Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-05-18
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
The opening Of November saw q re-
markable change in the condition and
the working Of the Carlotta silver mine
at Jason City, Colo. During the two
months after the sealing Of the compact
between Banker Grierson and Miss
Huntingdon the Wall street man had
been working like beaver. Slowly,
surely, he was preparing for q coup.
Only few days after, q new electicu
had taken place, and by virtue of his
acquisition Of Miss Huntingdon's entire
share Of Carlotta he easily had become
possessed Of a majority Of the votes In
tie directory. And 80 all this time he
had been quietly manipulating the af-
fairs Of the mine until the value Of its
output, to an outsider, would have
seemed materially decreased.
Mr.. Grierson was very well pleased
with himself as he rang the bell of Miss
Huntingdon's house the same evening
that the directors Of the Carlotta Min
ing company were to hold q meeting.
Since the transfer books had closed he
had quietly foated. through his various
agents, $500 shares of the stock in
small lots, and as Carlotta was just then
quoted at 1854 the chance for invest.
ment had been eagerly seized by good
ly number.
When Miss Huntingdon appeared in
the drawing room In response to his
card, he shook hands with his fair fel-
low conspirator with an effusivenesa
that rather surprised her. Had that
young woman known what was revolv-
ing in the bankers mind as a part OF
this deal not yet revealed to her she
would have been astounded.
WELL" the arch schemer said when
his greetings were over, Everything ID
working as smoothly % could be desired.
There will lie quite stir in the morning.
to say the least. Can'tstop to tell You any
more now-watch the papers," And
Mr.. Grierson bowed himself out.
Miss Huntingdon dropped on . divan
In front Of the fireplace. She leaned
forward and gazed into the fire. The
Goals glowed and spluttered as II IL
sympathy with the excitement the
breezy announcement of the banker had
stirred in her breast. So 1t was coming,
she thought, with an unwonted light In
her eyes-this thing she had dreamed Of
90 long. So she was going to be in thil
as she had been In every move she had
made since she began to gather her for.
tune-successful. That the banker had
come with his proposition at the time be
had-was it not proof that she was born
under lucky starr
Father, dear father, " she inurmuSed
pensively, "you shall have your will. +"
She took from her pocket q cardcase,
ard from it drew q scrap Of paper, vel.
low and creased. II seemed to rouse
her. II have sworn to crush this man,
James Delafield," nervously clinching
her hand, land I am ready to do Il. ."
Again she looked at the paper long and
earnestly. THAT is my talismani" she
exclaimed.
but my poor father did not know to
what he condemned me. He did not
know that would come into such con-
tact with men whose only ambition in
life is to get money-anyway, anyhow
but to get it. He did not know that
to fulfill the VOW he demanded Of me
he was subjecting me to an existence
that Is fast crushing out of me the SEN
sibility, the goodness of heart-yes, the
very womanliness-that 80 endeared my
mother to him-an existence distasteful
to me and suffered only for the sake Of
my promise. But it will soon end;
then my life will be my own. In thie
deal shall ruin James DelafieId to the
last dollar in his pocket. Icannot fail.
Miss Huntingdon rose and thought
fully paced the floor. why does the
man seek me so2 ! have not encour-
aged him. Sometimes feel contempt
ible. Perhaps ought to have sent him
away long ago. And yet the whole
affair came about SO naturally, and the
acquaintance has progressed in such
way that to dismiss him would have
been out Of the question. As much az
l might wish to, / cannot hate him.
Really, ! must admit it, rather like
him personally. He seems so great
hearted. SO frank, so-no, no, no. am
his enemyl must not think off,
Mr. Delafeld!" gravely announced
the Be. sant at this juncturs. Miss
Huntingdon turned quickly. With q
graceful. swinging movement she put
out her hand toward the man who had
entered. but feeling almost Judaslike.
Had she attempted to analyze the stu
alton at that moment she wonld have
been confronted by sequence Of per-
picking questions such as would have
ached her pretty head to answer. How
ever, she was quite composed outward
ly and CALCULATED: Why, did not ex-
pect to see you this evening! l supposed
you would attend the directors meet
ing"
Il thank you for thinking of me-"
replied Delafeld gently as he released
her hand. Flushing little, Miss Hunt
lngdon sat down. Delafeld leaned
against the mantel and crossed his hands
behind him. He looked very manly,
Miss Huntingdon thought, In this care.