The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-10-02

hand appraised, and he shouted in trium-
plant voice that rang through the hall
''Tll take 10, 900 bushels. .
He was buying then; the girl knew that
much, and he needed little inducing. Old
Grimwood watched him, keeping aloof and
taking no part in the struggle. And others
watched Grimwood, whose immobile face
told them nothing.
You look little tired, Miss McClin-
toch, said a member, coming up to the
counter 'Does the hubbub worry you?
20, no; I'm used to that. What is it
about %
There a little hutter in the wheat
market-some queer rumors floating about.
I've thrown up my hand Somebody 5
going to get nipped, and | think it's a
first -rate time to go fishing.
Il don t understand these operations
Which side is Mr.. Grimwood on"
well now, for person who hash t
learned the game that s not bad You We
turned up the right bower first time.
We d all like to know where the old man
stands Grimwood seems to be lyin' low
and sayin muffin don think it will
be much of a shower myself, but that 5
what the other fellow said to Noah. and
authorities now are convinced he was
wrong.
The insistent electrical machine called to
the girl and she turned to it, but all the
while the abhorent phrase kept tapping at
her mind. ''Then we Il have him foul. y
If she could, without telling what she knew,
give him hint, but that would merely be
doing indirectly what she had promised not
to do directly, yes, or indirectly either, for
Sandys had trusted her completely. Even
if she resigned Immediately and warned
her lover, it would be breach of conf
dence to reveal what she learned while in
the employ of the telegraph company.
There was nothing she could honestly do,
but resolutely hold her peace and let the
lightning strike where it would. She had
foreseen no such test as this when she gave
her promise to the manager. Old Grim
wood himself came to the counter with a
message, and his baleful eye seemed to
search her conscience as it fell upon her.
He made no remark and turned away as
she took the telegram. 1t was to his
Chicago agent and was terse enough.
Everything going our way, it said.
She sighed as she sent the four words fly
ing over the wire.
Elinor hoped her strength would not be
put to a strain it could not stand, and on
leaving the building she went up the avenue
and across the town, walking rapidly and
avoiding her accustomed route, that she
might not meet her lover. As she turned
out of the wide avenue into by street she
heard quick steps following her, and was
greeted by well Unknown voice that sent a
tremor through her frame
Hello, Elinor What is the meaning
of this Are you trying to escape me ?
could hardly believe my eyes when | saw
you go up the avenue.
IL thought, murmured the girl,
breathlessly, "that you had such an excit-
ing day you might not-might not be at
the corner
1.-The cOrnerf' he cried, his eyes open
ing wide, and she thought she saw trace
of alarm in them, but the next moment
they danced again, and he laughed. 30,
yes, of course, the street corner
wouldn' miss that spot for all the wheat
in America--unless you went the other
way round, as you have done; but | tell
you it was a day to be remembered, and
yet nothing to what tomorrow will be.
Wheat? I'll fairly bristle with wheat to-
morrow I'm going to buy all in sight and
out of sight You can hear the rattle of
wheat in my pockets now, but just wait till
tomorrow! 1t make or break with me;
in fact, I'm up to the neck as it is, but
there's plunge coming that will astonish
the natives, especially my Christian friend,
old Grimwood -
The girl drew a long, quivering sigh, as
the jubilant, enthusiastic young man, the
excitement of the day still upon him, ges
ticulated and poured forth the torrent of
words.
sWam him Warn him p said her
heart.
Remember your promise, said con-
science
would rather she spoke slowly and
with effort. Il would rather be the poorest
laborer in the poorest cottage on this street
than live such life.
$50 would [ but L m not going to live
it. | quit tomorrow night-a rich man,
or dead broke. No half measures for me;
no hanging on year by year to be smashed
at the last. Ehnor, his voice lowered,
81 dom care that, for riches on their own
account. He raised his hand and
snapped his fingers, the gesture she had
seen when he bid for the 10, 900 bushels,
"but | want them to bring comfort and
luxury to-to some one else. y
'sTell him. Tell him. said her heart
ssWhat is all the world to you compared to
this man
''You gave your word of honor = said
her conscience,
They stopped at a cross street to let the
rocking, bounding car 90 swiftly past
Secrecy, secrecy, secrecy y Missed the