CHAPTER XVI.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 226, 8 November 1878, Page 7

CHAPTER XVI.

Skinner— -called " young" because he had oncA had a father on the premises —was the mole-catcher. The feelings, I with which he had now for some months watched his master grubbing, were curiously mingled There was the grim sense of superiority every successful. Detective feels as he sees the watched one working away unconscious of the eye that is on him ; but this was more than balanced by a long habit of obsequious reverence. When. A. has been looking up to B. for thirty }'ears», he cannot look down on him nil ofa sudden, merely because he catches him falsifying accounts. Why, Man is a cooking animal : bankrupt Man especially. And then Hichard Hardie overpowered Skinner's senses : he was Dignity in person : he was six feet two and always wore a Mack surtout buttoned high, and a hat with a brim a little broader than his neighbours, yet not broad enough to be eccentric or slang? He moved down the street touching his hat — while other hats were lifted high to him — a walking column of cash. And when he took off this ebon crown, and satin the Bank parlour, he gained in appearance more than he lo&t; for then his whole head was seen, long, calm, majestic : that senatorial front, and furrowed face, overawed all comers : even the little sharp-faced clerk would stand and peep at it utterly puzzled between what he knew and what he eyed : nor could he look at that head and face without excusing them ; what a lot of money they must have sunk before they came down to fabricating a balance-sheet ! And by-and-by custom somewhat blunted his sense of the dishonesty : and he began to criticise the thing arithmetically instead of morally : that view once admitted, he was charmed with the ability and subtelty of his dignified sharper : and so the mole-catcher began gradually, but effectually, to be corrupted by the mole. He who watchps a dishonest proc-ss and does not stop it, is half way towards conniving : who connives, is half way towards abetting. The next thing was, Skinner felt mortified at bis master not trusting him. Did he think old Bob Skinner's son would blow on Hardie after all these years ? This rankled a little, and set him to console himself by admiring his own cleverness in penetrating. this great distrustful man. Now of all sentimenr*--Vanity is the most restless and the surest to peep our ; Skinner was no sooner inflated, than his demure obsequious manner underwent a certain cbanire ; slij.hr and occasional only : but Hardie was a subtle man, and the perilous path be was treading made him wonderfnlly watchful, suspicious, nnd sagacious : he said to himself, v What has come to Skinner? I must know." So he quietly watched his watcher . and soon satisfied himself he suspected something amiss. From that hour Skinner was a doomed clerk. Tt was two o'clock : Hardie had just arrived, and sat in the parlour Cato-hke, and cooking. Skinner was in hiofb spirits : it was owing to his presence of mind the Bank had not been broken some hours ago by Maxley ; so now, while concluding his work, he was enjoying by anticipation his employer's gratitude : " he can't hold aloof after this," said Skinner ; ** he must honour me with his confidence. And I will deserve it. I do deserve it." A grave, calm, passionless voice invited him into the parlour. He descended from his desk and went in, swelling with demure complacency. He found Mr. Hardie seated garbling his accounts with surpassing dignity. The great man handed him an envelope, and cooked majestic on. A wave of that imperial hand, and Skinner had mingled with the past. Por know that the envelope contained three things : a cheque for a month's wages ; a character ; and a dismissal, very polite, and equally peremptory. Skinner stood paralysed ; the complacency died out of his face, and ruefnl wonder came instead : it was some time before he could utter a word : at last be faltered : ' Turn me away, sir? turn awjiy Noah Skinner! your father would never have said such a word to my fa th*- r.' Skinner uttered this his first remonstrance, in a voice trembling with awe ; but gatheied courage when be ound he had done ir, yet lived. Mr. Hardie evaded his expostulation by a very simple means : he made no _i*plv ; but continued his work, dignified s B r-n Mis, inexorable as Fate, cool as Cucumber. Skinner's anjier began to rise. He wa'ched Mr. Hardie in silence, and said o himself, " (--.'u.-se von ! you were born wi'hont a heart !" He waif- d, however, for some sign of eleiiting ; and, hoping for it, the water .ame into his own eyes. But Hardie •mi's impassive as ice. Then. the little clerk, mortified to the core, as well as wounded, ground his t eth, and drew a little nearer to this ?* carnafe Arithmetic ; and said with an "«7xeess of obsequiousness : ' Will 3*oll - *. ndestmid to give me a reason for ■ » rnibg mp away all in a moment, after ' vp and thirty veers' fairhtul services? * \len of bnsiin.-s do not deal in reasons,' was the cboi ; reply ;: *it i's

enough for you that I-'give-.you an excellent characte", and that we part goodfriends/ ' That we do not,' replied Skinner, sharply : *if we stay together we are friends ; but we part enemies, if we do part.' *As you please, Mr Skinner. I will detain you no longer? And Mr Hardie waved him away so grandly tbat he started and almost ran to the door. When he felt the handle it acted like a prop to his heart. He stood firm, and rage supplied the place of steady courage. He clung to the door, and whispered at his master ; such a whisper ; so loud, so cutting, so full of meaning and malice ; it was like a serpent hissing at a man. * But I'll give you a reason, a good reason, why you had better not insult me so cruel ; and what is more, I'll give you two ; and one is that but for mo the Bank must have closed this day at ten o'clock — ay, you may stare; it was I saved it, not you — and the other is that if you make an enemy of me you are done for. I know too much to be | made an enemy of, sir ; a great deal I too much ' . At this Mr Hardie raised his head from his book and eyed his crouching venemous assailant full in the 'face, majestically, as one can fancy a lion rearing his ponderous head, and lonkino* lazily and steadily at a snake that has just hissed in a corner. Each word of Skinner's was a barbed icicle to him ; yet not a muscle of his close countenance betrayed his inward suffering. One thing, however, even he could not master — his blood ; it retired from that stoical cheek to the chilled and foreboding heart, and the sudden pallor of the resolute face told Skinner his shafts had gone home. * Come, sir,' said he, affdcting to mingle good fellowship with his defiance, ' why bundle me oif these premises when you will be bundled off them yourself before the week is out ? ' 1 You insolent scoundrel ! Humph ! Explain, Mr Skinner.' ' Ah ! what, have I warmed your marble up a bit? Yes, I'll explain. The Bank is rotten, and can't last forty-eight hours? * Oh, indeed ! blighted in a day — by the dismissal of Mr Noah Skinner. Do not repeat that after you have been turned into the streets, or you will be indicted ; at present, we are confidential. Anything* more before )ou quit the rotten Bank ? ' 1 Yes, sir, plenty. I'll tell you your own history, past, present, and to come The road to -riches is hard and rugged to tbe likes of me, but your good father made it smooth and eesy to you, sir ; you had only to take the money of a lot of fools that fancy they can't keen it themselves ; invest it in Consols and Exchequer Bills, live on half the profits, put by the rest, and roll in wealth. But this was too slow and too sure for you ; you must be Rothschild in a day ; so you went into blind speculation, and flung old Mr Hardies savings into a well. And now for the last eight months you have been doctoring the ledger.' Hardie winced just perceptibly. ' You have put down our gains in white, our losses in black, acd so you keep feeding your pocket-book and emptying our tills. , The pear will soon be ripe, and then you will let it drop, and into the Bankruptcy Court we go. But, what you forget, fraudulent bankruptcy isn't the turnpike wav of trade ; it is a broad road, but a crooked one ; skirts the prison wall sir, and sights the herring' pond.' An agony went across Mr Hardies great face, and seemed to furrow as it ran. ' Not but what you are all right, sir,' resumed his little cat-like tormentor, letting him go a liule way, t;o nail him again by-and-by; 'you bave cooked the books in time, and Cocker was a fool to you. 'Twill he all down in black and white. Great sacrifices ; ao reserve ; creditors take everything ; dividend fourpence in the pound, furniture of house and bank, Mrs Hardies portrait, and down to the coalscuttle. Bankrupt saves nothing but his honour and the six thousand pounds or so he has stitched into his old great-coat; hands his new one to the official assignees like an honest man? Hardie uttered something between a growl and a. moan. 'Now comes the per contra: poor little despised Noah Skinner has kept genuine books, while you have been preparing false ones. I took the real figures home every afternoon on loose leaves, and bound 'em, and very curious they will read in Court alongside of yours. I did it for amusement o' nig-hts ; I'm so solitary, and so fond of figures ; I must try and turn them to profit, for I'm out of place now in my old age. Dearee me ! how curious that you should go and pick out me of all men, to turn into the street like a dog — like a dog — like a dog.' i Hardie turned his head away, and, in that nfoment of humiliation and abject fear, drank all the bitterness of moral death. His manhood urged him to defy I Skinner and return to the straight path, cost what it might. But how could he 1 His own books were all falsified. He could place a true total before his creditors by simply adding .the contents of his secret hoards to the assets of the Bank ; but with this true arithmetical result he could not square his books, except by conjectural and fabricated details, which would fye detected and

send him to prison ; for who would believe he was lying in figures only to get hack to the truth? No, he had entangled himself in his own fraud, and was at tbe mercy of his servant. He took his line. ' Skinner it was your interest to leave me whilst the Bank stood ; then you would have got a place directly • hut since you take umbrage at my dismissing you for your own good, I must punish you — by keeping you? ' I am quite ready to stay and serve you, sir,' replied Skinner hastily, * and as for my angry words, think np more of them ; it went to my heart to be turned away at the very time you need me most,' ' Hypocritical rogue J' thought Hardie. * That is true, Skinner,' said he ; ' I do indeed need a faithful and sympathising servant, to advise, support, and aid me. Ask yourself whether any man in England needs a confident more than T. It was bitter at first to he discovered, even by you ; but now I am glad you know all, for I see 1 have undervalued your ability as well as your zeal.' Thus Mr Hardie bowed his pride to flatter Skinner, and soon saw by the little fellow's heightened colour that this was the way to make him a clerk of wax. The banker and his clerk were reconciled. Then the latter was invited to commit himself by carrying- on the culinary process in his own hand •He trembled a litMe, but complied, and so became an accomplice. On this his master took him into his confidence, and told him everything it was impossible to hide from him. ' And now, sir.' said Skinner, ' let me tell you what I did for you this morning. Then perhaps you won't wonder at my being so peppery. Maxley suspects. He came here and drew out every shilling. I was all in a perspiration what to do. But I put a good face on, and ' Skinner then confided to hig principal how he had evaded Maxley, ahd saved the Bank ; and the stratagem seemed so incredible and droll that they both laughed over it long and loud. And in fact it turned out a first-rate practical jest ; cost two lives. While they were laughing, tbe young clerk looked in and said : ' Captain Dodd, to sppak with you, sir ! ' * Captain Dodd ! ' and all Mr Hardies forced merriment died away, and his face betrayed his vexation for once. ' Did you go and tell him I was here 1 ' 1 Yes, sir ; I had no orders ; and he said you would be sure to see him.' ' Unfortunate ! Well, you may show him in when I iing* your bell? The youngster being gone, Mr Hardie explained to his new ally in a few hurried words the danger that threatened him from Miss Julia Dodd. ' And now,' said he, ' the women have sent her father lo soften his. I shall be told his girl will die if she can't have my boy, &c. As if 1 care who lives or dies.' On this Skinner got up all in a hurry, and offered to go into the ofKce. 'On no account,' said Mr Hardie sharply. * I shall make my business with yoi the excuse for cutting this love-nonsense mighty short. Take your book to the desk and seem buried in it? He then touched the bell, and both confederates fell into an attitude. Never were a pair so bent over their little j accounts ; lies like themselves. Instead of the heartbroken father their comedy awaited, in came the ' gallant sailor with a brown cheek reddened by triumph and excitement, and almost snouted in a genial jocund voice, ' * How d'ye do, sir ? It is a long time ' since I came across your hawse.' And with this he held out his hand cordially. Hardie gave bis mechanically, ano remained on his guard, but somewhat puzzled. Dodd shook his cold hand heartily. ' Well, sir, here I am, just come ashore, and vi-iting 1 yon betore my very wife ; what d'ye think of that?' ' I am highly honoured, sir, 7 said Hardie : then, rather stiffly and incredulously, 'and to what, may I owe this extraordinary preference ? W'll you be good enough to state the purport of this visit— briefly — as Mr Skinner and I are much occupied.' * The purport 1 Why what does one come to a banker about 1 J have got a lot of money I want to get rid of Hardie stared ; but was as much on his guard as ever ; only more and more puzzled. Then David winked at him with simple cunning, took out his knife, undid his shirt, and began to cut the threads which bound the Cash to his flannel. At this Skinner wheeled round on his stool to look, and both he aud Mr Hardie inspected the unusual pantomime with demure curiosity. Dodd next removed the oilskin cover j and showed the pocket-book, brought it down with a triumphant smack on the hollow of his hand, and, in the pride of his heart, the joy of his bosom, and the fever of his blood^-for there were two red spots on his cheek all the time — told the cold pair Its adventures in a few glowing words; the Calcutta firm, — the two pirates,— the hurricane, — the wreck, — the land sharks, — he had saved It irom. * And here It is, safe in spite of them all. But I won't. carry Ib on me any more j it is unlucky : so you must be so good as to take charge of It for nae, sir.'-.- --' Very well, Captain Dodd. You

wish it placed to Mrs Dodd's account, I suppose.' 4 No! no! I hive nothing- to do with that: this is between you and me.' 4 As you please.' * Ye see it is a good lump, sir.' 'Oh, indeed !' said Hardie, a little sneeringly. 4 I call it a thundering lot o' money. But I suppose it is not much to a rich banker like you.' Then he lowered his voice, and said with a certain awe : * It's — fourteen — thousand — pounds.' * Fourteen thousand pounds ! ! f cried Hardie. Then with sudden and consummate coolness, ' Why certainly an established bank like this deals with more considerable deposits than that Skinner, why don't you give the captain a chair V 1 No, no !' said Dodd. I'll heave to till T get this off my mind ; but I won't anchor anywhere but at home? He then opened the pocket-book and spread the contents out before Mr Hardie, who ran over the notes and bills, and saia the amount was £14,010 12s 6d. Dodd asked for a receipt. * Why, it is not usual, when there is an account.' Dodd's countenance fell : « Oh, T should not like to part with it, unless I had a receipt.' * You mistake me,' said Hardip, with a smile. "An entry in your Banker's bonk is a receipt. However, you can have one in another form? He then unlocked a desk ; took out a banker's receipt ; and told Skinner to fill it in. This done, he seemed to be absorbed in some more important matter. Skinner counted the notes and left* them with Mr Hardie: the bills he took to his desk to note them on the back of the receipt. Whilst be was writing, this with his usual slowness and precision, poor Dodd's heart overflowed : llt is my children's fortune, ye see : I don't look on a sixpence of it as mine : that it is what made ma so particular" ft belongs to my little Julia, bless hor !— she is a rosebud if ever there was one ; and oh, such a heart ; and so fond of her poor father ;' but not fonder than he is of her — and to my dear boy Edward; he is .the honestest. young chap you ever saw ; what he says, you may swear to, with your eyes shut * but how could they miss either good looks or good hearts ; and her children? tbe best wife and the best mother in England ! She has been a true consort to me this many a year, and I to her, in deep water and sho**l, let the wind hlow high &v low. Here is a Simple Simon vaunting his own flesh and blood ! No wonder that little gentleman there is grinning at me : wel! grin away lad ! perhaps you haven't got any children. But you havp, sir, and you know how it is with us fathers ; our hearts are so full of the little darlings, out it must come. You can understand how joyful I feel at saving their fortune from land sharks and sea sharks, and landing it safe in an honest man's hands, like you, and your father before you. Skinner handed him the receipt. He cast his eye over it. * All ri<_rht, little gentleman. Now my heart is relieved of such a weight : I feel lo Inve just cleared out a cargo of bricks. Goodbye ! shake hands ! J wish you Were as happy as I am. J wish all the world was happy. God bless you ! God bless you both !' And with this burst he was out o. the room, and making ardently for Albion Villa. The Banker and his clerk turned round on their seats and eyed one another a long time in silence, and amazement. I Was tbis thing a dream ? their faces I S'-empd to a*-k. Then Mr Hardie rested his senatorial head on his hand, and pondered deeply. Skinner too reflected on this strange freak of Fortune : and the result was that, he burst in on his principal's reverie with a joyful shout : ' The Bank is saved ! Hardies is good for another hundrpd years.' The Banker started, for Skinner's voice sounded like a pistol shot in his ear, so high strung was he with thought. '- Hush ! hush I' he 'said : and pondered again in silence. At last be turned to Skinner. You think our course is plain ? I tell you it is so dark and complicated it would puzzle Solomon to know what is best to be done' I * Save the Bank, sir ! whatever you do./ 4 How can T save the Bank with a few thousand pounds, which I must refund when called on 1 You look keenly into what is under your eyp, Skinner, but you cannot see a yard beyond your nose. Let nic think.' After a while be took a sheet of paper, and jotted down " the materials," as he called them, and read them out to his accomplice : '1. A bank tog far £one to be redeemed. Ifl throw this money into it, I shall ruin Captain Dodd, and do myself "no good, but only my creditors. ' 3? Miss Julia Dodd. virtual proprietor of this £14,000 : or of. thegreater part, ifl choose. The: child that marries first usually jockeys the other. 1 3. Alfred Hardie, njy son, and my creditor, deep in love with No. 2, and at present somewhat alienated from me by my thwarting >a silly love affair ; which bids. fair to improve into a sound negotiation.. . ■-',•'-'.- -' ■ ■ y 4r f ■.. «4. The 14,00021 paid 4uyyme personally -ttftw\.Bankip^h<wr^'^nd-- not

entered on the banking books, nor known bnt to you and me. * Now suppose I treat this advance as a personal trust ? The Bank breaks : the money disappears. Consternation of the Dodds, who, until enlightend by the public settlement, will think it has gone into the well. 4 In that interval I talk Alfred over : and promise to produce the 14,000 J. intact, with my paternal blessing on him and Miss Dodd; provided he will release me from my debt to him, and give me a life interest in half the money j settled on him by my wife's father to my most unjust and insolent exclusion. Their passion will soon bring the young people to reason : and then they ; will soon melt the old ones.' Skinner was struck with this masterly little sketch. But he detected one fatal flaw: ' You don't say what is to hecome of me.' * Oh, I haven't thought of that yet.' 4 But do think of it, sir ! that I may bave tbe pleasure of co-operating. Itwould never do for you and me to be pulling two Whys, you know? 4 1 will not forget you,' said Hardie, wincing under the chain this little wretch held him with, and had jerked him by way of reminder. * But surely, Skinner, you agree with meitwooldbea sin and a shame to rob this honest captain of his money — for my creditors ; curse th«_m ; Ah, you are not a father. How quickly he found that out ! Well, lam : and he touched me to the quick : I love my little JaDe as dearly as he loves his Julia, every bit : and I feel for him. And then he put me in mind of my own father ; poor man. That seems strange, doesn't it? a sailor ; and a banker. Ah ! It was because they were both honest men. Ye**-, it was like a wholesome flower coming into a close room, and then out again leaving a whiff behind, was that sailor. He left the savour of Probity and Simplicity behind, though he took the things themselves away again, Why, why couldn't he leave us what is more wanted here than even his money ? His integrity: the pearl of price, that my father, whom I used to sneer at, carried to his grave ; and died simple, but wise ; honest, but rich ; rich in money, in credit, in honour, and eternal hopes : Oh, Skinner ! Skinner ! I wish I had never been born.' Skinner was surprised : he was not aware that intelligent men, who sin, are subject to fits of remorse : nay, more, he was frightened; for* the emotion of this iron man, so hard to move,, was overpowering when it came : it did not soften, it convulsed him. 4 Don't talk so, sir,' said the little clerk 'Keep up your heart! Have a drop of something.' 1 You are right,' said Mr Hardie, gloomily ; it is idle to talk : we are all the slaves of circumstances/ With tbis, he unlocked a safe + hat stood againf-t the wall, chucked the 14,000 Z. in, and slammed the iron door sharply ; and as it closed upon the Cash with a clang, the parlour door burst oppn as it by concert, and David Dodd stood on the threshold looking terrible. His ruddy colour was all gone, and he seemed black and white with anger and anxiety. And out of this blanched, yet lowering face, his eyes glowed like coals, and roved to and fro between the Banker and the clerk. A thunder-cloud of a man.