Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-09-26


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The young girl paused at the door.
Then she frowned impatlently and
turned the knob. Al the door opened
she found herself In q plainly furnish
ed room. the Hoor covered with limo
leum. the walls hung with maps. There
were three long windows at the upper
end and In the right hand wall an open
door.
"Is that you, GeorgeT voice called
from the inner room.
Mary Vincent did not reply. She
felt all her reluctance come back to
her.
"why don't you answer me.
GeorgeY'
There was the sound Of chair push
ed back. and then Q tall young man
stood In the doorway.
IL beg pardon" be cried as be
stepped forward. II thought II was my
somewhat tactiturn ONCE boy. Please
take chair"
Mary Vincent bowed gravely and sat
down. At the actual encounter with
this formidable young man her courage
seemed to return.
"You are SIR. Henry Tennis" she
said. half interrogatively.
AT your service" he answered and
bowed.
MY name is Mary Vincent" she
murmured. II she had expected he
would look surprised, she was disap-
pointed. There was little pause.
And TO what do owe this vsitT he
courteously asked.
The girl hesitated.
"For me-" she said with an effort,
"thIs Ia a very disagreeable mission"
/ She looked toward the open door OF
the anteroom.
1--WE are quite alone" said Tennis.
Il have come" said Mary In low
voice. ito warn you against my IA
ther"
"Your fatherv'
"My father. Abner Vincent"
"Go on" said Tennis.
"He has told US, my mother and me,
that you were to let him have $4,000
TO advance one Of his schemes. Do
not give him the money. The scheme
IN 4 visionary one. My father 10 ro-
mancer."
She paused and moistened her lips.
my mother and thought you
should be warned. We felt that your
youth and y-your inexperience appeal
ed to US. Do not give my father the
money" She paused again. "Of
course this warning will be held con-
ndentialY'
Sacred" said Tennis.
Mary arose to 60.
Zone moment" he added. May l
ask how your father happened to talk
this matter over with your"
HE has a habit Of boasting." said
Mary. "He Is always on the verge Of
some great fortune winner. He told
Us that with your money his latest
scheme could be launched. Sometimes
we feel sure he IL only romancing.
This time his details were too perfect
to admit Of doubt He told MS 30 many
particulars about-about you"
May ask what he saidY' inquired
Tennis gravely.
"You will not feel ofYendedl He said
you were young and quite inexperi-
enced. that you had just come into
lot Of money, that you were 6inging
| 1t carelessly right and left and that
you would never miss the sum you had
promised him."
"Are you quite sure am the person
! he meantT added Tennis.
"Quite sure. Mr.. Henry Tennis. In
| the Mohican building"
"And your father looks upon me as
q lamb. ehT
81 think I understand what you
mean. Yes. He said--l want you to
clearly appreciate the light In which he
regards you-that you were, to use his
own rather rude expression, easy
picking"
Tennis laughed softly.
Thank you very much, Miss Aus
tin" he said and extended his hand.
She placed her own-a little reluctant
ly--in II. II assure you appreciate the
sacrifice you have made. Your warn
ing will not be wasted. l am sure I
shall profit By it In more ways than
one. Good day"
As her graceful form disappeared In
the elevator cage Tennis turned back
into his office.
"Well. by Jover he murmured. He
slowly resumed his seat at his desk
and pulled the directory to him. In
moment he had found this name:
Vincent, Abner; promoter. Res. 2l1o
hillside avenue"
Then he carefully copied the address
on q card
slx weeks later Abner Vincent and
his wife and Mary were sitting on the
porch OF their modest little cottage. II
was early twilight, and the shadows
were deepening beneath the vines and
the naples.
| ~ can't understand II Bit" Abner
was saying In his fussy little voice
~Here's young Tennis been coming
round more'n a month every night OF
two and pumping me Ill about that
new aerostatic company until guess
there isn't q fresh question left fo'
him to .ask me. Seems perfectly salts
ded, too, but somehow be falls to put
up the t2O. 600 By George, u be doesn''
} come to time pretty soon i1l give come
other fellow the chance. o. III bring
, ont one Of my other schsmea But
) want Henry Tennis- II isn't biz money
q alosan 4 snsnnf hil mama ~