The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-24

the end the condition that be married
before midnight"
"Then, sir" She hesitated. Her
eyes were fastened on a spot in the
rug. He waited. feeling his heart beat
ing, and wondering why. A moment,
and she added: 1T shall be DONE"
Madam"
"Don't,speak to me, please" she said,
| lifting her hand without raising her
eyes. II am only woman, and there
are reasons why this touches me deep
er than wish. / know of one who will
serve your purpose perfectly. You can
trust her. She will neither fail nor de-
ceive you; but 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.
IL cannot rightly put il for her. She
will have TO tell you for herself after
she has performed her part"
'But suppose it were something
| that"
81 will be responsible that you can
easily perform il, without embarrass-
ment, and that it shall In no way touch
your pride, your name, your home, or
your fortune"
THAT is more than / ask, madam.
However, l agree 10 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 J.,
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 il was not
all dream.
Esther Thorndike," he repeated.
''Squint-eyed, one-legged, hunchbacked
something OF the sort, / suppose; but
what does il matter? It's rather good
idea. She was remarkable woman.
The most remarkable woman / ever
met. She must have come for this Es-
Their Thorndike at the start. IL i hadn't
been fool / 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 word to his
ofiice-boy, turned quickly and opened
the other door, then started back with
a 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 II, but in
speechless, nerveless CONSERVATION
stood looking across the room, where,
against the wall, in the order of their
coming, the boy had arranged dozen
applicants.
They were young and old, white and
there was one black one among them.
At the head Of the line stood n be-
dizened duchess from back of Green
street. She was SCARED and brazen
veteran. At the other end stood 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 good shov TO pick from, and
you'd best be about 1t, for her that's
10 be merred tine 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.
He 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. / have already made my Sc
lection" And in the simple instinct of
self-preservation he pushed the door TO
and locked it, for the duchess, with
clinched fists and purple face, was APP
proaching him. Having locked the
door, he turned and fed.
Going down in the elevator, he over
heard q whispered conversation be-
tween the operator and a neighbours
Office boy.
Oats him. OATS de Malcolm. Catch
on? l show'd yer de adj"
"Come Off. His'n names Stanton.
He's some. Watcher givin' us?"
"S'pose he n jay, ter hook his own
name to gag like dat? He's him all
de same, an don'tcher furgit. Oh,
but de gang o doves I've took upl"
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