The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-07-21

ly at her, Il would Just as soon not see
Your references. | know too well the
lies one tells when one wants to pass
some one on TO ones friends. | know
too well what they are worth Your
last employer died, You tell me-
But it mightn't be true. " she fall
tered. 81 would really rather
DO yOu want a character with meg
he broke in
But everybody knows you," she
cried ingenuously Everybody has
read your books. "
Il wish they did l should make a
decent income then. No, 10, Mrs Con-
way. l know what l am and what I'm
not. / know my own limitations and
exactly what am capable Of. It's my
business to read character. You may
not suit me as Il secretary, but only
time can show and prove that. SO far.
as you yourself are concerned, hS0estI
is the dominant note 81 your T1i1fe. -
SIary could not help starting. Alan
Stacey continued: "You give yourself
away continually because you cannot
conceal your real feelings. In sense
You are bad for yourself because you
cannot disscmble. You couldn't tell
downright lie if you tried, and you are
SO honest that you wouldn't try"
81 do hate lies, said Mary in tone
as if such q fact We're rather to her
detriment than otherwise.
"Let me look at your hand. Yes; it
Is capable upright and highly
nervous We shall be able to work to-
gether very well, am certain. At all
events, let us try tomorrow morning"
"Mr. Stacey" said Mary, rising as
she spoke, Il will do my very best.
"We shall get OH splendidly,' he re-
piled, holding out his hand. - am do
ing particularly difficult piece of work
just now, most difficult subject, in
which the handling is everything, the
whole difference between success and
failure. ! was writing with my fist
yes, doubled up so in despair, when
my servant told ME you were here.
Look at this spreading out his hand
and showing an angry swollen red ridge
of muscle which rose between the first
and second fingers and extended beyond
the wrist. THAT means the intensest
and most exquisite agony. 1t seems to
disappear above the wrist and to rise
again in the underside of the arm,
from where it runs in rope Of pain to
the very armpit.
"It must be horrible" said Mary
care you working nowT'
81 was when you came.
"Why don't you let me begin right
away, sir?'' size ventured to say.
He looked al her again with the same
quick, alert glance as before. Don't
call me sir. " he said, half amused
and half irritable
81 always called Mr.. Desmond SO, ,
she said meekly.
''He had an Office and lot of clerks;
that was different. / don require that
kind of thing One sir would upset
me for morning. Come into my study.
] like you for tackling the work straight
away yycJl Try how it gees q"
Mary followed him into the study, n
long, low ceiled room with many books,
Il few pictures, some guns, fishing rods,
golf clubs, two luxurious sofa lounges
and half dozen capacious chairs A
rough terrier dog lay before the open
window and a big Angora cat, brindled
like bulldog, was in possession of a
fur rug before the empty fireplace 1t
was revelation to Mary Conway-sho
had never seen such a room in all her
life before
She established herself mt table and
they began She was amazed at the
ease and rapidity with which Alan
Stacey poured out his story. taking il
up at the last written word and spin
ming it out in the most vivid and inter
esting way, almost. indeed, acting it all
So for nearly two hours they worked
without hitch, until the servant came
to say that luncheon was served Allan
Stacey drew long breath and rose tC
his feet
"Come to lunch, he said. ~ ussS