The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-14
A Secret Of the Heart.
Dcopyright- 1896. by Bachelor. johnson ana
Bacheller.l
PART I.
MY ESEArY.


building some one touched me on the
arm; and / turned TO face George stat
bridge. knew it was Stalbridge be-
fore saw him, before 1 heard
his voice. The creature had an
atmosphere such as is said TO SUR
round an evil spirit. IL 10 had been
consistent with my creed. should have
crossed myself when | perceived him.
MY hatred of him had always been
mute undisguised. / shook OF 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 ofIenses.
"You walk very fast" he said. Il
have had hard work 10 oveTtalSe you
"Let me know you're behind me next
time" said /, IF you're interested in my
nedestrianism. Now, don't detain me.
8 am going upstairs 10 see Mr.. Davis.
and / 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 il out to-day. What have you
against me?"
"Do you want me to go over all that
Iagain?" | demanded. "Well, so be it.
IThere is new count in the Indictment
ko-day, and / have curiosity to hear
how you will answer it,"
We still stood in the main hall of the
,great building. IL was eleven o'clock
In the forenoon. a busy hour there, and
scores of persons were passing In and
Iout.
"No,' said he, reading my thought:
ssit won't do to talk here. Let us go
somewhere else"
|in most friendly fashion, and led me
toward the street.
1t is positively painful to entertain
for any human being the feeling which
lI had fos. him. The eye of a stranger
hit upon ms walking thus together, and
b cowed ns one detected in a shameful
action. 1t was not for his reputation,
because that was good, as regulations
Igo in Now York. He wps called first
rate business man. and truly, for ne
succeeded, and that is the recognized
test.
In the old days II was his personal ap-
pearnnce that set me against him. He
Fwas tall, thin and high shouldered,
having the look of one who had drawn
himself up TO the uttermost that he
nay pounce down the harder upon
something lying before him. His face
wAs bony, and the upper part was a
Islrin over q skull. He had a most dis
dressing habit of lifting his matted
and seemingly abundant hair with his
band In such way as to show that
the top OF his head was really quite
bald The long hair rooted at the back
Emerely lay upon II in mass.
On the occasion in question there was
Ihomething TO be gained by talking with
khis man, ard SO l stified my disgust
|uf him. He I'D been for many years
tho cluso business associate Of my
uncls, Mr.. Willard Davis, upon whom il
had been my intention to call when
v1sited tho bank building.
/ my uncle has read the papers this
morning, ] suppose" said /.
| Stalbridge brought his jaws together
with snap, and grinned like a skull.
"They are rather hard upon u.s." he
said. "It is, perhaps, unfortunate that
the negotiations betwween the Union
Surface 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
nic knows that the Union has got its
grip upon the smaller company and mas
squeezed il 10 death; that every man
who has put dollar into the Twenty.
lost IL, in fact--and that the whole
transaction is mass of political brib-
cry, commercial dishonesty and ava
sion of law. lam not yet sure that the
aaw has been successfully cvaded; but
whether il has O. not, certainly be-
1ieve that If my uncle does not shake
you off within a year, he will overstep
the mark ard disgrace the family name.
Stalbridge, you reptile, what is the Sc
cret of your influence over him?"
II have no influence" he replied. II
am only his employe. You know very
well that am really no more than a
confidential clerk"
Il know the contrary" said l. "Can
you deny that this whole surface road
conspiracy was devised and executed
by yourself?"
''Some matters of detail were, in
deed, left 10 me- he began; but inter
rupted him, angrily:
"The truth is not in you.' cried. II
know very well what youv part in this
has been. IL is the last of fifty such
schemes. every one OF which,"
"Mede your uncle richer" he said,
breaking in upon me. 'Ile is now
many times a millionaire"
I'm not so sure of that" returrod.
~It would interest me q great deal
20 know ROW much of these dishonest
gains stands in his name aad how much
In yours mistake you most scrioueiy
II You have not taken the iiuo', sl...er
HE has been geneross with me-" said
Stalbrid0e: but | am not rich--vctp