Middletown transcript., 1882-01-06
THE BANK SECRET.
BY WIN. o. sToDDARD.

/ CN@@~@ ADSA-O~NNj oAAS NNA-AAAS~"
"Gideon ~ The old-fashioned name
seemed set to a sort Of conversations
music by the rich, full tones which ut
tered it, and it was followed, in default
of an instant reply, by, I'm going to
do you very great favor"
"Right away2 Well, I'm ready all
my firmness rallied"
"No, sir +; you may finish your tea. -
'And then the astonishment ?"
You can have that now. I've tick
cts for the concert at the Academy
tomorrow night, and you're to take
me.''
"Ruth, my dear ~ Mrs. Belford,
from behind the tea-urn, said that quite
suddenly, and Gideon showed his pres
ence of mind by promptly remarking,
'Mrs. Belford, I'm deeply obliged to
you. Those are the very words, only 1
should not have dared
The lady of the house was not at that
moment smiling upon her husbands big
yellow-haired step-son. She even in a
manner cut him off by repeating, in a
tone of reproof, Ruth, my dear p and
then, after dignifed pause, she added,
"did not Mr.. Marvin Belford speak to
you about this very concert ?"
"Did he ?'' growled old John Bel
ford at the other end of the table
"then Ruth's right. Self-preservation
is the first law Of nature"
"Ruth,' said Gideon, "I'm your
man. III save you at any cost"
1t will cost you nothing at all, sir,
and the music will be good. Besides, 1
shall wear new dress and be unusually
handsome. You will be much envied
man."
"And Marvin will love me better
than ever, and shall be happy"
Gideon Street did not look like man
to be much troubled by the opinions Of
other people, particularly Of anybody he
was just then thinking of. Neither did
he bear the customary marks of a gene
raj favorite among men or women. 1t
is not easy to make pet of broad
shouldered, bearded Viking, with steel
gray eyes and deep voice. Through
all the explanatory remarks which fol-
lowed, he was profoundly polite to Mrs.
Belford, and little more SO to Ruth,
but there was all the while species of
suppressed chuckle in ambush behind
the politeness.
truth Faraday," exclaimed Mrs.
Belford at last, "you are much too Sc
we're upon your cousin. Marvin Bel
ford is one Of natures noblemen."
He's not cousin Of mine, Aunt |
Carrie and must say l think nature
might have done better.''
" And not half try" muttered Gid
con Street f; but at that moment Mr..
Belford said to his wife, "Now, Carrie,
you must let US go. want a talk with
Gid in the library about some business
matters. You can have him, Ruth,
after I've done with him."
!" | don't want him, Uncle John. |
I'll be perfectly fair. He need not !
come near me again until it's time to
start for the concert. .
"That's fair" said Gideon.
"And even then I won't expect him
to talk. All he really need do is to look |
around him and smile now and then,
after I've led him to the right seats.''
Her dark, brilliant eyes were dancing
with fun, and Gideon, as he slowly
rose from the table, thrust his face
halfway across it with a remarkable
contortion of its manly features, as he
asked, "Would this do ?''
Not if there were children"
Well, you must put me in mind,
you know. 1 can smile.'
An hour or so later, without any
smile at all upon his face, Gideon Street
came out of John Belford's library.
He carried in one hand leathern va
lise Of respectable size, and on his
hasty march toward the front door he
muttered, "Good company in the
parlor. Shan't have to answer any
questions"
Behind him, in the well-lghted, lux
urious library, the stalwart, grim old
banker sat by the table in the centre,
very much as if he were listening for
the sound of the closing of the front
door. 1t came,-a sharp, decisive
sound-and his heavy fist fell upon the
table with thud:: That's attended
to. believe can trust him. There'n
be music all round before great while,
but l don't believe I shall hear much Of
it. The rest of them will all have tick
ets.n
There was mention making of tickets
and music at that very moment in the
parlor, for, although Mr.. Marvin Bel
lord had been there some time, he had
been but few minutes in the enjoy
ment of Ruth Faraday's conversation.
He was not so tall or so strong man
as Gideon Street, but he was much
better looking, his eyes and hair were
darker, and he was dressed with more
care. His response to Ruth's entering
salutation had been made with a grace
which did him credit, but they two, had
they been listening, might have heard
the street door open and shut Just as
the young lady innocently remarked,
The concert [? Splendid Yes, it will
be, no doubt. Mr.. Street has promised
to take me.''
Con! HIM You're booked al
ready Too late, am I? Now, Ruth,
you might have known I'd come. Gid
Street, too ~
swell, yes, did think you possibly
4 IA