The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-12-14

ing, and wondering why. a moment,
and she added: ut shall be done.'
Madam"
Don't speak to me, please" she said,
lifting her hand without raising her
eyes. 81 am only a woman, and there
are reasons why this touches me deep.
er than I wish. Iknow of one who will
serve your purpose perfectly. You con
trust her. She will neither fail nor de.
ceive you: but I know that there is a
condition she will require. Give me
your promise that you will accept it,
and will send her to YOU
What is it?" Stanton asked.
II cannot rightly put it for her. She
will have to tell you for herself after
she has performed her part
But suppose it were something
that
Il will be responsible that you cali
easily perform it, without embarrass-
mert, and that it shall in no way touch
your pride, your name, your home, or
your fortune
THAT is more than l ask, madam.
However, | agree to accept the condi-
ton, and will see to it, also, that my
obligations are properly met
Never mind; just write down what
you will need to know. Her name is
Esther Thorndike. She was never mar
ried. She was born of honest American
parents in Albecco, COL, December /,
1867. Her good name is without blem-
ish. She will meet you at the main en-
trance to this building at nine o'clock
tonight. You can trust her.
How much later Stanton never knew,
he started like one waking from a
dream.
He knew that she was gone He had
seen her go. She left the room by the
private door opening on the corridor;
yet he read again the paper. lying on his
desk to convince himself that it was not
all dream.
Esther Thorndike,' he repeated
"Squint-eyed, one-legged, nchbacked
something of the sort, suppose; but
what does it matter? It's rather good
idea. She was a remarkable woman
The most remarkable woman 1 ever
met. She must have come for this Es-
Their Thorndike at the start. If hadn't
been fool I should have known that
she never came on such an errand for
herself''
He looked at his watch with an ex-
clamation Of surprise, caught up his
hat and coat and hurried toward the
door, bethought him Of a word to his
office-boy, turned quickly and opened
the other door, then started back with
veritable gasp, and stood shaking.
The boy had tilted his chair against
the door, the better to protect the en-
trance to his masters sanctum while
waiting for the sound of the bell. The
sudden opening of the door sent him
headlong into the private office.
Stanton did not notice it, but in
speeches., nerveless CONSERVATION
stood looking across the room, where,
against the wall, in the order of their
coming, the boy had arranged a dozen
applicants.
there was one black one among them.
At the head of the line stood be-
dizened duchess from back of Green
street. She was 4 SCARED and brazen
veteran. At the other end stood a young
girl, her eyes on the floor and her
cheeks flushed with shame as she
crouched away from the rest.
Good morn'in', Mr.. Malcolm" said
the duchess, stepping forward. you've
got a good show to pick from, and
you'd best be about it, for her that's
10 be merred the day orter be gettin'
her togs on P.D.Q."
Ladies'" Stanton gasped, and then
he stopped to shudder.
He would have begun in almost any
other way, but he remembered that
they were all there upon his invita-.
ton; there as his guests; there to con-
suit with him about becoming his wife
tie was too recently under the philos.
ophy of his first caller not to appreciate
the situation.
Ladies' he said again, you must ex.
cuse me. I have already made my Sc.
lection And in the simple instinct OF
representation he pushed the door tt
and locked it, for the duchess. with
clinched fists and purple face, was ap
preaching him. Having locked the
door, he turned and fed.
Going down in the elevator, he over
heard a whispered conversation be-
tween the operator and a neighbour.
office boy.
"Dat's him. OATS de Malcolm. Catch
on? I show'd yer de adj
"Come off. His'n names Stanton.
He's some. Whatever givin' us?''
"S'pose he a jay, ter hook his own
name to gag like dat? He's him all
de same, an dontcher furgit. Oh,
but de gang O. doves I've took up!'
Stanton left the elevator almost on a
run, and pushed into the crowd, but the
BOY seemed still following him. He was
sure his eyes were fixed on him. He
knew his feet were close behind him.
lie almost thought that he could hear
him saying to everyone he met: Oats
him. OATS de Malcolm. Catch on %
Till now Raymond had not entered
into his calculations. Suddenly. while
pushing his way through the crowd. ii
occurred to him as most reasonable
thing that he might have discovered his