The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-26

And Searle discourSed for some
minutes. to which Adrienne listened,
languidly.
"Egad!" he cried, with a sudden
laugh, IF he had only a start. with a
little capital-say $40. 900. Something
like the chance one or two fellows 1
know would have if they were aware
of a certain inside fact could COM
municate to themY'
Searle was rather a weak man, and
a somewhat indiscreet one. When
Adrienne, with a new s how of in
terest. asked what was the inside
fact, he was not proof against the
fattery of her freshly bestowed at
tention.
''Simply the fact that our bank"
Then he stopped short.
Look here" he laughed uneasi1y,
ST ought not to be telling you thisl
It only shows what confidence have
in you-how 1 worship you'll Heavenl
believe better than any girl vas
worshiped before"
She laid her cheek against his
sshoulder. Her caresses at all times
had been few. This one fred his
blood.
He had still presence of mind to
ask:
But why do you want to known"
"Simply a feminine curiosityl If
you don't tell me. shall know you
don't love me-"
And Searle told her.
The following morning, a slight,
girlish figure, with a certain majesty,
too. despite its girlishness, was adj
mitted to the small Office where Ham
mond was eagerly scanning some
papers.
The lady's face was yelled. When
she asked if she might see him alone
on important business, Hammond,
with family puzzled brow, led the
way to still smaller inner room.
Then she removed her viel.
| ''Miss Eastlake!'
s'Yes; you are surprised, of course.
Yet man such as l take you to be
should be surprised at nothing. AS
preamble to what 1 came here to say,
| however, 1 am going to tell you that,
! if you do not know me, know you,
| far better than you think possible.
| Don't misunderstood me-
The girl had seated herself She
spoke in quiet, collected, level voice:
81 am not in love wi tn you. But,
from the things Oscar Searle has let
drop inadvertently about you sfrom
time to time l have formed a certain
idea of your personality. And that
personality interested me because it
conceded with my own, with my own
temper, with my mode of thought As
soon as 1 heard you spea ak last night
Il had seen you before and studied
your face, for Mr.. Searle pointed you
out to me on more than one occasion
Il saw that had not been mistaken
in this view / had conceived of the
! manner of man you were. Well, this
being SO, have come to make bar
gain. l think it quite to your advant-
age. I shall state it as briefly as pos
sible. Few words are needed"
She paused and her mag nifcent
eyes were fixed upon him with a
piercing keeness in place of their
customary noncbalance. Hammond
had listened with growing attentive
ness.
go on" he said.
81 can give you information-inside
ormation-concerning the shares
in large bank, which if you have
the daring financial spirit take you
to have, will make your fortune or
launch you on the way to permanent
and colossal success"
"Ah!-Searle?"
Exactly, Searle. He told me-be-
ing infatuated with me, and thinking
a woman could make use of no such
disclosure. He ought not to have
trusted to that, of course. But Mr..
Searle is a fool. You thought loved
him!" She was Struggling her shout
ders. Il consented to marry him be-
cause his position was, at least, not
poverty-genteel poverty-the worst
of all But l want to be rich, want
to be powe rful 1 want to see the
world at my feet.
Possibly. L think probably, you are
the man who could do these things.
Therefore, my bargain. l commune
cate Mr.. Searle's information-which
he was fool to give neon consider
alton that you marry me-"
The two faced each other a mo-
ment- Hammond's brain was work.
ing with lightning rapidity.
''Of course, Searle may be suspect
ed. He will lose his position. Thi:
will brand him-ruin his chances for
ever"
Again Adrienne Eastlake shrugged
her shoulders.
Il am sorry-I would not willingly
harm him. But in the struggle fol
life the weak go to the wall. 1t i:
the law"
Half an hour longer this man and
i, this woman were closeted. WheI
Hammond walked with his visitor to
the door, the information had beer
given, the bargain struck
Before him, Hamm ond's insatiatt
inner eye saw stretching the feverisl
!. vision of success, no longer afar of
and dimly uncertain, but near, close
, within the grasp of his hand