The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-22

~ CSSiOts
We'll. that was as good a thing as
I've seen for a long time!" said Loftie,
enthusiastically, as soon as speech was
possible. .
at was splendid" returned Gladys,
vaguely. Then she added hurriedly:
"Alf. dear, you don't really want me to
tell you about that tender. do you?"
The boyish enthusiasm faded out of
Loftie's face and his expression be-
came unusually keen and business-like
You bet. do" he said. Go ahead.
Gladys" The trouble in Gladys eyes
grew deeper.
I'm afraid I can't tell YOU" she fall
tered. You see we're-were not sup
posed to talk about what goes on in the
Office
"Of course you're not" he answered
promptly. But that's got nothing to
do with your telling me, Gladys. I've
reason for wanting to know, don't
you see?"
And want to tell YOU" she said.
desperately. Especially since we've
had words about 1t. But it came into
my head all of a sudden that they
said when they engaged me, of course,
/ wasn't to talk about what went on
inside outside, and l said l wouldn't"
The outline of Loftie's chin and jaw
took singularly obstinate expression.
Now look here, Gladys" he said,
sinking his voice. 81 see what you
mean, of course. If it should come out
that you spoke about this. you think
you'd lose your post But IL 1t should
well, it's worth losing your post for"
There was a pathetic expression of
perplexity in the brown eyes that re-
garded him so flxedly.
"Ill tell you just how It is" he said,
lowering his voice so that not a word
could reach even their nearest neigh
bors, we've got a big consignment
from Ceylon, too. We're rendering to
Clarksons, and if we should get the
contract through a tip from newly
it'd just about make me. Now, we
don't want to put it too low, because
1t doesn't look well, and besides where
are your profits? But If 1 knew what
your people were going-why, there
you are, don't you see?"
You mean you'd just undersell
them?" said Gladys in a frightened
whisper.
That's it," he said, triumphantly.
- I'D we could be married at Christ
mas"
But Gladys clasped her hands tight
ly, and shook her head.
II can't, Aft" she said. And some
thing seemed to rise in her throat and
choke her
You can't? What's to prevent
you?"
why. you see-it's what / know as
their clerk-and you'd-you'd-you d
get the contract instead of them. And
1t I'D be somehow-O, ALT. don't look
like that-like meme robbing them!"
well, I'm jiggered!"
The words came from Loftie slowly
and weightily as he sat staring at the
| little figure hoQida him Iov olr &c
though it had suddenly changed it's
shape before his very eyes.
IF any one had told me that you
could talk such rubbish as that,
Gladys, I shouldn't have believed
them" he said. His words were none
the less emphatic for the undertone
in which they were spoken. That's
what comes of girls getting taken on
as clerks. They get talking of things
they don't know anything about, and
pretty nonsense they make of it. Rob-
bling them, indeed Why can't you
see it's a matter of business. They
tender and we tender, and that's all
about it,"
ut isn't a matter of business IL I've
said what they think I shan't say"
said Gladys. Her lips we're quivering
as she uttered the low words, and she
did not look up. II can't put 1t right,
I'm no good at explaining things
but I know somehow that 1t wouldn't
be fair"
Upon my blessed world" ejaculat-
ed Loftie. The novelty Of her oppo-
sition, and still more the wholly I'M
expected nature of her views abso-
lutely took his breath away.
Then as resentment at being thwart-
ed grappled with amazement, the color
mounted to his face.
You don't seem to notice that
you're paying me poor compliment"
he said. IF you can't put trust in
my words when l tell you a thing
right, why it's a pity that you ever
said you'd have me. Can't you un-
derstand that l know more about
these things than you do?'
yes, of course" she said, catching
eagerly and piteously at a chance of
propitiating him. "Of course, you
know better about everything, ALT
dear"
well, then. do as I tell you" he
said angrily
Gladys lifted a pair Of beseeching
infinitely perplexed. but resolute eyes
to his face,
20, All, dear, don't-don't ask me"
she said. IF a person thinks a thing s
wrong, why then it's wrong for them
TO do It,"
But Loftie's was not of temper that
bore opposition. The band was play
ing a selection from a comic opera
a selection which Gladys recalled
with detestation long after it's brief
career on the hand-Organs was over,
and during the sinstant In which a
roll OF drums made speech impossible
she saw his face harden and whiten
with anger. As soon a she could
make himself heard. he spoke.
Now. look here. GladyF.' he said.
ITS no use talking like that. I have
asked you and / do ask you. and n
you won't tell me It's all on between
ug~so nowi"
A Hood OF crimson color rushed over
gladys poor little face and ebbed
away. leaving IL very pale, But she
only said piteouslys
20. Ar. don't say that"
'gfs you own doing" be returned
CfimlY.
They hsa neither q them notlesa