The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-14
PART 7.

AS entered the Ann Street Bank
building some one touched me on the
arm: and turned to face George Stall
bridge. / knew it was Stalbridge be-
fore L saw him, before l heard his
voice. The creature had an atmos-
phere such as is said to surround an
evil spirit. If it had been consistent
with my creed, l should have crossed
myself when ] perceived him.
Ny hatred of him had always been
quite undisguised. 1 shook off his
hand roughly and would have walked
away, but he detained me. There was
a snaky fascination about the man
which had long been included in my
mental catalogue of his offenses.
You walk very fast" he said. 81
have'had hard work to overtake YOU
Let me know you're behind me next
time" said l, 'if you're interested in
my Professionalism. Now, don't detain
me. 1 am going. upstairs 10 see Mr..
DaVds. and l have no time to waste
upon his evil genius"
why do you speak so to me-" he
asked. not at all in anger. Come. let's
have it ont today. What have you
against me?"
DO you want me to so over all that
again." | demanded. ''Well. SO be 1t.
There is Il new count I'm the indictment
today, anu l have a couriosity to hear
how you will answer it,
We still stood in the main hall of the
great building. II was II o'clock in the
forenoon, q busy hour there. and scores
of persons were passing in and out.
No" said he, reading my thought;
sit won't do to talk here. Let us so
somewhere else"
lie put his hand upon my arm again,
in most friendly fashion. and led me
toward the street.
1t Is positively painful to entertain
for any human being the feeling which
] had for him. The eye of u stranger
lit upon us walking thus together, and
! cowed as one detected in n shameful
action. 1t was not for his reputation,
because that was good. as regulations
20 In New York. He was called a first
rate business man. and truly. for he
succeeded, and that Is the recognized
test.
In the old days it was his personal
appearance that set me against him.
he was tall, thin and high shOuldered
having the look of one who had drawn
himself UP to the uttermoSt that he
may pounce down the harder upon
something lying before him. His face
was bony. and the upper part was Il
skin over q skull. He had Il most dis
tressing habit of lifting his matted and
seemingly abundant hair with his hand
in such IL way as to show that the top
of his head was really quite bald. The
long hair rooted at the back merely lay
upon it In a mass.
On the occasion in question there was
something to be gained by talking with
this man. and so I stified my disgust
of him. He had been for many years
the close business associate of my
uncle. Mr.. William Davis, upon whom
it had been my intention to call when
] visited the bank building.
MY uncle has read the papers this
morning, l suppose" said !.
Stalbridge brought his jaws together
with a snap, and grinned like Il skull.
They are rather hard upon u.s." he
said. 1T Is. perhaps, unfortunate that
the negotiations between the Union Sur
face lines and the Twenty-seventh
Street company have been divulged.
The public never understands such
things"
The public understands them per-
fectly," / replied. angrily. The pub
lie knows that the Union has got its
grip upon the smaller company and has
squeezed it to death; that every man
who has Dut dollar into the Twenty
seventh street road will lose it-has
lost it, in fact--and that the whole