The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-10

| and pulled the directory TO nlm. IN
moment he had found this name:
"Vincent, Abner; promoter. Res. 212O
hillside avenue"
Then he carefully copied the address
on card.
Six weeks later Abner Vincent and
his wife and Mary We're sitting on the
porch of their modest little cottage. 1t
was early twilight, and the shadows
were deepening beneath the vines and
the naples.
81 can't understand it bit" Abner
I was saying in his fussy little voice.
"Here's young Tennis been coming
round moren a month every night or
two and pumping me all about that
new aerostatic company until l guess
| there isn't a fresh question left for
him to ask me. Seems perfectly salts
| fed, too, but somehow he fails to put
up the $4,000. BY George, if he doesn't
come to time pretty soon I'll give some
other fellow the chance, or I'll bring
out one of my other schemes. But l
want Henry Tennis. 1t isn't his money
alone-I want his name.''
Il are yOu Always 81 ABOUT
the names of your-your victims?'
asked Mary with sarcastic information
she couldn't suppress
MARY" said her mother in a sooth-
ing voice.
"Victim!" repeated her father queru-
lousy. @Henry Tennis victim. l
guess not. Why, there isn't shrewd-
er or more successful investor on the
street. If Henry Tennis goes into
thing, there's money in it. And from
the very start, from the very moment
he sent for me to come to his office,
he's seemed all wrapped up in my
latest idea. But he doesn't put up the
money"
Father" said Mary, trying hard to
control her voice, what did you mean
by saying that Mr.. Tennis was young
and Inexperienced and a reckless prodi-
gala"
did l say that?' queried the old
man.
You did" replied Mary, ring Of in
dignation in her voice; you said be
was easy picking"
"Well. that" shuffled Abner, was
Il JooI a VI SleGCu. 1 IuuSL nave
said it before l really knew him. But
hush, think he is coming up the
| street,
Henry Tennis stepped lightly
through the gateway, hat in hand.
Good evening. ALL" he cried with
the easy air of an old friend "Ah, Mr..
Vincent" he added, "if the ladies will
excuse us. want just word or two
on business with you"
Certainly" cried the little man,
bustling up. "This way, Mr.. Vincent"
and he led the caller into lighted
! apartment 'i@ i2ii'
| 1t wasn't long interview. When the
men came back to the porch, Tennis did
not take the chair that was offered
| him.
perhaps Miss Mary would enjoy a
little STROLL" he said, looking toward
the dark corner of the porch where
the girls white dress family glimmer-
ed. 'sf ~ 49, st-s.;.3;
II guess she would" said the father,
and there was a nervous energy in his
tone that seemed quite unusual
The girl hesitated. Then he arose
and fetched her hat, and the two went
down the street together. -->its
"Miss Mary" said Tennis presently,
81, want to confess to you that l am
an arrant fraud. l have been coming
to your home on the pretense of bust
ness with your father-for 1t was a
pretense. Can you guess what really
brought me? Mary, when you went
out Of my office that eventful morning
made up my mind that you shouldn't
go out of my life. Will you be my
wife?"
The girl was silent.
"Put your hand in mine, dear, II It
means yes"
And now" said Henry moment
later with an ecstatic sigh of satisfac-
ton. land now for another confess
sion. Do you know that up to the day
you came to see me l had never even
heard of your father?"
Henry" cried the startled girl.
WAS it all fathers romancing?"
Il guess 1t was. But when his ro-
mancing ended mine began"
How undutiful you must have
thought me, how forward! But father
had angered me SO. And-and my
warming was all thrown awayY'
Thrown awayw cried Tennis. "Not
a bit of it. 1t warned me of the utter
emptiness of bachelors selfish life.
Why, my dear girl, there's nobody
lookingw
And on the porch Abner Vincent was
saying In his querulous voice:
Il never was so disappointed. When
ne told me that it was Mary and not
the company, you could have knocked
me down with feather
"She loves him." said the mother
softly.
Shed betterw cried Abner. She'll
never get another such chance And the
$4,000" He paused and sighed. Ibid
tell you how he intends to invest the
$20,OOO."
"No," said the mother.