Mexico Missouri message., 1904-09-15

hts heart beat high as Jessie tsaakiJ
welcomed him.
Under the witchery Of her presence.
James Blake wondered that he lad
hesitated for a moment to risk life
Itself to win her. What was friend
ship, loyalty, fame or fortune in tho
balance with one smile from the WON.
an he had learned so suddenly to
love? His whole being thrilled with
keenest Joy as he felt the faint clasp
OF her hand, and his ears drank in the
melody of her voice.
Papa was saying at dinner that the
market had taken a decided turn, and
that he thought you would call this
evening" said Jessie. "He felt so GER
tain of It that we postponed a theater
party. You are to be congratulated,
papa, on your intuition"
II am the one to be congratulated"
said Blake, with a smile and q bow.
but should preface my self-feliclta-
lions with an apology for the infor-
mality Of my call. II Gen. Garden
will stand sponsor for my plea that
business eXigencles cover a multitude
of social improprletles, may hope
for forgiveness; and, If forgiven,
warn you that | shall commit the Of
Tense again!"
A delicate flush suffused Jessie's
face and frightened the radiance of
her eyes.
you will never become an outcast
by such transgressions," she laughed.
II will leave you and papa to your
business plottings. Edith is here, and
when you have ended your serious af-
fairs perhaps you will join us and we
can have music or cards"
Blake's face glowed with a pleasure
no formal words could conceal.
"Our business will be ended In a
minute" he said 81 know the gen
eral has not forgotten the defeat we
administered to him the other even
ing, and as an old soldier 1 fancy he
is eager to wipe out his repulse with
a victory"
"He certainly is" asserted Gen.
Garden. I'm so sure of winning to.
night that on behalf of Edith | chal-
lenge you and Jessie to a rubber OF
whist, with a box tomorrow evening
for Booths production of "A Fools
Revenge as a wager!"
"Done!" exclaimed Blake.
IL warn you that papa generally
wins when something Is at stake"
said Jessie, but I'll do the best l
can. and hope for good luck to Offset
my poor playing"
She excused herself, and Blake and
Gen. Garden plunged into stock tech
nicalities.
Il wished you to know the cause Of
to-day's advance in L. & o." ex-
planned Blake. For reasons you sur
mise, am picking up blocks of this
stock. 1t will go higher tomorrow,
and then slump may follow, but you
need not worry whether it advances
or declines. have the market under
control. From present indications
you will be called on to exercise your
option inside of ten days"
Il have confidence in your judg-
ment and you can rely on prompt ex-
ecution of your instructions" said
Gen. Garden. For twenty years
have been identified with Wall street,
and l understand its ethics In this
compalgn you are the general. You
will find me a loyal aide"
There was more talk, but since
Blake had nothing of importance to
disclose, the conference soon ended.
Blake was triumphantly satisfied
with his progress. He rightly inter
preted Gen. Gardens suggestion of a
theater party as a tacit permission
to pay his addresses to Jessie Garden.
Later in the evening, through
chance remark by Miss Hancock, he
learned that they had declined a thea
ter invitation from Arthur Morris. He
no longer had the slightest fear of
Morris. He felt sure of the consent
and even the support of Gen. Garden
in his suit for the hand of his daugh-
ter.
The whist game was closely con-
tested, out as Jessie had predicted
the general and Edith won a hard
fought victory. and Blake agreed to
pay the wager the evening following.
ITO be continued.)