Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-17

Sneed ISL Hos good enougns why, ny
nsEsc On . check is
at isn't question Of checks. papa"
walled the girl. ITS n question Of %
ciety. / was a painters model before I
married Ed, end, NO matter how rich I
am. eociety won't have anything to do
with me-"
TIE old man abscn,mindedly rubbed
his chin, which was o habit he had
when perplexed. He was face to face
with q problem entirely outside his
province. Suddenly . happy Thought
struck him.
"Thcse Snced women" he said in
tones Of great contempt. what do they
amount TO anyhow? They're nothing
but sour old maids. They never were
half so pretty as you. Why should you
care whether they called On you or
not:''
"Thcy represent society. II they came.
others would"
But society can't have anything
against you. Nobody has ever said .
word against your charactsr-model or
no model
The girl shook her head hopelessly.
Character docs not count in society"
In this statement she was, Of course,
absurdly wropg. bn: sine felt bitter at
all the world. Those who know society
| are well aware that character counts for
everything within its sacred precincts;
so the unjust remark should not be set
down to the discredit Of an inexperienced
girl.
I'll tell you what I'll do. " cried the
cd man. Frightening up. iii speak
to General Sreed tomorrow. I'll ar
range the whole business in five min.
utes."
do you think that would do any
eood:" asked young Mrs. bruce dubi-
| ously.
'Gcod? You bet it'll do goodl 1t will
settle the whole thing. I've helped
S1rcd out Of pinch before now, and
he'll fix up Il little matter like that for
me in no time. I'll just have q quiet
talk with the general tomorrow, and
you'll see the Sneod carriage ut the door
next day ut the very --latest" He patted
her smooth. white hand affectionately.
so don't you trouble. little girl, about
trifies, and whenever you want help you
just tell the old man. He knows thing
or two yet. whether it is on Wall street
or Fifth avenue
.Sneed was known in New York rs
the general. probably because he had
absolutely no military experience what
ever. Next 70 bruce he had the most
power in the financial world Of Amer.
lea. but there was n great distance be-
tween the first and the second. II it
came 10 q deal in which the general and
all the world stood against bruce. the
average Wall street man would have
bet on Druce against the whole COM
binGtion. Besides this the general had
the reputation Of being square" man,
ard that naturally told against him, for
every one knew that bruce was utterly
unscrupulous. But if bruce and Sneed
were known to be together in deal,
then the financial world of New York
ran for shelter. Therefore when New
York saw old bruce come in with the
stealthy tread Of q two legged leopard
and glance furtively around the great
room, singing ont Sneed with an nj.
most imperceptible side nod, retiring
! with him into remote corner where
more ruin had been concocted than ON
any other spot ON earth and talking
there eagerly with him, hush fell ON
the vast assemblage of men. and for the
moment the financial heart Of tie ma
ton ceased TO beat When they saw
SEeed take out his notebook. nodding
assent to whatever proposition bruce
| was making, q cold shiver ran M the
financial backbone of New York, the
shiver communicated itsef to the cleo
trio nerve web of the world, and storm
signals began TO fly in the monetary
centers of London, Paris, Berlin and
Vienna.
Uncertainty paralyzed the markets of
the earth because two old men were
holding . whispered conversation with
a multitude Of men watching them out
of the curners of their eyes,
| I'D give million TO know wha,
these two old fiends are connecting, -
said John p. Butler. the great whoa,
operator, and he meant it, which zoe.
to show that man does not really know
what he wants and would be very dis
satisfied if he got il.
! oH 'NAes ethefui. sdlu DIuCe,
want you to do me favor"
"All right" replied the general, al
am with you."
Its about my little girl, /" continued
bruce, rubbing his chin, not knowing
Just how to explain matters in the cold
financial atmosphere of the place in
which they found themselves.
"Oh! About Eds wife:r said Sueed
looking puzzled.
"Yes. She's fretting her heart out be.
cause your two girls won { call upon her.
found her crying about it yesterday
afternoon
won't call?" cried the general. he.
wildered look coming over his face.
Haven't they called yet? You SEQ
don't bother much about that sort O,
thing"
"Neither do ]. No, they haven,
called. don't suppose they mean any
thing by it. but my little girl thinks
they do: so I said would speak to Won
| about it
"well. I'm glad you did. TIL see {,
| that the moment I res hoc,,a UL.,