Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-15
CHAPTER ~.
A Figure in the Moonlight.

"A Tue mOO0ll2QL,
He read it again and again. after which
he sat and looked at 1t, as II his mind,
usually so clear, had suddenly been con-
fronted with something incomprehensible
What did 1t mean? What could it meant
nameless writer
With his firm fingers he tore the missive
and the envelope into bits and threw them
into the waste-basket.
ut is not worthy of a second thought, y
he told himself "I'll not think of it,"
But he did. nevertheless; even though he
turned resolutely to his papers. He read
some matter foreign to the letter that had
disturbed him. and when he put the bust
ness paper down he found he had perused
1t like an automaton, without mastering its
contents Still he strove to concentrate his
thoughts on the details of the day, and,
taking up his pen, began to write. The first
few sentences flowed concisely, but he was
soon cropping for the main thread of the
idea and obliged to commence once more.
He got farther-not much-when suddenly
he bent his head and held 1t in his hands.
For some time he remained thus, but at
length arose.
This will not do" he said. and, walking
to the window, opened it wide and stood
there, breathing deeply. On the pavement
below were little groups of men engaged in
earnest conversation. What were they all
talking about? The man at the window
knew there was but one topic of interest
row for layman or churchman, poor man or
rich man. Gold! High gold or cheap gold
a gold corner, a gold slump!
Impatiently he turned and left the room.
Passing through the general offices he ira
versed the hail. pausing a moment before
Dalton's room. That young man had some
time since betaken himself from his place
q VI a q md tnh ard
Strong looked in. His desk had been cleared
of papers, but the odor of cigar smoke still
permeated the air. Mr.. Strong took in the
various details at glance, fingered a mo-
ment and then walked down stairs and out
of the building. Turning into the street the
first person he encountered was a little
cadaverous, bearded man. with deep, sunken
eyes, who slackened his nervous footsteps
at sight of him.
How do you do?" he said, and with no
further word walked on with Richard
Strong. The street was now fast emptying
itself of its frequenters; messengers, clerks,
brokers, lawyers and tipsters; some moving
directly toward the main thoroughfare, 9TH
ers diving into certain subterranean places
whence came the sound of a banjo, or a
fiddle, or even the fuller strains Of dis
tressed small orchestra.
THE short interest is very heavy in gold "
finally observed the little man.
so am told, Mr.. Could
That gentleman said no more; it had ever
ueen HIS HaDlt 10 examine and crOSS-eX-
anime men with his eyes rather than his
lips Mr.. Strong had always been impen-
etra ble but he wore now an indefinable look
which puzzled the little man. Did 1t por-
tend he had been selling gold heavily and
felt himself bound to compromise with the
Erie party, which was manipulating the
market?
Strong looks worried" Mr.. Gould re-
marked later in the day to Fisk when they
met at their common rendezvous, a certain
little back office.
well" laughed Jim Jubilee, brusquely,
there's only two things that worry a man
in this world-gold and women
His companion did not answer directly. A
certain moral side of Mr.. Fisks nature fell
within the pale of his absolute disapproval
Mr. Gould was devout, temperate, and,
above all, domestic He might use the other;
employ that versatile gentleman in many
and varied capacities, but tie strong puri-
tanical streak that ran through the little
mans character shut out Jim, the erst-
while peddler, from an intimacy any closer
than the exigencies of business demanded.
Mr.. Fisk made money, to employ it in vain
pleasures; Mr.. Gould, like Daniel of old
worshfped both gold and the Book
THE short interest must be nearly two
hundred millions. remarked the little man,
and turned the conversation to the sober
and staid topic of the circulating medium
and the government.
Go be continued tomorrow