The free press., 1893-05-18
fore his face, his whole bearing that of
man who is brimful of an impatience
which he is striving to control.

as if suddenly petritied, with hand, half
way toward the hat rack. Mr. Cruik-
shank was saying:
~ find that the proxies which 1 must
have for the directors meeting in Chi
cago on December II, are not likely to
get here unless 1 send some one ex-
pressly to fetch them. In order to do
it the messenger must start in an hours
time, go to Liverpool, London, Exeter
and Edinburgh and return on the fast
steamer which leaves Liverpool on De-
cember s, and is due here on the 18th.
Will you go, Tracy2"
~ can't possibly, sir" said the man
addressed. eff you had only told me
last night"
"That will do! Last night is dead
dog. You, Denning9"
"I could take to. morrow's steamer,
sir"
"Too late! Fraser, what's to hinder
yous"
Mr.. Cruikshank was waving his hands
violently by this time.
"Nothing, sir, only"
"Only 'Only' never gets there! You,
Johnson9"
"My wife is sick, sir. cannot leave
her."
Mr.. Cruikshank looked rapidly around
the room, glancing at the clock, where
the minute hand seemed to move with a
terrible velocity. Apparently he did
not see Stella, though his eyes rested on
her fraction Of a second in their rapid
sweep, so he was greatly surprised when
she stepped quietly forward, saying in
her low, clear voice:
"May gos"
The man looked up sharply into her
face, and his own cleared.
"Think you canG All right! I'll send
down and get berth for you. My car
riaQe is at the door now. Jump into it,
60 home and get your traps, and drive
down to the pier as fast as possible. l
will meet you there with written in
structions and some English money. You
have Just one hour and five minutes"
While he was speaking Stella had
been resuming her hat and jacket, and
she was out of the door by the time the
last word was spoken. A few minutes
more and she was in the room she had
so lately left, exclaiming
"My chance has come, Kitty start
for England in an hour"
Kitty rose hastily.
"What can do to help you?" she
asked, her face flushing with generous
pleasure.
"Nothing," replied Stella, "only to
write and let my mother know and don't
work yourself into fit of sickness be-
fore get back"
While talking Stella was putting into
her satchel few toilet articles, a change
of underclothlng. night.dress, pair
of rubber shoes and waterproof cloak.
"Good-bye," she said. Aud with
warm kiss the friends parted.
Arrived at the steamer, Stella was
met by Mr.. Cruikshapk with a rug on
his arm and in his hands h guide-book
and well-filled purse.
81 thought you'd need the rug" he
said, "and as this is Jour first trip you
might not think of it,"
Though not handsome, Stella was very
pleasing in appearance. The severe lines
of the dark blue business suit, relieved
by touches of narrow gold cord, which
she always wore when at her work, were
becoming to her tall, symmetrical figure,
and clear, healthy complexion; and so
was the little hat of dark blue velvet,
with bunch of gold acorns, which rest
ed firmly on her abundant coils OF chest
nut hair. She looked alert, but much
calmer and cooler than her employer.
eyes" he said, as if answering some
unseen objector, ~ think you'll do it,
and if you do pll-" Apparently he was
about to promise something, but thought
better of it.
81 will do it," she said firmly, with
out awaiting the conclusion OF Mr.
Cruikshank's sentence, while rich
GLOW mounted to her cheek, and the
light of courage and self'reliance came
into her eyes.
eyes. I think you will. I've watched
you a good while, and l know that you
have social tact and sound business Judg-
ment. You may depend upon it that
tQOugn 1 pTOOapiy -
thought of you had you not ouereo' l
should not have accepted your offer to
90 had not already known your quail
ties and qualifications. In this envelope
you will find full Instructions; but OF
course, your success will depend on the
use YOU make of them. Goodbye:
And shaking her hand cordially, Mr.
Cruikshank ran off the gang plank al Tue
last moment. A..
i Notwithstanding the season. the
weather was pleasant during most t;a OF
the voyage, aud Stella passed much % timo
on deck, enjoying to the full the braclng
air and the sense of freedom from ca's
of every sort. She knew that she nao
been intrusted with an important matter.
She must secure, and that quickly, .no
powers necessary to enable Mr, oruiH, :.
shank to act for the English directors =; ~
a grave emergency. Some OF the'e sho;r oi
rectors, as she had gathered from 'no,'
correspondence, were distrusttui' ana 'n