The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-04-29
one ~ nv "A FascinatnR
a. Romance
w. u 81 by
!" CIV ~ Alan Adaif:..
= ffsR

| Most of the employees in the firm
were married, and they constituted q
little circle to themselves. Alan had
the run of their houses. and soon be-
gan to feel at home: however, amongst
them there was zone man tofWhom he
never took. An Englishman, Hutch
inson by name, a 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 II Hutchin-
son had particular grudge against
him.
This surmise on Alan part was we'll
founded, for, as matter Of fact, when
Dempster found him SO Intelligent, he
had thought it might be we'll to raise
| him to Hutchinson's 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
or not Some affirmed that he had
daughter, who has almost reached
woman's estate; others said that he
never made, any mention of any one.
But, as a 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 tldings 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 Englishmsn. 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
a few hours, might mean the loss of
may 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 a country house
than town house.
When he found it 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
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 it
seemed to him that he heard the sound
of a woman sobbing. He reined in his
horse so as to make sure; he still
heard the sound. The spirit of adven-
ture burned hot within 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 hors2 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
you?'
The girl. startled by the voice,
spranG up, and showed to Alan's gaze
face, disfigured by weeping, it is true,
but of perfect type of beauty. There
was Spanish blood in her, as was testi-,
fled by the liquid, dark eyes, and the
perfect oval of her face, and the slim,
yet well-shaped limbs. Her mouth,
too, quivering with emotion, was ripe
and red, and the little white teeth were
even and sharp. Z
She looked up for a moment at the
handsome lad. who was watching her
with such evident concern. and then
she blushed and answered, with an at
tempt at self-possession that was very
! creditable. seeing the abandonment Of
| grief in which Alan had found her: ut
is nothing, sir. I would not do as my
father wished. and he was angry and
struck me-
Struck you? The brute" cried
| Alan. THE detestable brute! How
dare he strike a woman?''
The girls eyes were cast down; she
seemed ashamed Perhaps she had not
yet realized her womanhood completes
~; she seemed very young. -'He has
q violent temper, sir, and perhaps do
not manage him well. have no moth
er; she died years ago" lS
4 Fortunately for her" said Alan
grimly, .tif your father Is the sort 81
man who would strike "a woman! /" 3
You see..y said the girl. ut seems