Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-12-23


the shrinkage in stocks, and Mr.. Trot-
ter is going to help him ever so much
to enable him to hold what he has till
the market rises again"
And the bonus is your handy
That's very near the TRUTH
THE contract is to be signed at II
midnightI"
81 have promised that IL Mr.. Trot-
ter will come up this evening 1 will
give him my answer"
ut will be yesr'
1T must be yes"
THAT is, If he arrives"
''If he doesn't / shall have to nerve
myself anew on another occasion"
How much money is he to loan your
father?"
Papa said it was something like half
n million"
81 think tkey might have left you to
spend this Christmas happily. How
miserable It is to be poorl II were
rich l might save you this sacrifice,
and He paused renectively.
'You wouldn't charge any bonus"
She was looking very steadily at the
leaping flames.
"Oh, the bonusl 1t wouldn't be any
Kindness to you to take you out of the
frying pan and put you into the fire"
"rd rather burn on n gridiron than
sizzle I'm a PAM
The young man sat toying with his
watch chain. Had the girl looked ut
him she would have seen that the ex-
preston on bis face was not in keeping
with the Unconditional tones of his
voice.
IF he fails to arrive on time and Ii
Is possible for you to jump into the
fire, will you do so?"
There is no fire TO jump into"
There was another pause. The logs
were cracking; the fire was sending a
genial warmth and light through the
paneled hall. From the rooms adjoin-
Ing came shouts of laughter as some
one was caught and kissed under the
mistletoe.
Il am a promoter" said Arnold pres
emily. 1T is my business to secure
funds for carrying out enterprises.
Suppose could get this loan for. your
father?'
They were speaking very deliberate
ly-so deliberately that one might have
thought they We're two people OF bust
ness making a bargain. "a
AT the same interest he will pay Mr..
Trotter?" she asked.
How much is thatf"
Now 1 think of 1t, heard papa say
per cent"
That would be satisfactory"
Miss Martin may have been consid-
ering the matter OF interest. AT any
rate, II was some time before she
reached the next step.
THE bonus?" she asked under her
breath.
THAT would depend upon whether
you would rather burn than fry or.
rather, whether you prefer neither to
burn nor fry"
1T would not be fair to withhold the
bonus. Nevertheless If it were a bur.
den instead Of a blessing
he did not help her out. Instead hs
took out his watch and noted the hour.
1t was five minutes to IL.
1T is understood and agreed" he
said, that IL the party OF the first part
doesn't show up when the clock strikes
IL the party of the second part shall
consider herself released from signing
the contract and will make the sama
arrangement with the party of the
third part-that IN lieu of the sum of
half million dollars at 4 per cent in
terest''-
1.-THE bonusr She was losing her
business equanimity, tapping her foot
on the lion skin beneath 1t. There re-
manned only few minutes to II, and
the party of the first part might walk
In at any moment.
The bonus shall be optional"
with whom"
THE party OF the second part"
but the party of the third part?o
"Will only accept 1t entire. The heart
must go with the hand"
IT'S n bargain" she said. extending
her hand, which he grasped. At the
same moment the clock at the other
end of the hall began to strike the
nour. 1t was an old fashioned time
keeper with enormous weights and
wheezed out its arithmetic strokes with
provoking slowness. The pair sat mo-
tionless, theiy clasped hands concealed
under fold of the lady's dress. their
eyes turned upon the front door. Each
stroke brought them nearer to n con-
summation of their bargain. At the
fourth there was a tinkle of the cleo
tric doorbell. AT the eighth n servant
passed the couple on his way to open
the front door. Arnold put out his foot,
and the man went Spawning on the
hoor. AT the eleventh stroke the sery-
ant was on his feet and rubbing his
Sims. At the twelfth he proceeded on
his way. There was a pressure be-
tween the two concealed hands. In an.
other moment the door opened and Mr.,