Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-14

notebook and pencil looking inquiringly
at Druce
"Oh, 1 don't know. Any time that is
convenient for them. l suppose women
know all about that. My little girl is at
home most all afternoon, guess.
The two men cordially shook hands,
and the market instantly collapsed.
1t took three days for the financial
situation to recover its tone. bruce had
not been visible, and that was all the
more ominous. The older operators did
not relax their caution, because the
blow had not yet fallen. They shook
their heads and said the cyclone would
be all the worse when it came.
Old bruce came among them the
third day, and there was a set look about
his lips which students of his counte-
nance did not like. The situation was
complicated by the evident fact that the
general was trying to avoid him. At
last, however, this was no longer pos
slble. The two men met, and after
word or two they walked up and down
together. bruce appeared to be saying
little, and the firm set of his lips did
not relax, while the general talked rap
idly and was seemingly making some
appeal that was not responded to. Stocks
instantly went up few points.
"You see, bruce, it's like this" the
general was saying. 1.-THE women have
their world and we have ours. They are,
in measure
care they going to call?" asked bruce
CURLY.
Just let me finish what was about
to say. Women have their rules of con-
duct, and we have"-
Are they going to call?" repeated
bruce i'll the same hard tone of voice.
The general removed his hat and drew
his handkerchief across his brow and
over the bald spot on his head. He
wished himself i'll any place but where
he was, inwardly cursing womankind
and all their silly doings. Bracing up,
after removing the moisture from his
forehead, he took on an expostulatory
tone.
See here, Drucei Hang it all, don't
shove man into a cornerl Suppose
asked you to go to Mrs Ed and tell her
not to fret about trifles. Do you suppose
she wouldn't, just because you wanted
her not to? Come, now!"
Druce's silence encouraged the gen.
eral to take it for assent
Every well, then. You're u bigger
man than l am, and, if you could do
nothing with one young woman anxious
to please you, what do you expect me
to do with two old maids as set in their
ways as the palisades? It's all dumb
nonsense anyhow"
bruce remained silent After an irk-
some pause the hapless general houn-
dered on:
As l said at first, women have their
world and we have ours Now, bruce,
you re man Of solid common sense.
What would you think if Mrs Ed were
to come here and insist on your buying
Wabash stock when you wanted to load
up with Lake Shore? Look how absurd
that would be. Very well, then. We
have no more right to interfere with the
women than they have to interfere with
US.
'If my little girl wanted the whole
Wabash system, I'd buy it for her tomor-
row" said bruce with rising anger.
MY! What slump that would
make in the market" cried the general,
his feeling of discomfort being momen-
tarily overcome by the magnifcence Of
Druce's suggestion. However, all this
doesn't need to make any difference in
our friendship. If l can be of any assist
nnce financially, l shall only be too
"Oh, l need your financial assist
ance" sneered bruce. He took his de-
Ieat badly. However, in moment or
two he pulled himself together and
seemed to shake off the trouble.
"What nonsense | am talking" he
said when he had obtained control Of
himself. 1--WE all need assistance now
and then, and none of us knows when we
may need it badly. In fact, there is n
little deal l intended to speak to you
about today, but this COMPOUNDED bust
ness drove it out of my mind. How
much gilt edged security have you in
your safe?"
about SO, 600, 600 worth" replied
the general, Frightening up now that
they We're off the thin ice.
'That will be enough for me if we
can make dicker. Suppose we adjourn
to your Office This is too public place
for talk. "
They went out together.
$50 there is no i'll feeling?" said the
general as bruce arose to go with the
Iecurities in his handbag.
mo But We'll stick strictly to bust
ness after this and leave social ques-
tions alone. By the way, to show that
there is no i'll feeling, will you come
with me for a blow ON the sea? Sup.
pose we say Friday. l have just tele,
graphed for my yacht, and she will
leave Newport tonight. I'll have some
good champagne on board.
81 thought sailors imagined Friday
was an unluoky day."
"My sailors don't. Will o'clock bt
too early for you-Twenty-third street
wharf,"
The general hesitated. bruce wal
wonderfully friendly all Of sudden
and he knew enough of him to be JUS
trife suspicious. But when he reool
leoted that bruce himself was going, HI
said: "Where could a telegram reacl
us If it were necessary to telegraph
The market is trifie shaky, and dom
like being out of town all day"
1.-THE fact that we are both ON tn
yacht will steady the market. But w
can drop in at Long Branch and reoeiv
dispatches if you think it necessary.
"All right" said the general, mucl