Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-19
WON BY A
YARD
By r. J. KNIGHT o
Copyright, 1906. by r. J. X. Adkin

"Yes. yes. I am perfectly willing to
acknowledge that you are hardy work.
Ing, honorable and trustworthy, Surely
I have proved that by taking you so
completely into my confidence in bust
ness matters. But that Is not sufl-
Gent. The man who marries my dnugh.
ter must have shown some striking
evidence OF business acumen before I
give my consent" MI. Brampton,
banker and diamond merchant, wiped
his glasses and sat back IN the com.
Portable chair of his private Office, dis.
missing the whole matter with a wave
Of his hand.
Eric Wilmanton. his confidential sec.
rotary, also tried to forget the matter.
temporarily, but with less success.
Hes such a self willed old gentle.
man." he sighed to himself, that II he
weren't Doris father I should call him
a stubborn old fool" This heretlcal
train Of thought was broken by the en-.
trance of a clerk with a card. He took
II. mfr. WYlfred Norton Harrington to
zee you," he said. II don't think he's q
client Of Oursf"
Harrington. Harrington" murmured
his employer. II don't recollect the
name. Oh. yes. though fancy lie
must be \the son Of that wealthy old
Harrington Of san Francisco who died
a couple of months ago. heard that
the young man was going to settle in
New York. Send him in," he added 10
the clerk.
The latter retired and presently nd.
mitted a tall. clean shaven man Of
about forty, dressed IN a top hat and
fashionably cut frock coat which did
not seem to fit him.
MIR. Brampton. l believe. I should
like to transact some private business
with you IL YOU can spare the time,''
said the stranger.
MY secretary is entirely in my con-
fdence," answered Mr.. Brampton. I'm
fact. l depend on him n good deal, so
you may speak quite freely"
Mr.. Harrington sat down and
placed a red morocco Jewel case on
the table. II have no doubt you know
Of my fathers death some two months
ago. and also that I have purchased
No. s. Fifth venue. l have my af-
fairs pretty well settled now, but In
looking over the icwelry left BY my
father l find that there are several
things which ! don't care to keep.
Pearls. for instance. my wife has n
superstitious horror Of. She refuses
to wear them and 1t would be ridlcu,
lous to keep them locked up in the
safe" He paused for II moment and
took from the case n magnificent rope
Of graduated pearls. "IIere Is a string
OF 175 pearls that I am willing to dis
pose Of"
The other two bent over him with
interest; they were indeed n handsome
set.
Il think l remember being notified
that your father vas collecting these.
some Ave years ago. | sent him a few.
ON approval. I fancy said Mr.. Bramp-
ton, at last. jotting down a conserva.
tive estimate OF $4,000 on n writing
pad. which he dropped in n drawer
where his secretary could see tho fig
ures.
The latter took it. and wrote $4,000
beneath, and returned it.
II have rs many pearls now as l
care to handle the banker went on,
'but ii you will put a price on these
! will see If we IN make a deal"
tHfvy v-ifo inststr CO ctya,,nlv. ~, y, ~
disposing of them that I have decided
TO let them go at a price considerably
below their value, $4,000"
The other two men looked at each
other. 1T Is not a matter to be de-
cidei offhand," said Mr.. Brnmpton.
but IL you give me time for consid-
Grafton. I think We can come to an
agreement"
"If n few hours would be sufficient"
suggested Harrington. II should be
very pleased II you would dine with
VIZ and we can settle the matter this
evening"
THAT Is excellent" replied the bank.
or as the visitor rose. Good day"
II suppose You would like to telc.
graph TO San Francisco TO make sure
that everything is all right" said Eric
when the door was closed.
Yes. I'll wire the Pacific bank as
Il matter of form. but of course his
receiving mo IN bis own house will be
really sufficient. Every one knows
he's bought No. g. Fifth avenue Mr..
BramptOn wrote and dispatched the
message Immediately.
A satisfa Glory reply arrived before
they left tho Office. Mr.. Harrington
had removed a considerable amount of
Jewelry from that very bank to his
New York house about a fortnight be-
fore.
III I can conclude this purchase sat
i~sfactorily 1t will mean a considerable
turn over" said the banker as he left
the Office. "YOr lack real business
instincts. Wilmnnton. in being too eau
tious. I know you didn't like this
mans appearance, and you would have
let the matter 60. very like"
Il shall be anxious to hear what
kind Of m understanding you come to
this evening"" said Eric.
At 10 O'Clock next morning Mr..
Brampton arrived at the office in an
excellent frame OF mind. Il have
bought the pearls for $40. 900" he said
as he hung up his hat. "Those Har-
ringtons are charming people. OF