GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4980, 12 April 1889, Page 4

GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.

LITERATURE

CHAPTER LXYI. On comparing the forged note vrith genuine specimens of John Wardlaws’ handwriting, no less than twelve deviations from his habits of writing strike the eye : and every one of these twelve deviations is a deviation into a habit of Arthur Wardlaw, which is an amount of demonstration rarely attained in cases of forgery. Arthur Wardlaw rose, and with his knees knocking together, said, * Dont arrest him, Burt ; let him go.’ 4 Don’t let him go,’ cried old Penfold. ‘ A viallian ! I hove got the Dumber of the notes from Benson. I can prove he bribed this poor man to destroy the ship. Dont let him go. He has ruined my poor hoy.’ At this Arthur Wardlaw began to shreik for mercy. 4 Oh, Mr Peniold,’ said he, you are a father and hate me. But think of my father. I’ll say anything, do anything. I will clear Robert Penfold at my own expense. I have lost her. She loathes me now. Have mercy on me, and let me leave the country.’ He cringed and crawled so thaf. he disarmed anger, and substituted contempt. . < Ay,’ said Burt, I he dont hit like you, Mr Pen fold j this is a chap that ought to have been in .Newgate long ago, ' But, take my advice, make him clear you on paper and then let him go. PH go downstair?, a while. I “ must not take part in compounding a felony.’ 4 Oh, yes, Robert,’ said Helen ; for his father’s sake.’ ‘Very, well,’ said Robert, ‘ Now then, reptile, take the pen and write in your own hand, if you can.’ He took the pen and wrote to dictation, 4 I, Arthur Wardlaw, confess that I forged the promissory note for £2OOO, and sent it to Robert Penfold, and that £I4OO of it was to be for my own use, and to pay my Oxford debts. And I confess that I bribed Wylie to scuttle the ship Prosperine to cheat the underwriters. Peufold then turned to Wylie and asked him the true motive of this fraud. ‘Why the gold was aboard the Shannon,’ said Wylie j I played hankypanky with the metals in White’s store. ‘Put that down,’ said Penfold, ‘How go on.’ 4 Make a clean breast,’ said Wylie. * I have. Say as how you cooked the Prosperine’s log, and forged Hiram Hudson’s writing.’ And the newspaper extracts you sent me, ’ said Helen, * and the letters from Mr Hand.’ .Arthur groaned. * Must I tell all this,’ said he. 4 Every word, or be indicted,’ said Robert Penfold, sternly. He wrote it all down, and then sat staring stupidly. And the next thing was, he gave a loud shreik, and fel l down in a fit. They sprinkled water over him, and Burt conveyed him home in a cab, advising him to leave the country, at the same time promising him not to exas- ■ perate those he had wronged so deeply, but rather to moderate them if required Then he gave Burt fifty guineas. Robert Penfold, at Helen’s request went with her to Mr Hennessy, and with the proofs of Arthur’s guilt, and Robert’s innocence ; and he undertook that the matter should go in proper form before the Secretary of State. But, somehow it transpired that the Proserpine had been scuttled, and several of the underwriters wrote to the Wardlaws to threaten proceeding against them. Wardlaw senior returned but one answer to these men, * Bring your

proofs to me at my place of business next Monday at twelve, and let me judge the case, before you go elsewhere.’

‘ That is high and mighty,’ said one or two ; but they conferred and agreed to these terms so high stood the old

merchant’s name,

They came, and were received with stiff courtesy. The deposition of Cooper and Welch was produced, and Wylie, kept up to the mark by Nancy, told the truth, and laid his two thousand intact upon the table. ‘ How that is off my stomach,’ said he, ‘and I am a man again.’ ‘ Ay, and I’ll marry you next week,’ said Nancy. ‘ Well gentlemen,’ said old Wardlaw, ‘ my course seems very clear. I will undo the whole transaction, and return you your money less the premiums, hut plus five per cent interest.’ And this he did on the spot for the firm was richer than over. When they were gone, Robert Penfold came in and said : a ‘ I hear sir, that you devote this day to repairing the wrongs done by your firm : What can you do for me.’ f He laid a copy of Arthur’s confession before him. The old man winced a moment where he sat, and the iron passed through his soul. It was a long time before he could speak. At last he said, — * This wrong is irreparable I fear.’ Robert said nothing. Sore as his own heart was, he was not the one to strike a grand old man struggliug under dishonour. Wardiaw senior touched his handbell. ‘ Request Mr Penfold to step this way.’ Michael Penfold came. ‘ G-enDiemen,’ said the old merchant, * the house of Wardiaw exists no more. It was built on honesty, and cannot survive a fraud. Wardiaw and Sou Were partners at will. I had decided to dissolve that partnership, wind up the accounts, and put up the shutters. But now, if you like, I will value the effects and hand the business over to Penfold

and Son, on easy terms. Robert Penfold has been accused of forging John Wardlaw’s name ; to prove this was a calumny, I put Pen fold over my door instead of Wardlaw. The City of London will understand that, gentlemen, believe me.’

‘ Mr Wardlaw,’ said Robert, ‘ you are a jnst, a noble —’ He could say no more. ‘ Ah, sir,’ said Robert, ‘ if the young gentleman had been like you.’ ‘ Mention his name no more to me. His crime, and his punishment have killed me.’

‘ Ob, said Robert ; be shall not be punished for your sake.’ ‘ Not be punished. It is not in your band to decide. God has punished Lira. He is insane.’ ‘Good Heavens.’

‘ Quite mad quite mad. Gentleman I can no longer support this interview. Send me your solicitor’s address, the deeds shall be prepared. I wish the new firm success, Probity is the road the road to it. Good day.’

He wound up the affair, had his name and Arthur’s painted out at his expense and directed the painters to paint the Penfolds in at theirs, went home to Elmtreea and died in three days. He died lamented and honoured, and honoured and Robert was He got it into his head that he had killed him with the sudden shock of Arthur’s confeesion, putting it before him so suddenly. ‘ I have forgotten who said, 1 Vengeance is mine,’ said Robert Penfold. The merchant priest left the office to be conducted by his father; he used the credit of the new firm to purchase a living in the Vale|of Kent, and thither he retired grateful to Providence, but not easy in his conscience He now accused himself of having often distrusted God, and seen his fellow-creatures in too dark a light. He turned towards religion and the care of souls.

(To be Continued .')