The morning call., 1893-10-29

junior partner, to tell the world that he
was a broker, for that fact was patent
His keen. quick eyes, his manner of ner-
y6us intensity. told that. and he had
about him restraint and frigidity that
mark the man of business talent. He
was as brightly cool as the electric lamps
that early in winter evenings were lighted
outside in the street before he left the Of
fee; as cool as they and as powerful, with
concealed force
Bradley thought there was magnetism
about this uneXpressed strength, for what
else drew people toward the self-contained
man. vino seemed lacking in all affection
and brotherly love.
The office clock showed three-uuarters
after 2, only fifteen minutes before the
exchange would Close. Clifford stepped
quickly up to the ticker; his footsteps al
most snapped. they were so crisp on the
still. tense Office silence. He read on the
tape "35is, $50 shares" appended to the
name of his pet stock. a drop of two points
since morning. Again the crisp step back
to his desk.
Mr.. Petrie. ring for messenger" he
said briefly, bending his ssmooth-shaven face
intently over the papers before him, which
his long. delicate fingers were sorting
The sharp click of a closing watchcase
told Bradley that Clinton was counting the
minutes. He never trusted other time
keepers than his own watch-the Office
clock for office boys. A look at his clear
cut profile and flexible nostrils revealed
nervous tension, the result of which is
Quick decision and unerring action. He
was almost bOylsh In appearance, IL that
can be said of slender, light-haired man
of 40, but his bearing conveyed the idea OF
force. which was confirmed by his quick
perception and instantaneous action. His
Self-control was perfect, but at the same
). time evident. A compression of the lips
and quick, rabbit-like movement of the
thin nostrils showed when nerve and
tongue we're only held in check by strong
est effort.
: =. Bradley was different, being slow and
pacific always, and besides being gentle
man aud ten years older than Clinton he
was exempt from the lash of his tongue,
~ which was hot electric wire in its ability
j.. to cut and sting. Clinton could stand any,
thing better than stupidity. That eXas-
perated him beyond the bounds of that
respect for others feelings, which Bradley
. cuntended was the right even of clerk.
And yet Clinton was the better liked Of
the two men.
:, The Office door few open and a blue uni
form appeared. 'Call?" asked the boy
with Unconditional brevity.
"Mr. Petrie,' said Clinton's distinct,
never too loud voice, take charge of this
-IBatter for me and give the messenger his
directions-I am going out. NJ. Bradley,
L have just time" again on the tense air
the click of the watch cover, ito buy more
<Qf that preferred stock a. low figure be-
fore the exchange closes"
>:Young Petrie was Bradley's nephew and
40ne. Of Clinton's frequent causes OF annoy
: ance by reason of his better capabilities
for dress than for business. He looked up
:: now surprised at being trusted with an i'm
.p0rtant commission, seeing which Clinton
added cuttingy. Il hope. Mr.. PetrIe," he
WAYS preserved an unvarying formality
with his underingS-'1 hope l am n ot tax
Ling you too much" Petrie colored all over
Fl his pretty blonde face. He had not de-
t}&r it was Clinton's nerves and not
:Retrie'S delinquences that were making
! the sarcasm.
Clinton turned quickly, locked the safe.
lopk az his bat and, with purposeful steps,
cTpSSed toward the outer door. Then,
seized with an afterthought. he turned
:;@ba0b, every muscle conscious OF the loss
=: Of: time, and unlocked the safe. While his
! -h&ck was turned the door slowly and
:sFlently opened. He was scarcely conscious
:-Qf 1tuntii aroused by slender black figure
standing by i'm. He looked up, with his
':ner, looked and saw a woman, slight. girl
ash and beautiful. with the dangerous
!: beauty Of the south. yet in ner face that
. indescribable look which combines inno-
-eence and varied experience.
-. 'ClintOn's blue-gray eyes had been called
fiiDty, but as he looked into the dark,
~t1infd lifeless eyes before him he melted.
smiled slightly without the usual satrical
curve of the mouth corners, and said
briefly, What can do for you?"
= Bradley and the clerks marveled. for
Clinton hated women customers. CoQuetry
land coupon cutting were not compatible,
be once said with alliterative irony.
.-::"I am Nine. dos Santos" she said SIM
ply. and paused as if for an answering
recognition. Clinton's face wore the look
of one who listens perforce to a aharp high
mote continuously repeated, eagerly await
ing change.
:; :"Well?" he queried, briefly, but with
less than bis habitual asperity.
i'When [ left Chile my brother, Fernan-
do CarvajO, told me to come TO you if
:: were in trouble here" she continued, ex-
:planatOrily, but with increasing emDar-
..:rassInent, while opening a small, silver
mounted reticule and producing therefrom
five 500 notes.
=: Clinton looked long at the now down
cast eyes, which had been raised just long
enough to show their impenetrable dark
ness. The lids would not lift again, al
: though the hne curved browS rose often.
. Clinton looked and softened. "YOu want
me to invest this? To speculate with it ?"
be asked.
Then her eyes lifted gratefully and her
pathetic mouth parted IN a quick smile.
You are too good" she said briefly, land
see how rude | am to trouble YOU"
Five minutes before 3 and Clinton had
lost his opportunity for that coup which
was to have ended the days business. He
nervously relocked the safe upon Nine.
dos Santos mite, and after a moments
low-toned talk with her the two passed
out.
Nine. dos Santos bad applied to Clinton
for help, relying on him for it, expecting
kindness from him. There is something in
every maD that makes him want to live up
TO high opinion others may have formed
of him. The position was a little novel
fer Clinton. He had always been so much
alone that no one had depended upon
him. He was alone with that utter isola-
tion that is obtainable only in a great
hotel, where for seventeen years
he had been known only as No. 265.
and where he had been immured from all
contact save that which he deliberately
sought. So when he saw how absolutely
this little lady trusted him all bis latent
chivaIry was awakened. She was indeed in
need Of friend. Her husband had died