglected; but Allen Gilbert did his work with so raro tact as to give entire satisfaction to his patrons, and to win tho esteem of the people whom he " dunned," or whose bills he receipted. At first ho feared that Mingo Pote, or some of those who had seen him in prison, or who know of his trial and conviction, would meet him and tell his employers of his identity with tho convicted forger, Allen Lee.

The doubt, tho dread, constant watchfulness, and the uncertainty of his position, wore at first trying in the extreme; but graduallj-, as the current of what promised to be a successful career flowed ou without a break, Allen came to feel more and more secure, and with this sense of security tho confidence with which he faoed the world also increased.

The rooms in tho tenement house gradually took on a cozier aspect, and as Florenco persisted in adding to the revenue with her needle, they soon paid off the money advanced by Dr. Putman, and with tho precaution that had been increased by long year? of poverty, they laid by from their earnings, and tho second most interesting book in the family was the one in which the joint savings of the brother and sister were recorded by the receiving teller in the neighboring savings bank. The fall bad come, and with it the wealthy and fashionable; and the many who, without tho meane to be either, would have the world beltovo they wero both, came back from villas in the mountains and cottages by the shore to tho deserted city mansion*.

Once Allen caught sight of tho Lofferts's carriage, with Irene and her father ou the back sent, aud ho reasoned that they had returned to their homo on the Avenue.

Although ho had never given himself much credit for saving the young woman's life, yet ho often thought of her, and particularly of that meeting at Greenwood tho day his father was buried. Tho picture then presented was destined never to fade from his heart; but, though often recalled with delight, it was always to be set behind tho curtain of bis memory with pain. Tho namo "Leffcita" always brought to his mind tho imprisonment and consequent disgrace endured through the crimes of Frank Lefferts and his associates.

One bright afternoon, when the keen, exhilarating breath of winter was in the air, AHen'e business took him to tho Avenue, aud as ho was hurrying on, intent only on the collections ho was about to make, a clear, musical voice called out, '"Mr Gilbert! Mr Gilbert!" and turning in the direction of the sound, ho found nimself f «co to face-with Irene Lofferte.

" You have never como near me," sho said, blushing, and reaching out her band; but the fact that I still livo must be the proof that I have not forgotten you for a day." " I am glad to see you again, Miss Lefferts," ho stammered. " But you overestimate my services. There were a thousand men ready to go to your rescue—'' "Yet only, one man went," she interrupted ; then added, quickly : " Both my i father nnd myself have tried to find you, i and now that I havo unexpectedly euo- ) ceeded, will you do mo a favor?" "A hundred, if in my power," ho ror plied. "Come and dine with us to-night, at 1 half-past six." Irene Lefferts took a card from her wal--1 let, nnd %vriting the hour on it, eho added : s '' Brave men never break their promises." , 1 "If you Mould permit a compromise, 1 Miss Lefferts—" c "In what way?" l " Let me call aftex dinner." " This evening?" > "Yes." " Very well. A half loaf is better than f no bread. Till then, good-bye." Again she gave him her hand, and with such a glad, frank manner, that Allen hud to turn away to hide tho confusion manifeet i in his face. , Neither Mrs Gilbert nor Florence ex- - pressed any pleasure at Allen's proposed visit. Both know that all hie troubles were 0 due to a member of that family, and the s /act tbnt lie Imd unconsciously returned 1 good for ovil did not reconcile them to an 8 association so suggestive of pain. But Allen kept hia promise. He was respectably clad, and months of \- labor in the open air had bronzed his cheeks, t and given strength and elasticity to limbs r cramped by long years of prison routine. He was now a decidedly handsome man , of the intellectual type, though, in repose, > hU fico had a tinge of sadness such as one i often sees in the faces of young theologians : who: are given to thinking more of the } world's sufferings than of its joys. 3 Irene Lefferts met Allen with a warmth and an artlosenees that put him at once at , his ease. j "My father is in tho library, waiting to t welcome j'ou,'' she said, as sho led her guest 3 back through the spacious parlors; "and ho , is surprised to think that he has never had i an opportunity to thank in person the man i who saved hie daughter's life." ' Mr Lefferts, a tine-looking old gentloi man, : with white hair aud board, both mll clinod to curl, greeted Allen with a manner t that showed profound emotion. '• Mr Gilbert," he said, aa he hold Allen's ' ' hand, " I thank you for coming to-night. : Till I could greet you and exprces my graf titude I have felt that I had a great duty > undone. God bless you, sir—God bless ■ you for having saved to mo tho one thing that makes life worth the living !" And i his voice becoming husky, ho coughed, and i motioned Alien to a chair. ' L TO BB CONTINUED.]