The Gates of Chance

vate Le

n the common room of the club was heaped high with hickory logs, a cheerful sight, were it not for that odious motto, "Non Possumus," graven over the mantel-shelf

then he rang for a servant, directing him to inquire for any mail that might have come in the afternoon delivery. Nothing for Mr. Sydenham was the report, and again the young man relapsed into his melancholy musing. An hour later, and just after Indiman had joined me, Mr. Sydenham repeated his inquiry about his letters, receiving the same negative a

alver on which lay a missive of some sort, a telegra

at length. "For Mr. Sydenham; y

e of the most intense repulsion, and for all that unable to help himself. The message once in his hand he did not seem to concern himself overmuch with its possible import; presen

if there is any answer,"

. He read the message through carefully, then perused it for a s

orward. "Well?"

denly to inspire in him a feeling of trust; he took the risk; he handed t

contained

ridge at 8.35 o'clock to-morrow morning. You can drop fro

Sydenham by the arm. "Let us go into the card-

ford & Sands, stock-brokers. On January 15th a shortage of fifty thousand dollars had been discovered in hi

r. Sydenham," said Indiman

hink so," answered t

y, "that does not sound like a con

, when I discovered that our bank balance showed a discrepancy of fifty thousand dollars. I covered it over for the time, hopin

uary 9th. Did you make your regu

rge denominations. I sent another messenger over to the bank, but it was after three o'clock and the d

d t

ur own safe or carried it home with me or pit

he office later th

rivate affairs, and that delayed me until all

? Pardon me, but the

Sandford's daughter. I was

ce w

telegram. It contained the single word 'yes' and was signed by her initials. It

essage?" asked Indiman, smoothing out the

towards self-destruction in one form or another. "Suicide's corner" at Niagara, poison, the rope-all couched in language o

young man. "Sometimes two or three. Generally

iss Sa

announced engagement, and begged her to believe in me until I could clear

ved from her only t

t is

ink they co

ere are times when I have to take a tight hold on my

e an innocent man. Had it been otherwise you would long sinc

peated the young ma

ll be p

mon

all be

ugh w

oubted explanation. The gap must be bridged, t

serve

l you hear from me. The address-thank you. You had better leave the club at

suggestions, and we did not lose sight of him until he

tively easy to get at the submerged consciousness in his case

k the money was

disposal being an act of Sydenham's subliminal persona

t w

ng as it was only routine. Then came the emergency, and, objectively, he was unable to cope with it. The subjective personality took command and did the right thing, for Sydenham is an honest man. What action the subliminal self actually took is known only to itself, and no effort of Sydenham's nor

n set back to January 9th, and the HERALD of that date lay half-opened on Sydenham's old desk. It will be remembered that Sydenham had been detained on some of Mr. Sandford's private business, and it was perfectly feasible to reconstruct its details. Mr. Sandford

, "you will observe that this is January 9, 1903. Kindly seat yourself at yo

passed. Sydenham sat motionless at his desk; Alden, the bank messenger, was within call in the

ithdrew. He opened it, and instead of a written message drew out a fresh sprig of heliotrope. Motionle

Mr. Sandford into the room

e, relating to the papers that

t the safe-deposit company," concluded Mr.

e was in his way, and he tossed it onto the floor. Und

"Alden!" he called, and the

ains fifty thousand dollars. Do you think you can ge

eliotrope; he pressed it passionately to his lips. Then carefully placing it in his pocke

ouldn't take it," he said, and hand

, absently, "I'll take care of it

oat, and began making preparations to depart. Once he came into Mr. Sandford's private office, where we were sitt

close down his roll-top desk when the package of bank-bills met his eye. He frowned perplexedly; then picking up the bund

uld, but this time luck was aga

som. Mr. Sandford was there, and we waited impatiently for Sydenham's

any he stopped and thrust his hand into a waistcoat-pocket. He took it away empty and a terrible change came over his face. With a quick movement

e driver to proceed to Indiman's lodgings. The attack had been but a momentary one, and Sy

money-it was in my hand. I stood before the world, a self-convicted thief. I thank you; you have done your best, but it is useless." He passed the money to Mr. Sandford; mechanically his hand went to the

ly. He pulled the check-cord. "Drive back to

ions under which you had access to Mr. Sandford's vault. Of course your name as an autho

kept myself. When Mr. Sydenham had any business to do for me at t

particular day, the 9th of

es

ow?" almost sh

ndford, in surprise

personality was again submerged, and Mr. Sydenham's normal consciousness was re-established. Mr. Sandford, you are perfectly aware of the fact that these legal papers were properly deposited in your vault, and that the pass-key was returne

to a private room, and, under Mr. Sandford's eye, the treasure-box belonging to him was carried in and opened. Almost at the

ing stock. You see here is another envelope identical in appearance and lying directly beneath it. M

a deposit of the papers-but the money, no, I had no recollection of having seen or touc

e recovery of the money. But we will speak of that again. Where can I put you do

her business down-town, and, of course, I remained with him. T

pocket of his overcoat a rather bulky package and handed it to young Mr. Sy

l, what was the poor girl to do? The young fool had changed his lodgings and obliterated every possible trace of his whereabouts. All Miss Sandford ha

t follo

his mail if he would keep away from the club, and accordingly I had the key of the letter-box in my possession. Ten minutes later I wen

ate key,

pid person who descends to cr

l, t

n full view of the spectators. The doors would be closed for an instant, and then, when reopened, the man had disappeared. The full interior of the cabinet was p

performer

et appeared to be empt

o

side walls were thereby exposed, and, of course, they were papered to correspond with the rest of the interior. Their reflection was doubled in the mirrors, making it appear to the observer that the whole cabinet was open to his vision. The truth was that he saw only half of it, the performer being concealed behind the mirrors. The only po

you

owner of the box would naturally glance into it before actually using his pass-key. Obviously, it were a waste of time to go through the form of opening an EMPTY box, and so poor Sydenham never got any of the letters that were daily deposited there, for the receptacle is a large one

only to acquaint Miss Sandford with the circumstances in the case to secure her further co-operation, for, of course, she had never ce

January 9th. That contained a word, 'yes,' and was signed by her i

The heliotrope means, 'Je t'adore,' and Sy

but

such a nature as to convince him that the cloud between them had finally lifted. Now, without trust and confidence, true love is impossible. The message of the sprig of heliotrope told him all that he had been hungering and longing to hear throughout these terrible two months; the shock

the false

would ask that

wickedness! It i

ction for no other motive than that of doing evil for evil's sake. That such an intelligence has been active in thi

u don't

nswered my f

when we called a hackney-coach and started homeward. As we drov

house-smith, Thorp? Evidently we will have to go and find out for ourselves." He pulled the check-cord and g

trimmed booths wherein were displayed various articles of feminine fallals and cheap bric-a-brac, each p

s bore the various cognomens assumed for the occasion by the fair venders of osculatory delights. "Cleopatra," "The Fair One with Golden Locks," "Kathleen Mavourneen," "Pocahontas," or more simply, albeit not less mysteriously, "Miss A. B.," or "Ma

your pocket? Then come with me," and forthwith we jammed and corkscrewed our way