Evening star., 1897-04-10
Chapter 1.

<allel IedTS
A strong Southwestern was beating against
the windows and doors of 'Stacy's Bank"
in San Francisco, and spreading film of
rain between the regular splendors CT its
mahogany counters and sprucely dressed
clerks and the usual passing pedestrian.
For Stacy's new banking mouse had long
since received the epithet of 'palatial'' from
ar enthusiastic local press fresh from the
opening luncheon in its richly decorated
directors rooms. and it was said that once
a homely would-be depositor from One
Horse Gulch was so cowed by its magnlh-
cence that his heart failed him at the last
moment. and numbling an apology to the
elegant receiving teller fled with his greasy
chamois pouch of gold dust to deposit his
gold dust in the dingy mint around the
corner. Perhaps there was something of
this feeling mingled with certain simple
minded fascination in the hesitation Of a
stranger OF higher class who entered the
bank that rainy morning and finally ten
dered his card to the important negro mes
Senger.
The card preceded him through noiseless-
ly swinging doors and across heavily car
peted passages until it reached the inner
core of Mr.. James Stacy's private Offices
and was respectfully laid before him. He
was not alone. At his side. in an atti-
tude OF polite and studied expectancy
stood a correct-looking young man, for
whom Mr.. Stacy was evidently writing a
memorandum. The stranger glanced fur
lively at the card with curiosity hardly
ing but Stacy did not look at it until he
had finished his memorandum.
There he said, with business decision
you can tell your people that if we carry
their new debentures over our limit we
will expect larger margin. bitches are
not what they were three years ago. when
miners were willing to waste their money
over your rates. They don't gamble that
to know it and not gamble themselves
over that prospect" He handed the paper
to the stranger, who bowed over 1t with
studied politeness and backed toward the
door. Stacy took up the waiting card, read
it. said to the messenger, "Show him in,"
and in the same breath called out, II say,
Van Loo. it's George Barker. You know
him?
Yes" said Van Loo with polite hesf-
tation. as he halted at the door. He was
l think-er-in your employ at Heavy Tree
HILL"
Nonsense! He was my partner. And
you must have known him since at Boom
vile. Come. He got forty shares of Ditch
stock-through you-at 40. which were
worth about so. Somebody must have
made money enough by it to remember
him.
Il was only speaking of him socially"
said Van Loo, with deprecating smile.
You know he married young woman
the hotel keepers daughter-who used to
walt at the table; and after my mother
and sister came out to keep house for me
at Boomville it was quite impossible for me
to see much of him, for he seldom went out
without his wife, you know.
Yes" said Stacy, dryly, II think you
didn't like his marriage. But I'm glad your
disinclination to see him isn't on account
of that deal in stocks
"Oh, no. said Van Loo. "Good-bye."
But unfortunately in the next passage he
came upon Barker. who. with cry OF
unfeigned pleasure, none the less sincere
that he was feeling a little alien in these
impressive surroundings, recognized him.
Nothing could exceed Van Loos protest OF
desola tion at the fact that he was hasten
ing to another engagement. But your old
partner" he added with a smile, lis wait
ing for you. He has just received your
from him. So glad to see you; you're look
ing so well. Goodbye. Goodbye"
Reassured, Barker no longer hesitated.
but dashed with his bid impetuousness iDto
his former partners room. Stacy, already
deeply absorbed in other business. was sit
ting with his back toward him. and Bar
ker's arms were actually encircling his
neck before the astonished and .half-angry
man looked up. But when his eyes met the
laughing gray ones of Barker above him he
gently disengaged himself with q quick re-
turn of the caress. rose, shut the door Of
an inner Office. and, returning, pushed Bar
ker into an armchair in quite the old sup
pressive fashion of former days. Yes. It
was the same Stacy that Barker looked at.
croVRed around his determined mouth and
jaw In kind of grave decorum. and hts
energetic limbs already attuned to the rigor
Of clothes Of fashionable cut and still more
rigorous somberness Of color.
Barker. boy" he began, with the ia
miliar twinkle in his keen eyes which the
younger partner remembered. Il don't en-
courage stag dancing among my young
men during bank hours, and you'll please
to remember that we're not on Heavy Tree
HiH.'
Where" broke in Barker, enthusiastical-
~. I'VE were only overlooked by the Black
Spur range and the Sierran snow line;
where the nearest voice that came to you
was a half mile away as the crow fiies
and mile and q half by the trail"
And was generally an oath" said Stacy
But yor.-a in San Francis6e now. Where