Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-09-21
90 llr1/I1 = Fascinsdne
NJ - ~ Romance
vII.; - ~
w CIV D< Ain Adahc4,,

were married, anu they cOneIltut00
little circle 70 themselves. klan had
the run Of their houses, and snou be,
gan to feel at home; however. asaongst
them there was ono man to WIN he
never took. An EnglishmanA Autch-
insoA ty name. surly, r.--..aired
bruts, With magnificent head for fg-
ures. Hs WAS the one man whom Mac
ksnsis aid not Hike. although he had
never quafreled with him; but he
fancied tha& It seemed as II Hutchin-
son had particular Erudge against
him. ,.....- +
This surmise on Alan's part was we'll
founded, for. as matter Of fact, when
Dsnpster found him so intelligent, he
had thought it might be we'll to raise
him to Hutchinson's place.
There was some mystery about
Hutchiason. He lived In house some
little way out Of town, and no one
knew exactly whether he was married
or not. Some affirmed that he had a
daughter, who has almost reached
wonaan's estate; others said that he
never made any mention Of any one
But, as q matter of fact, Hutchinson
never mentioned his private affairs at
all, so it was not wonderful that the
rest Of the firm knew nothing about
them. t,..-r .s-s-,
But one day there came some
rather important tidings 10 the firm.
Richard Dempster consulted Alan, and
he offered to talk over the matter with
Hutchinson. It was after business
hours, and the young man offered to
find the Englishman. He had not the
least idea of spying upon him, because
he had so many friends that he had
no need to seek any, and he was actu-
ated solely by the wish to be useful to
his employer in what might become
advantageous.
3 South American affairs have not the
stability Of ours. A days delay, even
a few hours, might mean the loss of
many thousands. So Alan obtained
Hutchinson's address frrm Dempstcr,
and, in all good faith, went te and -,
colleague, It took him some little rire~
to find the house. 1t was quite out Oh
Rio, and was more Of country house
than a town house.
When he found it he was amazed at
the beauty of his surroundings. It
seemed to him that Hutchinson lived
even in greater style than did Demps-
ter and that probably he did not wish
this to be known. There was no rea-
son why Hutchinson should not live as
a rich man. He drew a large salary
from Dempster, and there were many
ways in which he could enlarge his
means. \
Alan rode on through avenues Of
trees, fresh bowers of fruit and flow
ers. gorgeous in their tropical wealth
of color, and suddenly as he rode it
seemed to him that he heard the sound
of woman sobbing. He refined in his
horse so as to make sure; he still
heard the sound. The spirit of adven-
ture burned hot within him; the cry
ing was so piteous, and Alan could not
bear to hear it. It was like that Of
some girl in pain.
He fastened his horse to tree, for
getting all about the financial crisis
and his errand. All the chivalry in his
nature was stirred. He pulled aside
the boughs of the trees and came to
an open glade. A girl dressed in white
had thrown herself on the ground;
her slight body was shaking with sobs.
Alan watched her for a moment and
then he spoke 'sYou seem in trouble"
he said In English, for, though the
girls head was dusky, yet she did not
lsok altogether Spanish. Can I help
ysu"
The girl, startled by the voice,
spraaS up, and Showed to Alan's gaze
a Ease, aishgured by weeping, 1t is true.
but Of a perfect typs Of beauty. There
was Spanish blood in her, as was testi-
fled BY the liquid, dark eyes, and the
perfect oval OF her face, and the slim,
yet well-shaped limbs. Her mouth,
too, quivering with emotion, was ripe
and red, and the little white teeth were
even and sharp.
She looked up for a moment at the
handsome lad, who was watching her
with such evident concern. and then
she blushed and answered, with an at
tempt at self-possession that was very
creditable, seeing the abandonment OF
grief in which Alan had found her: 1T
is nothing, sir. l would not do as my
father wished, and he was angry and
struck me-"
Struck you? The brute!" cried
Alan. 1.-THE detestable brute! How
dare he strike woman?" ~,
The girls eyes were cast down; she
seemed ashamed. Perhaps she had not
yet realized her womanhood complete
ly; she seemed very young. HE has
a violent temper, sir, and perhaps do
not manage him we'll. have no moth
er; she died years ago." wv
ri Fortunately for her." said Alan
griniy, 1T your father is the sort Of
man who would strike a woman!"
% You gee," said the girl. ut seems
that this is important. Ny father had