Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-22
CHAPTER XII.
The Day Of Settlement.
morning Mr. Strong"

AAC 10y VI 6SGtACA4C0Ss
Good morning, Mr.. Strong
The speakers appearance was that OF 4
man who had not slept the night before.
His eyes were dull; his face unshaven. In
twenty-four hours his features had become
pinched and his color a grayish nue.. But
he bore himself with an effort at steadi-
ness. If not with the assurance he had been
wont to assume.
look at the other.
Come to the house, want to explain
Elinor's words reiterated themselves in his
thoughts.
Dalton drew nearer. "As you know, Mr..
Strong" he began In a mechanical voice,
II acted with the gold crowd yesterday
bought some gold for them; also some for
myself-more than / should. The gold pur-
chased FOR them-under instructions-i have
nothing to do with That-bought for my
self. makes 1t unfortunately incumbent upon
me to come to you in person-to SETTLE
Stlll the elder man sat with his back
half-turned. He noticed that the letter was
them two days before and had lain neglect
ed on his desk that Black Friday.
Dalton's hands opened and closed ner-
vously. He was conscious of feeling sleepy;
tired; of something pressing upon his brain.
The other turned In his chair What
were you saying?"
Charlie flushed. Il was explaining" he
remarked, with an effort of self-controI
Mr.. Strong glanced at the missive. /
want to explain 1t. too, said that
He began deliberately to tear up the
note.
"Explaining-what?"
That find myself the possessor of some
gold-bought from you, or the pool you
represent at a high figure"
How much-did you buy? What price
did you pay?'
Charlie mentioned the amount and the
cost.
The other offered no comment Dalton
felt a greater lassitude; most of the night
before he had passed on the street or in
the lobby of the uptown exchange-the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. He seemed reaching
the .s,, finale of disagreeable dream,
1.-THE terms of settlement are" And Mr..
Strong named them.
"Impossiblei'
The man at the desk offered no response
to the exclamation. Dalton too, now be-
came silent He watched the rain-drip-
| drip-on the window-siil and go splashing
on to the street A little gust and 1t came
In wild patter against the pane. In the
room the shadows deepened. An over
vivid consciousness weighed upon him, but
he strove to recall his alertness; to fasten
his mind yet more keenly upon the matter
! In hand.
"Of course the pool have it all their own
| way" he continued with an effort But
don't you think the penalty-rather larger"
The other again disregarded the sug-
tons were being swept aside like chaff.
This he resented and experienced at once
irritation and detection.
THE attempt to corner gold turned out
to your advantage" he said at length.
you've made a great deal Of money out
of IT,
A light flashed up and went out In Rich
ard Strong's eyes.
"You mean I am beholden to the gold
clique-to you. perhaps?"
Dalton checked himself. looked down.
mot that" he returned. and traced a
figure with his cane on the carpet. IT
don't think implied that" He felt as II
he was forcing himself to speak: to con-
tinue an intolerable part. A moment he
struggled with himself. 'Of course want
to do the best I can He raised his
! glance. You will make it"
The other repeated the terms he had first
specified.
Charlie bit his lip. Yes. but"
Mr.. Strong seemed more engrossed IN
the papers on the desk than In the matter
| in hand.
Across Dalton's mind foated the fatal
figures. All he possessed would not cover
| the loss. He would be bankrupt! Not
only that, but in Richard Strong's debt
his debt!
Charlie made a quick gesture.
aYou have no right he began
The other arose. His gray eyes rested
on the white face OF the young man. look
ed him through and through.
"You talk about right!''
Something seemed to rise between them
--out OF cloud-for the moment Richard
Strong felt the moonlight bathing him:
| the rush of the wind He strove to put q
/ aside; to blind his eyes to the picture.
You lent yourself to the conspiracy pFe-