The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-10-23
CHAPTER VII.

GLOW People Kill Time on Shipboard,
and she did not wish to be disturbed;
besides, as she often said of herself,
she was not "woman's woman" and
neither liked nor was liked by her own
sex.
81 desire a few moments converse
ton with you, if have your permits
sion,'' said Edith Longworth, as she
closed the door behind her.
Certainly" answered Jennie Brews-
ter. "Will you sitdown?"
Thank YOU" replied the other, as
she took seat on the sofa. 81 do not
know just how to begin what L wish to
say. Perhaps it will be better to COM
mence by telling you that know why
You are on board this steamer"
"Yes; and why am 1 on board the
steamer, may ask?"
you are here, l understand, to get
certain information from Mr.. Went
worth. You have obtained it, and it is
in reference to this that l have come to
see you"
Indeed! And are you so friendly
with Mr.. Wentworth that you"
81 scarcely know Mr.. Wentworth at
ALL"
Then why do you come on a mission
from him?"
at is not on a mission from him. 1t is
not a mission from anyone. l was
speaking to Mr.. Kenyon, or rather, Mr..
Kenyon was speaking to me about
subject which troubled him greatly. II
is a subject in which my father is in
terested. My father is a member of
the London syndicate, and he naturally
would not desire to have your in
tended cable message sent to New
York"
Really; are you quite sure that you
are not speaking less for your father
than for your friend Kenyon?"
Anger burned in Miss Longworth's
face, and flashed from her eyes as she
answered:
You must not speak to me in that
way"
Excuse me, l shall speak to you in
just the way L please. l did not ask
for this conference; you did, and as
you have taken it upon yourself to
come into this room unlimited, you will
have to put up with what you hear.
Those who interfere with other peo-
pies business, as general thing, do
not have a nice time"
81 quite appreciated all the possible
disagreeablencss of coming here when
! came"
y an glad of that. because # you
hear anything you do rot Ike. you WI
not be disappointed. and viii have only
yourself to 5hank Tor it,
81 would like TO tail, clcut this mat
ter in spirit Of frieEdliness, if can. l
think no good can be attained by
speaking in any other way"
Every well, then. What excuse have
you to give me for coming to my state
room TO talk about business which does
not concern you?"
Miss Brewster, it does concern me
it concerns my father, and that con-
Germs me. I am. in n measure, my
fathers private secretary, and am init
mately acquainted with all the bust
ness he has in hand. This particular
business is his affair. and therefore
mine. That is the reason am here"
Are you sure?"
Am l sure of what?"
Are you sure that what you say is
true?"
Il am not in the habit of speaking
anything but the truth"
perhaps you flatter yourself in that
case, but it does not deceive me. You
merely come here because Mr.. Kenyon
is in a muddle about what l am going
10 do. Isn't that the reason?"
Miss Longworth saw that her task
was going to be even harder than she
had expected.
Suppose we let all question of mo-
tive rest? ! have come here-I have
asked your permission to speak on this
subject. and you have given me the
permission. Having done so, it seems
10 me you should hear me out. You
say that should not be offended"
81 didn't say so. l do not care a rap
whether you are offended or not"
'You at least said might hear some
thing that would rot be pleasant. What
wanted to say is this: have taken
the risk of that, and. as you remark.
whether l am offended or not does not
matter. Now we viii come to the
point"
Just before you come to the point,
please let me know if Mr.. Kenyon told
you he had spoken to me on this sub
ject already?"
''YeS, he told me So"
''Did he tell you that his friend Went
worth had also had a conversation with
me about it?"
'Yes. he told me that Also
Every well, then, If those two men
can do nothing to change my purpose.
how do you expect 10 do it?''
THAT is what am about to tell you.
This is a commercial world, and am
a commercial mans daughter. Irecog-
nize the fact that you are going 10 ca
BILE this information for the money it
brings. Is not that the ease?"
at is partly the case"
''For what other consideration DO you
,r-orl- thor, 0ss