The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-09-25

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York with Aunt Helen, and delighted
my eyes with glimpse of the sign board
over the spacious offices of Francis Prime
and Company. But on that day it was
veritably glimpse that got, for was
too tiInid to take "a deliberate scrutiny of
what had come to see, owing to the fact
that every one met stared at me; and
then, too, was momentarily upset by
perceiying over the way just opposite,
in great gilt letters. the rival sign, as it
seemed to me. of Roger Dale, Banker
and Broker
Mr.. Dale / had not seen for several
years. but knew that he was living in
New York, where he had not long be-
fore married an heiress of obscure ante
cedents. according to rumor. That it
was be had little doubt, and though
the fact of his having an Office in the
same street could not of course affect,
either for evil or otherwise, the interests
of my protege, had an indefnable feel,
ing of dread at perceiving they were so
near TO one another. 1t was therefore
doubly necessary for me to be careful in
my subsequent expeditions down town,
not only to dress in such quiet, un-
fashionable manner as not to attract the
attention of passers. but so as to escape
recognition from my former admirer.
After the first impression of unpleas.
antness / felt little added zest on ac-
count of this element of risk, especially
when on inquiry learned that Roger
Dale was rated as one Of the most sue
cessful and enterprising of the younger
banking firms in the city. saw his adj
vertisements in the newspapers, and
gathered from current talk that he was
doing large and lucrative business. /
was glad to know that he was happy and
prosperous at last, for he had failed once
before leaving home, though | never
heard of it until long while after, and
under the influence of this mood any
vestige of i'll will that may have been
lurking in my mind died away, and |
came to regard the rival sign with per-
feet equanimity from behind the thick
veil by which l concealed my features.
Instigated by spirit of caution to make
my disguise as complete as possible,
purchased at cheap clothing store some
garments that did much toward render
ing my personal appearance the very OPP
posite of stylish.
even tried to give them soiled and
worn aspect by means of experiments at
home. SO that might pass for female
clerk or needy bushel woman, and be
free to pursue my Investigations unob-
served. In this guise | spent a number
of days in wandering about the business
streets of the city, attentive not only to
what went on in the Offices of Francis
Prime and Company and Roger Dale,
| but to the countless sights and sounds
of bustling trade, which | experienced
now for the first time. At first / did not
| dare TO appear too frequently in the
street which was the center of my inter
est, but IL dangerous fascination led me
| to become holder and more adventurous
us | becsyae familiar with the surround
| ings. From under the obScurity of
| arches and from behind pillars | noted
| daily who entered the doors of the new
| firm, and endeavorel to get an idea OF the
amount of business that it transacted.
III this respect was somewhat disap-
| pointed, for although customers were by
no means lacking, taera was a dearth of
patronage as compared with that en-
joyed by the banking house across the
street. During the morning hours there
was an incessant stream of people COM
ing and going up and down the marble
steps of the great building, on the first
floor of which were the Offices of Roger
Dale, aud by far the larger proportion Of
this number went no farther, for
could see them through the broad plate
glass windows, chatting and grouped
about q coil of tape that ran out with a
snakelile movement into a basket on
the floor.
/ mo BE Continued