CHAPTER XII.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 203, 14 May 1887, Page 7

CHAPTE R XII.

THHtt OLD <J8 i.K— AftAKK in HP. Mflirniui-K .Rivjsj. had .been fi/s almost twt-srew vyaaia 1^- leadirag attorney av.il lawvvoriii. \\Vallin£s sun, and in the <^ounlry He .hall foeen iUiq (rusted attorney of Sir r il*inm ii)ale, ajk; of Dr. Lawienee Dale Not an \\U-:\n of, !*»: al business had hei ■ of tfci»un «ver ,tra;^vt p ted in OnnwalJ tha he hadiiioiximiuigpjc l , for them. Anl tfiuce Sir Williisaa's vdcpfciture for Indi;>, hit utewattd, .»U«ms CwyHal, had looked to rhe sime houvcp tor a}^ at he had reqi.iu"? al legal k'.nuk On a .dull, 'cning, fiom tlneeto four wef.'Us .{iio'sequ<4U o tlie di- »;>pe«i irnet. ®f Ralph Atiiwuore, .v single oil lamji wan alight oa aji cji'd.desl-f.^i one o! r'h 1 sm:. .lk-; apaicmenfc* «J the *w,' x wliicli hivl bjen occupied a->- bhv lie 1 chambeis o the late Mortimai Kivurs : _ and I\\ the fitful glaie of tka.i iwxip o ,p«^n v at i^ed iii copying .'i <Un\l fi'ojn -)tie or ihe lai»e folios in \\hk\\ the du^-y -hehet of the .room aboumkaL He ma> a maio who iwj^, lia\ i 1h en io) ! v : d\ i initjht ha\«» s>vtv a fifty ;,-jno thing 1 , m>\. - ,^-er, Avas ceitaui : He bwl.jiown oKt U'Me hi. time. In tiuilL, he Jia^ .-ecu i:vl n.c^c U\jiji (.^o-^coic y<tar< : l>ur'|,i'-« h;i.i \'. a.s t.'nn anvii giey : his features- \. «»-? i>jichedan^ ; his eyes, a]^.nn'v^ '\<e ! iind a pan of mm -bowed sjkn ui«les. \\j,<--- hi ini'l aiul bloo^^hot : his form avj»s am' bezil ; and w hen his thin, -iaiu 1 - 'h-.m;. to c-liale, so that his- }x=n thi.ejs. f tncd in urn •H-ildl\, )ie took <i feAV sw-^llt^wf- ''ifflii a hl<-.ck lotlle ttant »toi.d on the Ld;i' ,'•: tl.e \ c-^ before him. This v, an Dauiley Werter. V<-.hadlcen born ot g»od blood: and rh>. aj;}i much younger tlt>n William Dale, U*- had jet been that gentleman's cl«-.svcaiv and fiiend in col'k'ge. On guuhiiitinv 1 he h.«i studied laAv : and ju»t as he l*»d been admitted to the 101 l of attoi ne\. - i. foitr.j'e had been left }iiia, which lie k^d felt obliged to spend. Ar. all events, \ c hud giAen himself to that work, and a «-i]K;i.'.y work lie had made o^ it. His fortune V*-'m jhe li\ed Avliilc he could on cialit ; the/; V sought to help himself by gambling ; >ii' 4 finally he brought up in piison. From prison Sir William Dale, his u^j- ' time classmate, set him free, and obtained for him a place in the employ of Mortimr-i ] Kivers. For ,i time Mr HiA'ers, in thegoo'lnes.s of his heart, had been more like a brother, or a father, to the j.oor unfoituiute than like a mast*, l ; but when, at length, he found all his kindness and forbeai ance wot se thanthroAvn awaj', — when he found tl.;.t .the betrayed eA*eiy confidence, and jjold every kindness. — tool: e\ery iuhan-tage Avith,iu his reach to get hi- one tiaving Avant .the, one thing he told l.iinfelf h# .Cttuld noit lave without— l Tandy ! — when the tiied <ui<l wowied law;, ci <:iscovered nil thi^, h<t v wa^ obliged to diaw f he lines tightivj and Jcwp the pool waif uu'ltr hi-; thumli. And v«t Rivei.* would not let him go. Sir William earnestly bt'rought that the unfortunate man nhonlrt bo keptfiom the gutter and the u ork-houee. He could noli endure the thought that a elf.-'-mate of hiown =hould be an object of pu lie cli.iiit}. And besides, Darnley Werter wa<- woith, to the busy attorney, all the le-t of liis paid helj)er.s put together —that i>. when he wa.s .-obeily him-clf. Xot only was lie a profound and clear-headed jun-r. I ai he Avas quick s\ ith his pen ; alw a; on i eet ; and, w lien sober, as-peifecta as cue would wl-h to see. And now, morally and ph^-icall^ on his last legs, }>oor :r erter was- employed by the old law vei's many clients to make transcripts tf papers to them of importance. Avhich had existence only in tlie folios ol t lie office. And as he wmte, on tlii^ ciiill, j ( oinfortle&fi. evening, he was aioused by a cautious raj) on the door communicating w ith the outer passage and the main olfice. He hastily swallow ed a goodl} potion fiom the black bottle, then put the cork in tightly, then tailed the top of his desk, and hid the tieasuie aAvay wiihin. Asa second lap sounded, he called out, in ;i hoarse, broken voice : " Come in !"' And a tall, shadoA\y foun pie-ently appealed against, the dingy backgumndof the door, which the newcomei had noiselessly closed behind him. But the owner of the shadowy form did not yet adA r anee. He turned and felt for the key, and vrhen he had found it, he shot the bolt of the lock. Then lie came forwaid. and the worker beheld the powerful foi m and dark sinister face of Jonas Crandal. " My |X)or Darnley, do they still keep you at work ?" The wan, pinched face Avas raised, and the humid eyes fairly blazed as they rested upon the hard, full, dark featuies of the visitor. " I work because 1 am glad to get work to do. Jonas Crandal, for what have you come to me ? What do you want ?" The broken voice took on strength, and there Avaa deep feeling in the utterance. "My dear Darnley, I have come to give you work that shall pay you well, more, I venture to say, than you could earn in months at this drudgery over Avhich you arc now waiting your time and your strength. See, I haAe brought a bit of comfort Avith me." And he drew from a deep side pocket of his coat a flask that might hold a quart. The drunkard's eyes sparkled for a moment, and a quick, eager tremor shook hih frame ; but the fire died out, and, with a sighing gasp, lie settled back, and exclaimed : " Bah ! What is it j'ou want ?"' "Take a pull at the flask first, my dear friend. Your hands are shaky.*' The poor wretch caught the flask its owner had withdrawn the stopper — and raised it to his lips. It was a different liquor from any he had drunk for a long, long time a pure, pale Martel brandy, as smooth ah sweetest oil, and sweet a« nectar. Theie was no fire on the palate no interfering Avith the breath — scarcely any ta^te save that of delight. But its, power -was wonderful. The' poor felloAV had drank a goodly draught, and very soon he felt it? Avarmth and its quickening effect in every avenue of his system. He had become suddenly a neAV man. The last tremor Ava* gone, and a sense of- glowing sati«faetio'i permeated cA r ery sense of thought ond feeling. It had sharpened his wit*, and giren him a feeling of" independence " Now, Crandal, what 13 it ? What do you want of me ?" "Is there apybody else in any of the rooms ?" asked the visitor, casting a glance around. „ $ . ,•,.,/), ' . " N6t a.tfoul.,, 1,, was the pnljj, man, ,till you came. livery other room, is. locked,, and the keys are in my desk."

Crandal iikeu opened ttbe.ll&fite *ewiifc£«jg : ' gate of the railing that slnwbiUhe tlesk-wsom ! out ;from iko front and-w^a ipart rff the I oiiiee, and pawetf in to Wenfeuirl.s.side. flEhen i ! he ty-ok from h}s bosom i\ laQ'ge,pockeJb-JaQok. irom whicjk h^toWforihji ttoldeUa^a^er: ,: He opened it. iciua?fully, smoofoumg ovit. *he , creases, and finally spread itbviuatibelorejthe , ( clerk. ! " Werter, lmok carefully— sCind trill raie jl who M r rote that iiißtne." j The old scrivener bent his I page. It was .a iaiv, blank sheet of fodk- ,;, -jip, iimperial- wiiiii a name wmitten on tiw> rr K j\ireme lower , i&iargin in tlxt iujghtilmiif' 1 ,, v p i-ncr, or near tlxeiicto. i " Lawrence Dale wrote ii^ vAvas itht; piompt'ly and c-fw&ulentiallj V^;,en. ; «•' You are right, Darnley. Ik- JT>hde did kt,jjnly write it, wifck !kis own haij^itnd witbj ,'uVt own [K!ii, I miglst t if I ehoae., Aell you i ! ,\lyu he giive it to me as a c<tAelllanchQ,\ \\\\,t;.i I might fill i» (the A*cry iiifttawmaaeut \ \j\'i)i<A\ 1 proposo 3'o« may now wu&fce for ■ i :ix>e. I might tell you (&us Avith good -grace,, i v l ut, i on might not beliewc me ; and, fjarlibcr- ; u>j.»i />, there is no need. It's enough fw you to|U;-iow that it Is, tiuljf/tnd honestly, (the oh 1 i(i )etoi's Hign-manua^. ,and that it v? ioow W5 ',(i>o])erbv.*' *' ]<■ it honestly your*-, Mr Crandal f ' •• !\ hat is none of your .business !" — with .thtw^rht show ot tempo} that had as yet bfmr,f anifest ; " and, if i were to tell you., .WM^ ht shako your lu.*uiL Enough for v.w \i>.know it :\ i/i hit. Awl now 1 want y«. «. ia\\nake it of use to me !v! v Tlu- ptor cleik looked up iuio his visitor's im c wr.tj 1 something like a shwlder percej>ti'iLu jj,t 'graded a.d .sunken a^ he was he felt tb» viouch, and the confidential speecli of the £'un honoured and reflected in soci.'U ,>v contamination to him ! " Sj\e<.if out ! What is it yo.i want wiitten Mi^thih paj)er?" "Ah ■• .jniw you t.ii' . Wait." He went and ii^t x. tall -tool a matt to lluit on which Www t .s-it and lifted his ponderous ] body u{m»j it. Then he w r eut oi. : ! "You a<v<- knowiny, Wertc , to the arj rangement lector T)ale made with me concerning hi** wi.Mte and his business before lie w ent aw«'jj -' " Ye^. T 'SaCw up the ln^tiument of [ nistmetions v?^hieh, 1 belio\y, you <le I mnndeii "I asked for V.Ut-m, and lie gave them to ' n.e niwiitmg. Well, -he forgot to give me any proper guardianship over his daughter. Never tt\ind what arrangement, we made under that! .head- enough to nay, ir does not satisfy in*."' "Jona.s Crandal!*' exclaimed the cleik, his eye* now fairly fciHazing, and his Avan svi'ikcn face aglow, — '•' you want me to n^ake foi .^oit a deed <>f over Morna Dak 1 -to make you her legal parent in the eyes of the law-«j,id to forge the name of Mortimer Kiveu <.o tho instrum nt." " My (lea'- man,'' «aid Craudal, with a smiic that was honible in itis fiendish i.'iale>olence, "you luuehit it e.v.cMy." "I'll not do it ! Never ! T evtT !" 1 O ! yes, you Avill." •' Jv'^voj- ! It is too diabolic !" " y>lmw ! You'll do it, Werter. Don't make- a fool of youiself."' "I r<jll you, man !— fiend !- demon !~-l will not do it ! That girl is an angel ! O ! think of it, you man of cruel heart ! When I was sick, nigh unto death, she nursed me. Aye, — had 1 been her cnvn brother, she ciuld not have been more kind. She found me in the forest, senseless — benumbed — " " Drunk ! you mean, poor Wei ter. Pshaw ! I don't want to hear about that. Let u.s come to business. 1 must have this thing Avi itten, and finished, and carry it hnme Avith me to-night." The poor wietch .shrank as from a heavy, ciuel blow : and still shook his head in refusal. Then Ciandal drew forth his pocketbook once more, and tapped it significantly. " Werter ! you have not foi gotten what 1 ha\ c safely laid in here. Don't be a fool. Don't force me after so long a time, to bring thin, thiuo to light. ' Fora brief s|K.ce the quivering wretch cowered and .'....auk ; but presently he staited up. "Ko ! villain. I defy you. Sir William i- de; ( d. He cannot appear against me !" Jonas Crandal laughed -a bitter, Avicked laugh. " Poor fool ! Idiot ! Sir William it dead. Weie he alhe, he m ght wiA-e you; but now . he cannot. Don't you know that I am the aj^ent Avho must settle his estate ? Think of it, my dear Werter. 1 find a forged cheque — aye, a cheque which I my- | self cashed, as the agent of him Avhose name !it bore. What becomes my duty? Poor Werter! Think of it." The wretched man collapsed. He saAv it plainly. Oh ! how avcH he remembered | that season of dark and dread despair, Avhen, in a moment of frenzy, he had forged the name of his best and truest friend. As Crandal had paid, he had taken up the paper. He had by accident discovered its existence, and had paid it, and put it into i his pocket, that he might have a slave in ! the office of the most popular attorney in Cornwall. What could he do ? Should he refuse to grant the man's request -to accede to his demand that forged paper would be made public, and he end his days in bitter disgrace, transported away from the land of his birth to live the rest of his brief, bitter life among outca,sts and pariahs, and among them— die ! ' ' Here, my dear fellow, take another pull iat this. It v, ill set yo« up." The quivering Avretch needed no second invitation. That which he had before drunk had been all used up in his excitement, and he felt the need of it painfully. He drank heavily — drank until Crandal drew the flask from his lips, and very soon he was once more steady, and more than half his resolution Avas gone. The end could not now be doubtful. When Jonas saw that the last draught had produced its effect, he drew from his pocketbook another paper, and spread it open on the desk. It was a draft which he had made bf the instrument he ..would have written upon the paper hearing Lawrence Dale'fe signature. , Werter re^id itiearelully through read some portions 'of ifc a secdn'd time, and in the end he said : "Crandal, you found a legal form and copied it. This is not your composition]'*' " You are right," nodded the visitor, with a smile ; I found it in a Book of Legal Forms in the Abbey library, I haA^e supplied the names ; you enn altar, or amend, Avhere you think it necessary. You knoAV exactly i what I want." Darnley Werter looked upon the two, papers before k"m for a little ' time, and then raised his ( ; <•- to the face' of his companion, I You; have tol< me- what you want me bo do for you. , Noav, Avhat do you propose to do in retjurh for me .'" '/ Werter t" ' with Hot more than 'two' seconds of pause', " when you «have giA r en intomy'handb the instrument/makingvme, legal guardian of Morna Dale —And I # swear, to you I mean her, no harm. l I wojildnH do her an injury for' the world. Wh'eVytfu have givpn that into my hands, I will give you one hundred pounds* You, shall. have it in gold or^ank.ef E'ngjand notes,,, as, yciu shall prefer, , -, ' Sijroly you would, not ask 'for J jT.he" olerk fjpyecf' with, his pen . a jfew moxn.ents, 'his face wearing the marks of ■ earnest thought. ■ By-and-by. he answered.

••"flfyiat is, money oarujigfiu Will, you give me, that cheque you limve in your pocketbooian addition^ >'" a ' V *>"*>W'»** Cuajadal started. K9ie!bfts' not thoug'hb of t>hat. - ■ • ' r u Roftlly, Werter, (fiha,t is asking too much." i •' Alh fight, V. responded itbp scribe with a dogged ring in his woice .w.hich spoke volume^ "If the deed yop .crave is not worth to you the paltry pieceicf paper you hold, tjic only value «i" \yhi^b is that it proves' tint I once did a .orunißfcl act if it is not Av.oith that scrap off paper, v"ou cannot .want it its.Uy.'' " Eli ! Do you mean tHwutiw i, threat ?" " Takejlfc as you will, Jouafe Crandal ; and give it to me if you will. ,AUu> ; i if you give to i»€ the hundred twuttfte jL'id the check, I jvi'l make out the -deetl.Qf guardianship." "And if 1 tlo not?" " L tiouehu ot a pen to" yoyr p^jor." " Werter' 1 are you willing ito face the .tSmrgc wnich 1 could bring against ypu*." " Yes ; an ft I mil/ face it, if yow say 'tihe .va»rd. And nvcu before the court, 1 „wall tell the whole .story of this night's .transaction. !>o vv T ° u think people wiW no.t believe me? ifty the heavens above uh, Jonus Cianditlr; t think the people will •foeiUvo me mov*- 1 willingly tlian the/ \\vil|l you. Do you !feiow Let me whi*per : Who carri((t Rt*'ph Axfimore of* 1 Oho ! you <juail : Knw you, man— jwojjle are whis-j^ring 1 ovtjn now. , I do not believe you n'ouldJtjnd lthoalCby to drag me before a court cd justice."' The .arch plotter turned i>ale, ami fci-eiubled at every jtv.ut.> A little time so, then he rfiook himstU resolutely and tried to l.auglu ' " Weite^ you hay,<; had your turn, but your breatlt lias beey wasted, i had intended to gav<3 you the eSieque from Ihe fii.st, but I had s;oped that I might ha\e the privilege of jiwldng it * fi-ee gift. j vevei 1 , it(l(ie> ut.t matter, j take no oik moo. The cheque «U«'ill bf> yours, with the money as s<mjj h# the deed jV coraple ■ The cle.-k U.n<s\v that tin- man lied when he said he h.«d plained t«» give him t>he cheque, butit^ouUl not ])ay to accuse him of it. rfe obtained a solemn promise that the old paper should be given into his hand as as the lequired deed was complete, and bhorily thereafter he wont at work. He took a swjillow from tho Mask, then mended two or three quill pens, then another draught, heavier than the last — and he was ready for work. He procured from an old file an instrument of guardianship, where a guardian had been appointed under circumstances exactly like those which Mr Crandal would fabricate— a deed in Mr Rivers's own hand. And this he copied upon the paper which had been given him by his Satanic employer —copied it word for word, saying only the change of names, of locality, and a few items of a per.-onal natuie and oi little import. He had so nicely calculated the writing, as to .space, that when the last word of the body of the instrument had been set down, the margin of the signature was exact. One more swallow of brandy, and he prepared to forget tin- Mgnature of Mortimer Rivers. A mistake here would be fatal. He balanced his pen over the paper its nib well worn — and dashed it oil. "Bra-vo!" cried Crandal, when he had seen. " The old man himself could not have beaten that !" It was a perfect fac-simile of the old attorney's signatme. Werter added his own name as a witness, then afn.xed the seals, with the stamp of Riveras own crest, and the deed -was done. Jonas Crandal gave to the clerk one hundred pounds in Bank of England notes, together with the forged cheque which he had held so long ; and shortly thereafter he was crawling out by a rear postern into the darkness of midnight. In the attorney's office, at his de*k, sat the worn and shattered clerk, looking at the memento of a former crime which had been so long held over his head, a source of terror and alarm. He had Avon it from ki& enemy at length ; but ah ! what might be the outcome of the new crime the commission of which had given it to him ? (To he rontiured. )