Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

254 him, but he recovered himself quickly, and he stepped aside with a bitter smile as they briskly entered the bank. ‘“ What’s the matter, Jack? Has any- thing gone wrong? That was a queer request you sent to me, to come here as soon as I could after I left Madame Savage’s. What is it? What’s wrong? ” Henry Hollister spoke rapidly, and with a slight trace of excitement, for it was tinprecedented that he should be summoned there at that hour, and by his cashier, who was like a son to him, who lived tn the same house with him, and who could have seen him there at home. “The bank has been robbed of a hundred thousand dollars, sir,” said Ashton, bluntly. He was entirely master of himself now that the crucial moment had ar- rived, and he spoke calmly, almost dis- dainfully. He did not look at Hope, but he kept his eyes fixed upon the face of the old banker; and they stood near the center of the room, so that they formed a triangle, with Hope on Ash- ton’s right, and the banker at his left. Henry Hollister was a passionate man, and Ashton fully expected that he would go into one of his rages when the matter of the robbery was announced, but on the contrary, he remained calm, and instead of bursting out with in- numerable questions concerning who was the thief, if the money could be recovered, and ail that, he exclaimed : “Why in the devil did you send for me to come down here to tell me that? Couldn’t you have told me at the house? ” “When I wrote the letter, sir,” re- plied Ashton, “ I believed that I had an important reason for sending you the note [ did, requesting that you would come here from the reception. That reason has ceased to exist, but another, quite as important, has arisen in its stead, so that [ am glad that the inter- view is here, instead of there. I regret, however, that your daughter is present to know all that I have to say.” THE ARGOSY. “Shall I return to the carriage, papa?” said Hope, before the banker could reply. “No! Stay where you are,” was the blunt response. ‘“ Now, Jack, what is ite” Before he could respond to the ques- tion, she glided to Ashton’s side and placed one hand upon his arm. “What is it, Jack?” she repeated. “You areintrouble. Icanseeit. You have not looked at me since we entered the bank. Have you found the thief?” He drew away from her, resolutely keeping his eyes away, while he replied: “Yes; I have found the thief.” “ Ah!” said Hollister. ‘“ Then, per- haps we can recover the money. A hundred thousand dollars is a big sum.” _ Ashton stepped backward away from them both so that he succeeded in placing the table between him and them. Then raising his head boldly, and looking first at one and then at the other, with white face, but with firm, unwavering eyes, he said slowly : “Iam responsible for the theft. I am the guilty one.” The old banker started back with an oath, and grasped the back of a chair near where he was standing. His face grew white, too, and something of the innate fierceness of his nature glowed in his eyes; but he did not speak. It seemed as if he dared not trust himself to do so. Hope uttered a cry of consternation and unbelief, and started toward Ash- ton, but he waved her away; and there was something in his face which com- pelled her to pause, irresolute, and then to turn inquiringly to her father. “You do not believe him, papa; you do not!” she cried. The old man’s lips parted in a smile that was ghastly, but his voice was firm and steady as he replied, slowly: “Once before I heard a confession not unlike this, and from one who was much nearer to me than John Ashton is.” He turned abruptly then, and passed ECOMRRIC Oe CO