Cast Adrift

thoroughly, to discover its weaknesses and defects, not its better qualities, so that she might do for him the evil work that was in

d them in her thoughts, she trampled them under her feet with scorn. But she studied his defects, and soon knew every weak point in his character. She drew him ou

ntance with a man named Lloyd Freeling, and often spoke of him in connection with business. Freeling had a store on one of

thousand dollars, I would take him in. W

d, laid it up in her thought, and on the next day called at

he had something of the advantage. A third time she dropped in, asking to see certain goods and buying a small bill, as before. This time

y, before the close of this brief interview, that Freeling was a man without principle, false and unscrupulous, and that if Granger were associated wit

afterward, "that your friend, Mr. Freeling, wo

surprised and

urned; "he has said

pital would

ousand

e sum t

ere will be any risk. The b

know about

am any judge of character,

ad that Granger might not se

alk with Mr. Dinn

it. He had seen too many young

than this. He must be involved in some way to hurt his good name, to blast his reputation and drive him to ruin. Weak, trusting and pliable, a specious villain in whom he had c

ger had this quality. He had set his mind on the copartnership, and saw in it a high road to fortune, and no argument of Mr. Dinneford, nor opposition of Edith, had pow

nt was made, and the new connection announc

rebound. So eager was Mrs. Dinneford to compass the ruin of Granger that she stepped beyond the limit of common prudence, and sought private interviews with Freeling, both before and after th

that was in her heart, nor in spoken words let him know that she desired the young man's utter ruin, but he understood it all before the close of their first private interview. Freeling was exceedingly deferential in the beginning and guarded in his speech. He knew by the quick intuitions of his na

ate of the copartnership-Mrs. Dinneford rec

M. to-day. Important."

e already to know her partner in evil too well. At 12 M. she was in the hotel parlor. Freeling was already there. They met in external cordia

he said, in a kind of imperative voice, that was h

s. Dinneford replied; "we have already furnished t

is, if we do not break down just

eford gav

words in a husky, voice, with a

salable goods bought by your indiscreet son-in-law, who knows no

t him to buy?" as

ght without consulting me,"

and be the end

hink

nly th

sure o

We cannot supply any more money. You must look elsewhere if you have further need. Mr.

most on all my resource

the floor. Freeling watched her face intently, trying to read w

-men-a little risky some of them, perhaps, but desperat

ttle time to consi

s words. "But all expedients are 'risky,' as you say-some of the

than yours," returned Mrs. Dinneford

t," said Freeling, his lips

ousand dollars, which I will get for you by to-morrow, I shall not advance a single penny. You may set that down as sure. If you are not sharp e

hurt the young man-he rather liked him. Up to this time he had been content with what he could draw out of Mrs. Dinneford. There was no risk in this sort of business. Moreover, he enjoyed

th himself was whether he could make more by a failure than by using Granger a while longer, and then throwing him overboard, disgraced and ruined. Selfish and unscrupulous as he was, Freeling hesitated to do this. And besides, the "

ply to Mrs. Dinneford's last remark; "in the mean time I

suggested the lady. "He has done his part toward ge

ight,

reaching the street by one door of

t again, Mrs. Dinneford brin

eipt of "Freeling & Granger." Her eyes had a hard glitter, and her face was alm

d Freeling, though not in the tone of a man who felt hi

an. They gazed into each other's faces in silence for some moments, each

re that you will have

" she

r. They should not be for less than five hundred or a thousand dol

one," was the

will; your daughter wants an India shawl, or a set of diamonds, or a new carriage-anything you choose. M

inneford d

y. Let the shawl, or the diamond, or the what-not, be bough

Mrs. Dinneford; "but how i

. You get the not

herself up, with a dignified air. "We ought to understand each o

and knit his heavy brows. Mrs.

e expedient," he

ave a hand in it, I must know all about it," she replie

low tone, speaking rapidly. The color went and came in her face, but she s

ing put the question as one who

em," replied M

he

ll tak

t all, it must be done quickly. 'Strike whil

elay on my part. You may trus

ort-thirty and sixty days. On this occasion she came to the store and asked for her son-in-law. The meeting between her and Freeling was reserved and formal. She expressed

soon as the lady had retired. Granger endorsed them, and w

e about it." And the young man wro

re drawn and all business paper endorsed by the younger partner, who became the financier

ranger saw his mother-in-law come into the store. Freeling was at the cou

fter she had gone away, Freeling came back, and laying a note-of

that, m

rprise. It was drawn to his order, for three thousan

and now she has returned the favor. It didn't come very easily, she said, and your father-in-law

was co

derstand it

he note, and that it has come in t

can see

g into the saddle and take a ride. Your mother-in-law

er and over in a way that seemed to annoy his partner, who

r? Isn't the sign

e young man, after looking at it c

e proceeds passed to our

ckly, the laugh had so strange a sou

and drawn to the order of George Granger. This one was for five thousand dollars. He h

she had gone away, Freeling handed Granger three more notes drawn by Mr. Dinneford t

ny remark, and was about putting t

he People's Bank and another in the Fo

n both of these ban

ourth National and the cashier of the People's Bank. Say that we particularly want the money, an

partner. The notes lay before him on his desk

r?" asked Freelin

was the q

ould claim another favor at her hands. She tried to beg off, but I pushed the

t if I were he. The wonder to me is that he has g

ing, a little hurriedly. Granger looked at

bank," said Freelin

k the notes from his bank-book and examined them with great care. Suspicion was aroused. He felt sure that something was wrong. A good many things in Freeling's conduct of late had seemed strange. After thinking for a while, he dete

he banks. He went immediately and asked to see the note. When it was shown to him, he was observed to become very pale,

asked, seeing how pale he

hey passed into the house together

exclaimed Mr

ed from the Fourth National Bank. They have a note for three thousand dollars, bearing my sign

h excitement. Her fair face grew purp

him arrested

for nothing else, this dreadful business must be kept secret. I wi

ief and a robber because he is our son-in-law? My daughter the wife of a forger! Great heavens! has it come to this Mr. Dinneford?" she added, after a pause, and with intense bitternes

hild!" answered Mr. Dinn

solemnly, and I mean it; the die is cast! Come what will, George Granger stands now and for ev

when Granger, who had come to ask him about the three notes given him that morning by Freeling, put his key in the door, and found, a little to his surprise, that the latch wa

e not to let

orders?" demanded Gr

Dinn

inneford, and I must

not at home," an

t door in

ing from within. Granger heard it; in the

idence of the crime on his person in the three notes received that morning from his partner, who denied all knowledge of their existence, and

purpose to do so. Mrs. Dinneford chose to break the dreadful news at her own time an