The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-10-09

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For SO skillful was my disguise that dur
ing that time ran the gantlet Of the
chances both of Roger Dale and the Hon
orable Ernest without exciting the s1s-
picions of either. | am not sure that the
former did not feel as if he had seen my
face before, for he stared at me wonder
ingly, as II seemed TO me. and for a mo-
ment feared that al was over: but he
turned carelessly away, and observed to
my employer. loud enough for his words
to reach my ears:
Nice looking girl that, Prime. Ii
you don't look out I'll offer her double
the salary across the street
This observation directed all eyes 10
me, for there were several men in the
group, and among them my English adj
mirer; but in his case, at least, the adage
regarding the blindness of Cupid was
strihnglv illustrated, for though he ex-
amined me through his lorgnette with
evident admiration, he contented him
self with echoing the sentiments of his
financial guide, only a little more eu-
phemistically:
shes a daisy, Prime, a daisy Re
minds me, too, Of some girl I've seen
somewhere. I've travelled so much, and
seen so many girls, I'm always noticing
ikenesses. Jolly expression that, She's
daisy Only heard it yesterday; but
I'm catching on fast. How's Denver
today
The Honorable Ernest seemed in truth
TO be catching on" fast. From the re-
marks that were let fall by persons in the
Office, judged that he must have made
a great deal of money already under the
tuition of Roger Dale. The success of
the latter was on every ones lips He
was coming thousands daily, and was as
shrewd as he was successful, according
TO the verdict of those whose savings
overheard. He was not very often in our
Office, and was glad to see that no in
timacy existed between him and Mr.
Prime Hints dropped in my presence
by some of our less highty looking Gus
toners revealed to me the fact that there
were those who predicted for him fall
as rapid rs had been his rise. But could
not help feeling a little Of my former
jealousy return as | noted how slack
and improbable our business was com
pared with his.
tried my best to make myself of use,
and my efforts were quickly appreciated,
for new and more important work was
intrusted to me, under the pressure Of
which felt at first completely tired out
at night, and thankful to get to bed As
regards my domestic arrangements. ! de-
cided finally not TO change ny lodgings,
but by dint CT explicit Instructions to
my landlady and maid I managed to
have my presence in the house concealed
from those Of my acquaintance who
called. There are always certain num-
Der of people who do not hear one is in
town Until after one has left. 1t was
against such that needed to take pre-
cautions; and after the impression was
duly established that I was really gone
breathed freely once more, and gave
myself up to my business with little con-
Germ as to the discovery of my innocent
deceit. | had to frame such replies to
Aunt Helen's letters and questions as the
sensitiveness of my conscience would
permit.
Mr.. Prime, in his efforts to build UP
his business, was evidently most diigent
and painstaldng, and, as l had observed
during my early Investigations, usually
staid at the Office until late. OF course
Inever left before him, and perhaps ii
was not unnatural that after time we
got into the way of walking up town to-
gether. One day he happened to come
back for something inst as l was setting
out, and he walked along by my side.
Our ways lay IN the same direction, and
it was the habit of each of us to walk
home for the exercise. 1t seemed to me
IN no way dangerous or uniting that ]
should be otherwise than at ease in my
conversation with Mr.. Prime; indeed,
was soon conscious of a desire to mystify
him by giving him glimpse of my &C
quirements. l branched off from the
current events of the day to poetry and
ant, and to my qualification I found that
Ihad touched sympathetic chord in
my companion which not even wonder
could restrain from responding. After
this it became Mr.. Primes won't to wait
for me occasionally, and by the time ]
had been in his employ six weeks this
became his daily practice.
Our intimacy was curious one, for OF
course we avoided all personal and social
topics-I from necessity, and he doubt
less because of the difference in our posi-
tons which he supposed to exist. But
on this very account got truer i'm
preston of his real self, for he did not
feel the hamper of conventions in our
talk, and hence was not affected He
said freely what he thought and be-
heved; and underneath the tendency to
regard everything in a mezzo-cynical,
mezzo-humorou light there cropped out
from time to time evidences of his ear
nestness and enthusiasm, which as our
friendship strengthened were less and
less subordmated to raillery and chaf.
Not whit inferior in cultivation to my
self, he possessed besides keen analytic
sense which. 1 enyied, especially as felt
that it did not steel him against ideal
considerations
Meanwhile my usefulness at the Office
was constantly increasing, for my en-
ployer now made me devote my time to
various sorts of financial matters, and
could see plainly that he was puzzled al