Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1901-07-10


ment. So that although he was on
terms of perfect friendship with Ina
and Eleanor Dempster, yet he neither
sought nor wished for any stronger
feeling.
The girls looked with favor on the
handsome young Scotsman, who work
ed so hard. of whom their father had
such a high opinion, and who was,
moreover, always perfectly willing to
be at their beck and call.
Alan soon found friends In Rio.
Dempster's position was almost unique
and when it became known that he
looked with favor on the young Scots
man, every one Joined in making fun
of him.
Most OF the employees in the firm
were married, and they constituted a
little circle to themselves. Alan had
the run of their houses, and soon be-
gan to feel at home; however, amongst
them there was one man to whom he
never took. An Englishman, Hutch
inson by name, surly. red-haired
brute, with magnificent head for fig
ures. He was the one man whom Mac
kenzie did not like. although he had
never quarreled with him; but he
fancied that it seemed as if Hutchin-
son had a particular grudge against
him.
This surmise on Alans part was well
founded, for, as a matter of fact, when
Dempster found him so intelligent, he
had thought 1t might be we'll to raise
him to Hutchinsons place.
There was some mystery about
Hutchinson. He lived in house some
little way out of town, and no one
knew exactly whether he was married
daughter, who has almost reached
womans estate; others said that he
never made any mention of any one.
But, as 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.
But one day there came some
rather important tidings to the firm.
Richard Dempster consulted Alan, and
| he offered to talk over the matter with
Hutchinson. 1t 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.
South American affairs have not the
stability of ours. A days delay, even
few hours, might mean the loss Of
many thousands. So Alan obtained
Hutchinson's address from Dempster,
and, In all good faith, went to find his
colleague. 1t took him some little time
to find the house. 1t was quite out of
Rio, and was more of country house
than town house.
When he found 1t he was amazed at
the beauty of his surroundings. 1t
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
rich man. He drew 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 1t
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 with'n him; the cry
ing was so piteous, and Alan could not
bear to hear it. 1t 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 You seem in trouble, :"
he said in English for, though the
girls head was dusky, yet she did not
look altogether Spanish. "Can ! help
your"
The girl, startled by the voice.
sprang up, and showed to Alan's gaze
a face, disigured by weeping 1t is true.
but of perfect type of beauty. There
was Spanish blood in her. as was testl-
fled by the liquid, dark eyes, and the
perfect oval of her face, and the slim,
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