The Press., 1893-01-12


 "We mtsh to have quiet little talk ,pith
 yOu, Miss M0fgafct."
 It was four o'clock Saturday after noon. Jack turned from the elevator, down which he had just sent the forms of the last edition, and gave sigh of re- lief as the regular beat of the stereo- typer's brush arose from below. A few of the compositors yet fingered at their cases throwing in'' such type as could be got, but the majority had gone home to supper, preferring to return later when the forms were released from the steaming table and type was more plentiful. Quoins, sidesticks, mallets. planers and other utensils lay about on the imposing stones and tables, and with wave of his hand toward them and word of instruction to his youthful assistant, Hazeley stepped to his desk and began measuring up "dupes."
 Despite the ink stains on his brawny arms and his beard of three days growth, he was as handsome specimen of young manhood as one often sees, and so Margaret Medbury thought as she at that moment opened the door from the stairway into the hall, at the end of the room where Jack was. Her modest ''How do you do, Mir. HazeleyY brought the blood to Jacks face and set his heart pounding, but he mustered courage to reply politely, and as at this instant the business manager and man. aging editor appeared at the head of the stair and bowed her across the hall into the late MT. Medbury's room no further chance for conversation was given.
 As Margaret entered this room, into which since childhood she had so often joyously bounded, her heart was heavy. It seemed as if she was entirely alone in great, unfeeling world-a world her kind, indulgent father had made very happy for her. Her mothers death three years before had been hard blow, but it was as nothing in comparison with her present bereavement. The utter loneliness had not come before, but now it was upon her with oppressive weight. The honest sympathetic face of her childhood friend and schoolmate Jack Hazeley-had seemed most well come moment before, but the differ ence in their respective stations forbade his offering sympathy unless she made the first advances, and her woman's modesty forbade that.
 All this and much more passed through the young woman's mind as she entered the editorial apartments. The polite in- vitations of the Messrs. Bite to be seated seemed hollow and grated harshly on her ears. Something told her the un- usual cordiality of the brothers was as- stunned, and she was alarmed to find herself wishing she had the same confi- dence in these two polished gentlemen now in her company that she had al ways involuntarily felt for Hazeley- reticent and bashful as he might appear in her presence. Sturdy, blunt, some times almost surly, there was always an undercurrent of kindness that told her and all who came in contact with him, that while he was, not 8 polite or pol ished man, he was still one who thor oughly understood himself-a man of uncommon moral and physical courage, and one of such broad mind and kind heart as to win the respect of all honest people.
 Why she distrusted the brothers she did not know. Surely she must needs trust them, for now that her father was gone she must depend on them as the respective heads of the editorial and business departments of this property left to her. However, as Charles. the elder, removed his hat and cleared his throat preparatory to opening conversation, the other brother meanwhile carefully clos ing the door after them, it seeemed as if that old saw
 Twill you walk into my parlor?
 Said the spider to the fly,
 was a most appropriate beginning.
 "We wish to have a quiet little talk with you, Miss Margaret" said Bite, senior, as he sat stiffly down on the edge of his chair, ''and for that purpose in- vited you into this little sanctum of mine." Margaret noticed the infection on the word mine" and repressed an- ger made her eyes glow a t1.ifle. It seemed to her as if this man had shown undue haste in removing his desk, books, etc., into her fathers room so soon after the funeral, and that, too, without con- sulting her, the present sole owner of The Herald plant. However, she could hardly find practical reason for resent ment, and almost immediately con- trolled herself and looked expectant, as if anxious for the procedure of Blite's "quiet talk"
 "You see" began the managing editor Again, ''Mr. Arthur here, my brother, and I have for some time had an interest "a financial interest, may say-in this plant, and while it is not such an in- terest as in any sense renders us proprie- tors, it is such as will probably necessi- tate the office giving us stock. That, however, is all we ask. We do not want our money. We have never said any thing to any one outside about this matter, and there is no need now of say ing anything about it. Your father in his will named me as executor and ad-
 illustrator, and l now proceed, in th1s quiet manner to inform you, the sole heir, of the only claim know of against the estate, real or personal--namely, $13,0O0 held by myself in the shape of three notes of $4,000 each, given me by your father for money lent"
 Surprise, mixed with indignation. be- trayed itself in Margaret's voice. ''In- deed! Why, if this be true, did not my father tell me of it? If you hold such paper. why did he say to me over and