Gratia's Trials — page 134: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GRATIA’S TRIALS, 125 ‘‘Probably you told it yourself in one of your drinking fits,” said Mrs. Falconer, bitterly. ‘‘ No one in the house has mentioned it.” *‘It don’t matter how, but there’s the fact,” said Robert, savagely frowning. ‘‘ And of course that let loose all the creditors on me, like a pack of. wolves.” ‘‘ Put them off, again, some way,” suggested Mrs. Falconer. ‘¢ Kasily said, but it can’t be done.” ‘¢T don’t know what else you can do,” said his mother, with the weariness of utter despair. ‘‘1 have aready anticipated Hugo’s allowance, and < ‘‘Mother,” the young man said, lowering his voice, ‘‘ it mzs/ come out some day or other, if you don't help me to hide it. I was half mad for five hundred dollars, and I signed Hugo’s name to one of my checks. I knew he had plenty of money in the bank, and we are both Falconers,” ‘Robert |” : ‘© After all, where's the harm? It’s only borrowing of him for a little while. Hugo has always had the devil’s luck in his business affairs, and I have never had any show atall. I meant to replace the money in bank before any row could be made about it, but you see how itis. Everything l’ve touched has been a failure.” | Mrs. Falconer wrung her hands despairingly. ‘¢Oh, Robert, Robert! You are talking of forgery!” ‘‘Hold your tongue!” exclaimed Robert Falconer, angrily. ‘‘T must have money—that’s the long and the short of it. My uncle must give it to me if you cant, or else see the old Fal- coner name dragged through the mud and mire of the police courts.” ‘‘VYour uncle—your uncle!” almost screamed poor Mrs. Falconer. ‘‘If it had not been for this foolish infatuation of his, your creditors could never have come upon you all at once. Oh, Robert, I would rather see him in his grave than married to that girl |” b Gomicbooks.co im