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«Mug-71ft .g M 5$nmm+mm+n+n+n+n+m §+W+W5fi C flfifimfittfi 31+ 1.. I + $1 -+ 33 + 31 + E 3 4 OR 33 + 35. 1¢ it! CHAPTER XXXlI. The two men faced each other, Guild-l fordBei-ton quivering with rage intensi-i fied by its impotence, the man Furlong calm and coolly watchful. t Guildford Berton would have liked to! spring upon him, but there was some.- thing in the eyes shining from under the bushy brows which warned him that, at his first movement its owner would without hesitation put a bullet into him“ “What are you doing here?” he asked, finding his voice at last. Furlong smiled grimly, and nodded ‘o‘ the desk. “'1 hat’s rather an unnecessary ques- tion, isn‘t it? I was looking forâ€"curio- smes’ When you came in and inter-mime“; and it. occurred to me that I might find me.” I . . “You are an impudent scoundrel! and; -- if you think because I am unarmed you will get off scot~free you are mistaken.” “Tall talk won't count for much, see- ing how matters are fixed between us. It’s waste of time to threaten me, Mr. Berton. Come, you’re a sensible man; just face the music and take things easy. Just try and think I’m a friendly visitor dropped in unexpectedly; it’s rather late, it’s trueâ€"â€"â€"” “Take yourself off!” “That you may follow me and raise a hullabaloo?” “If you think I'm going to let you es- cape, you arc mistaken. Whether you go now, or wait till daylight, and are taken here, red-handed, will make little difference; you appear to have forgotteni you why. deuce, I have got you as surely as if you ,I with the same brush. We’re both curi- i 0115 men. you’re more curious than I am, but that, notwithstanding your cool impu- were already in the hands of the police. I know you; before you can get out of reach the police will have an exact de- scription of you andâ€"I think the tables! will be turned, my friend.” The man eyed him thoughtfully. “After all, you’ve got some pluck,” he said quietly. I took you to be, Mr. Bert-on. Many a man in my position would take you atI your word, and remembering that dead men tell no tales, would put it out of your power to supply the police with a description,” and he glanced meanineg at the revolver. “But I don’t think we need waste any time in bullying each other. After all there’s not much harm done.” “What! I find you here, having broken into my houseâ€"” “Excuse me. Let’s have it right and square. In the "first place you're wrong. I didn’t break into your house. I found the little gate in that high wall open, and I just stepped in.” “And, being in, lost no time in break- ing into my property. I’m afraid your excuse won’t weigh much with the judge and jury when you are tried for bur- glary, which you will be, you scoundrel." “I dare say it wouldn’t. But. I'm not being tried yet. Look here, hadn’t we better get comfortable? You don’t ask me to take a seat, so I’ll help myself, and! if you’ll take my advice you’ll follow myi example.” As he spoke he dropped into the arm- chair, and in a leisurely-fashion took out his pipe and pouch. The master of the cottage glanced to- ward the door. Should he make a rush for it, and endeavor to' reach the garden and raise an alarm? lie was sorely tempted, but he saw that the revolver was lying within reach of the mans hand, and felt that the glittering eye was watching him in callike fashion, and stood still. “May I trouble you for a light?" asked Furlong, blandly. No? Wellâ€"â€"â€"-” 1113 craned forward and lit his pipe at the lantern. “Now, then, Mr. Berton, I’m ready to hear anything and everything you’ve got to say. Chinâ€"music is not much in my line, but I’ll allow that you feel anxious to abuse me, and I don’t like disappointing you. Just blow off the steam with some of the hardest words you know.” : Guildford Berton caught up a chair with a strong impulse. to fling it at the man’s head, but instead he planted it in front of the door and sat down in it. “You’ll find this the worst night’s work you ever did, my friend," he said be- tween his teeth. “I gave you a chance' â€"â€"a poor oneâ€"of escaping just now, amt you refused it. Now I tell you that you will not leave this room until the police take you unless you pass over my dead / body.” Furlong laughed grimly. “Very nicely putt” he said. “Why, my' dear sir, I could lift you up, chair and all, and pitch you out of that window, there, and you ‘know it. But I shan’t. have to do that, I think-â€"that is, if you are a sensible man. Now, Mr. Berton, I suppose you think that we are to sit here until some one comes who can raise an alarm and fetch the police. oath that you will have me arrested? Just so. I’m afraid you're going to be disappointed. First of all, let me explain matters. Oh, you needn’t sneer; it doesn’t give any additional beauty to that handsome face of yours. I’m going to tell the truth, as you’ll find if you listen attentively. What I told you just now. for instance, was the truth. I found that door of yours unlocked, and I couldn’t resist. the temptation of strolling in. You see, I've passed it so often and looked at it so hard, every time asking myself why on earth a young gentleman should choose to live in such a gloomy hole, that my curiosityâ€"and it's my weak point, I‘ll admitâ€"got the better of me. So I stepped in, and waited in the opposite ... weir/gig t THE STEVVARD’S SON, #5319 Q+£t+§t+fi+3fif+éfé+§§+§é+£fl 332+331+322+32t+ n+n+om+mo+n+n+ i I t offended. lhit of the detective. "You’re a braver man than' tilt t i g i; roomâ€"I followed you so closely that if iyou’d have turned you’d have seen me, by Georgelâ€"and. being in, I amused my- self wilh watching youâ€"â€"â€"” Guildford Berton succeeded in suppres- sing any outward sign of the start the man’s words gave him. “I’d half an idea that you were aâ€"-â€" well, a coiner. I beg your pardon l hart. indeed. But couldn’t see any trace of the work aboutâ€"and I know it when I see itâ€"and so I concluded that you were just a crank, that you’d got a mental twist somewhere that caused you to take such a grim. forsaken hole as this. Then I thought that I’d wait until you’d go to bed and clear out. But I happened to look in here, and the desk lay handy, something in it that. might help me to understand your peculiar character." A sneer that was half a scowl crossed Berlon’s face. “Ah, you don’t believe me, I see,” re- marked the man, apparently not at all “But, strange to say, it’s the truth. The fact is, among the many trades I’ve tried my hand at, I’ve done a That was in New York. I didn’t stick to it long; but that kind of work leaves a mark behind. You can’t lose the habit of trying to satisfy your curiosity. And you raised mine, you did, indeed, Mr. Berton.” “You impudentâ€"but go on, my friend; your time is going short.” “Not a bit of it. You think you’ll have me arrested, but you won’t, and I’ll tell Because you and I are tarred Of the two of us, I should say you’re too cautious to follow a man into his own house and examine his desk, eh?" and he laughed. “Now you wonder what I’m driving at. Wait a bit; I’m coming to it. I didn‘t find much in this old desk of yours to enlighten me about the little game you’re playing at; but I did find some- thing that gave me a start"â€"-he stretched out his hand, and let it fall upon the photograph of Catherine Hayesâ€"“and this is it.” The other glanced at the photograph with an incredulous sneer. “No, it is not a plant, and I’m not‘goa- mg to palm off a pack of lies on you. But I tell you what I‘m going to do. i am going to make a bargain with you. Wait. Better not cut in yet a while, for it strikes me that when you've heard what I’ve got. to say you'll be sorry for cutting up rough. Now, Mr. Berton, don't think me impertincnt if I ask you a question. Is it a fact that you want to marry the beautiful young lady up at the Court there?” Guildford Berton started, and the color rushed to his face, but he remained silent. “Silence gives consent. I give you credit for the best of taste. I’ve seen a great many of the fair sex in both hemi- spheres, and I say”â€"-he struck the table with his powerful fistâ€""that that. young lady towers above them all asvasâ€"a palm towers above a lilac bush! Whv, sir, if I were as young and good-looking as you are, I should be as much in love with her as you are. From all I hear there isn’t a young man within twenty miles who wouldn’t give all he‘s worth, and ten years of his life to boot to lead her to the altar." Berton rose, as if unable to control himself, but Furlong coolly waved to him. ' “Sit down, Mr. Berton. I meant no offense. I wouldn’t speak a disrespect,- ful word of herâ€"â€"ay, and what’s more, I’d knock down any man that offered to do so in my presence. Sit down and keep your temper. You’ll want all your nous presently." There was something, a subtile signi- ficance, in his tone which carried weight, and Guildford‘Berton sank into the chair again. “That’s right. And now about this bargain I spoke of. Suppose, Mr. Ber- ton, I possess some infoi‘mation which would help you in your suit with that young lady. Suppose I could tell you something, a secret worth its weight in gold to you, something that would make your way straight and plain, and insure your getting that young lady for your wilesâ€"what would you say?" and he leaned forward and looked him straight between the eyes. ' Berton smiled incredulously. “I should say. I utterly refuse to be- lieve'a word you say,” he said, “and if you knew me better, you wottld know that I am the last man to make terms with a ruflianly burglar. Tell your story, whatever it may be, to the police; I fancy you will find them as incredu- lous as I am.” “Good. You’ve said what you ought. to say, and you’ve said it very well. I give you all credit for your courage. But I’ll give you another chance; and I tell you frankly that if you don’t come to my terms I shall, very reluctantly, have to tie you in that chair, and gag you while I get clear off. Come, you’re dying to ask me what I meant. Just ask me a few questions. For instance, what do I find in the photograph of this lady to interest and startle me so much?” “I shall ask you know-thing. I want to hear no more from you.” “Then I’ll ask you a few questions. First of all, do you know who this is? I don’t ask you how you came by it. Guildford r‘erton’s face flamed, but ne swallowed his rage and answered quiet- ly enough; for Furlong had spoken the truth and he was dying to hear what the man had to say. “You don’t deserve an answer," he said. “But you’ll humor me, eh? Well?" “It is the portrait of the late Countess of Arrowdale’s companion,” said Guild- ford Berton, slowly, and almost sul- lcnly. “And her .name was Catherine. It’s written here on the card. and her sur- name was Hayes. And when the coun- tess left her husband. the earl, this Catherine l-layes, went with her?” “She did.” “Is she dead?” asked Furlong, grimly. _ “The countess? Yes.” _ “This woman, the maid, this Cather- ine?" said Furlong. “Yes, she is dead, too.” “Dear, dear!” muttered Furlong. “Tell me, now, did she live with her mistress till the countess died?" “She did.” . “And the young lady, Lady Norah, was left in her charge, I suppose?” asked Furlong. “That is so. interestâ€"” “I ask because I didn’t know,” replied Furlong. “I know a great deal, but not all.” He gazed at the portrait some moments lost in thought, then he got up and laid it on the table. “Come and take a good look at it,” he said. Berton hesitated a moment, half sus- picious that it was a trap to get him away from his post in front of the door, but Furlong cast a glance of contempt at him. "Man, can’t you see I'm in earnest?” he said, sternly. “Do you see nothing? Look hard! Does nothing strike you?” “I do not understand you. thing." “Shut itâ€"shut the door close.” “You know that there is no one in the house but my servant, an old woman. deaf and dumb, or you would not have trifled with me as you,have done,” he said. “Shut the door all the same, for what I’ve got to say even the deaf and dumb might have ears and tongue to hear and tell. Shut the door I say." “There,” he said, “ are you satisfied?" Furlong beckoned to him to come near- er, and, laying his heavy hand upon the. shoulder of the other, whispered a few words in his ear. Berton started, and turned a wife face of amazement and unbelief upon him. “What!” he exclaimed. “Pshawl It’s impossible!” “It’s not only possible, but it’s true!" rctorted Furlong, with grim earnestness. “Sit down and listen to me.” ‘ “Astcrtod‘ listened drops cam? out upon‘fiiSJorehear' changed from red to’w’hite. “If, if this is trueâ€"if I can belie “It is gospell” rctorted Furlong, i. ically, “and you do believe it. I can it by your face, man.” - “Prove itâ€"give me proofs," dropped from the white lips. “Proofs? Yes, conclusive, irrefutable ones. Proofs strong enough for any court of law in the land.” An exclama ion difficult to describe burst from Berton, and he rose and paced the room, his face working, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Furlong sat himself on the table and watched him coolly. Suddenly he stopped before the side- board, and took out the brandy decanter. “Oh, that’s it!" muttered Furlong to himself; then aloud: “Herc, steady! Not too much of that! A glass apiece. You want to keep your head cool, you know, if you’re going to work this property. And you are, you know." Berton poured out- a couple of glasses with a shaky hand, and with an uneasy laugh. “Whenâ€"when will you let me have he proofs?” “In three days. Meanwhile keep your mouth shut. Oh, yes, you can do that, I dare say. And now, what do you say to our bargain?" “You want to know how muchâ€"" “No,” he said, quietly. “I ask nothing, I'm not sure I’ll. take anything. 3.ut, we’ll see. It strikes me I'm the honester man of the two, Mr. Berton. I bargained for my liberty and your silence about this little escapade of mine. Well, you shall give me a hundred or two to take me out of the country, when you’ve done with me and we’ll cry quits.” Berton held out his hand, and Furlong took it, but with an utter absence of alacrity or effusiveness. “Ooen the door,” he said. Berton opened it, and with a nod and a quiet “In three daysâ€"say Friday,” his singular specimen of “the genus" bur- glar went out. (To be continued. ....____+_._.__. A LETTER AND A PROMISE. “You are quite right,” said a. very well-known criminal barrister recently. “We do get some very queer letters from clientsâ€"or would-be clientsâ€"some- times. What do you think of this?” And he produced from a pocket-hook a rather weather-worn sheet of notepa- per, which had evidently been preser~ ved with great care. “Dore Sir,â€"â€"l am in prison, and the man sayes I am likely to goe to the pen- al serfitude. I did not steel the cowe and I am puriectly innercent. Please do get me out. I think I can pay you sum day. I did not steel the cowe. Tell the Judge that. And if you get me off free I am willing to do all I Can for you. If you do I will’ Give you the coweâ€"Yours truly. “Bill Smith." “I didn't act for that man," he conclud- ed; “he was a little too ingenuous.” .____._+____â€"- Don’t be foolish and run yourself down Just so. very Why do you ask? ,What Perhaps the young lady gave it to you, when your neighbors are only too glad or you found if, or perhaps you stole it." to do it for you. .4631".{IF'HHI'Wi=W.u~’L-cay_ .» . ~ . . .. ... g..........-- .. _ . , I see no- ‘ .1895, 11.03; 189510 1905, 13.98. .â€"â€"â€" Bank of Hamilton ANNUAL MEETING. new 1501 JANUARY, 4906. ' Report of the Directors. ' The Directors beg year ended 30th November, 1905. The Balance at credit of Profit and Loss Account, 1904, was . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The profits for the year ended 30th November, charges of management and making provisions doubtful debts, are . . . . . . . From which have been declared: Dividend 5 per cent., payable lst June, 1905 . . Dmdend 5 per cent., payable lst Dec. Carried to Reserve Fund from Profits. Carried to Reserve Fund from Premiumon new stock as above Allowance to err-President authorized by- the Shareholders Balance of. Profit and Loss carried forward .. The Directors have pleasure in pointing out. that. to submit their Annual Report to the Premiums received on new Stock Shareholders for the t November . ...... 's 40,176.28 1905, after degucting I ha an or ...... 357,273.12 205,421.00 10.0.. son..- .00... (Ivan... $602,370.40 $111,779.33 ' ' . . .119,9/0. 190” â€"â€"â€"kâ€"â€"$231,719.57 .. $135,310.00 205,421.00 ._.____ 340,740.00 " 5,000.00 _____. 577,459.57 .â€" .. .. ......$ 25,410.83 after paying tomary 10 per cent. dividend, they havevbeen able to place to Reserve Fundiqu‘ of profits. the substantial sum of $85,000. The year‘s earnings are, in the opin- ion of the Directors, very satisfactory indeed, considering that out of the years profits, the maximum estimated loss ($90,000), the embezzlement and forgeries of T. Hillhouse Brown. which the Bank has sustained by has been provided for. The Directors beg to report that the progress of the Bank still continues. in a marked degree, and that, while they had thought it prudent to Open mm”; the year a few new branches in Ontario and Manitoba. in recognition of the mold development. of the country, they have mostly confined themselves to the strengthening and building - , up Of the business at the various points at Omccs had already been established. Itis proposed. however, which' to ask of the! Shareholders, at the Annual Meeting, power to increase the Capital of the Bank Py $500,030, in order that the Directors, in case it become advisable. III a position thus to provide for the future growth of the The Directors have noted the growing.- other_ Corporations. to pay dividends quarterly, practice may become more or less general. have may be Bank's business. tendency, on the part of Banks and and, believing that such a decided to adopt it, and pro- pose hereafter to declare dividends every three months. \Ju... Hamilton, 18th December, 1905. WM. GIBSON, President. GENERSL STATEMENT. . TO TIIE PUBLIC: LIABILITIES. ' Notes of the Bank in circulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,279,755.00 Deposits bearing interest- . . . . . . ..$18.033.603.74 Deposits not hearing interest . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. 3,3tit.115.72 Amount reserved for interest due depositors .. .. .' -_ 691397-04 ‘ . 21.464.121.50 Balance due to other Banks in Canada.. .. .. .. .. ' 501252-09 Dividend No. 66, payable lst December, 1905 .. . 119940-28 Former Dividends unpaid .. . . . . . .. .. .. . .. 79.00 ,, -.: 120,010.28 TO THE snannnomnns: ’ W” Capital Stock (average for the year, $2,317,190) lieserve Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amornt reserved for Rebate of Interest on ._.Cu=. Bills Discounted . Gold and Silver 0 Dominion G: Deposit Ne (it. Rank Pi .. Real Estate Other Assets Bank of I-Iamtlt Hamilton, Novem. In moving the adoptim. 1 report I-lon. Mr. Gibson said Gentlemen.â€"Your Board of beg to express the pleasure they being able to present the report. . shareholders. During the whole his of the bank, covering a period of thirf_, four years, this year would have been the best anu the most successful that. we have ever enjoyed but for the unfortu- nate incident in connection with our east end branch in this city. llad that not occurred our net earnings would have been 19.30 per cent. on the capital, and notwithstanding that we had to make provision for that loss the net earnings of the year are 15.42. After deducting the loss of‘ $90,000 at- ready referred to, our earnings for the year are considerably great- er than the average for the past ten years. In the period from 1875 to 1885 the rate of earnings was 10.1; 1885 to I invite the attention of the shareholders to the ' is not rigid enough. Balance of Profits carried forward . ‘ L; b. lb 511. tion You c the be. when It forgery to largely at his . , the people en“ have to depend o. agents, and while om. false, the 399 other employs. have not, and we have cor. them. You may say that the . I believe t. fact that every dollar earned by the bank, may have too much inspection. except what has been carried to rest, has been paid to the shareholders, and that the misfortune of the past year in the east end branch is likely to fall on the employes more heavily than upon the shareholders, for, as you know, though the bank has had under consider- ation, and it is still its intention, to es- tablish a pension system, such has not ~ yet been begun. During the year new agencies have been opened at College and Ossington streets, Toronto; ToronlolJunction, Car- berry, Kenton and Killarney, Mam; Battleford, Sask.; and at Fernie, B. C. While we have been somewhat conserv- alive in opening new branches we have been endeavoring to strengthen those where we already have agencies. It may be said that some of the places where we have opened branches are small in the matter of population, but it must be remembered that they are in growing centres, surrounded by rich country, and that the prospect for increased busi- ness in the future is very bright. The directors have great faith in the coun- try. I am very glad to notice that the t let an agent“think that he is being upon he will probably sit and du thing and your business is bound suffer. Now, in regard to quarterly dividends I need not say muchâ€"they cannot come too often. ' Mr. John Proctor seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. On motion of Mr. Samuel Barker, M.P., seconded by John A. Bruce, thexfollow- ing motion was unaimously carried: “That the thanks of this meeting be given to the President and Directors for their services during the past half year." Carried and replied to by Hon. Mr. Gib- son. - Mr. W. A. Robinson moved, seconded by Dr.‘ Russell: “That the thanks of the meeting be given to the General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Inspectors, Agents and other officers of the bank for the efficient performance of their respective, duties." This was carried, and responded to Ly Mr. Turnbull. Hon. Mr. Gibson moved the adoption of the by-law to increase the capital bank is popular with the investigatingtstock from $2,500,000 to $3,000,000. Mr, public. Last year there were 645 share- holders on our books and this year the number is 713, showing that the stock is going into the hands of investors. At the same time we have made 18 new friends for the bank. By the report I have just read you will see that it is proposed to increase the capital stock by $500,000. During the last six months a quarter of a mil- lion dollars was taken up at a premium of for) per cent. John Proctor seconded the resolution. and it. was carried unanimously. The scrutinecrs reported the following gentlemen unanimously elected Directors for 1906: Hon. William Gibson, John Proctor, Hon. J. S. Ilcndrie, George Rutherford, Cyrus A. Birge, C. C. Dalton and J. Turnbull. At. a subsequent meeting of the Direc~ tors I-Ion. Wm. Gibson was re-elected President and Mr. J. Turnbull Vice- The same care will bePrcsident. -.~ «arrivf‘gLVx-smrx “.mfk'fi? 2 . ‘,