Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-12
THE GRAFTERS
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"And the price?" said Kent, shortly.
"Oh. my dear sir! must we put 1t
upon the ground Of Quid pro quo!
Rather let us say that we shall help
each other. You are IN a position to
assist me very materially; l may be
| in a position to serve your turn. Come
to nv Office tomorrow morning pre-
pared to do your duty as an honest
loyal citizen, and you will find me quite
willing to meet you halfway"
Kent rose and opened his watch.
"Mr. Meigs, l have given you your
opportunity, and You have seemed to
give me mine," he said, coolly. "Will
you pardon me if say that can pad
die my own canoe-if ask you to as
sure his Excellency that one more de-
vice of his to escape punishment mas
been tried and found wanting?"
For q fitting moment the cast-iron
smile faded from the impassive face
of the attorney general and an unre-
lenting devil came to peer out OF the
colorless eyes. Then Meigs rose cat
like and laid his hand on the door
knob.
do I understand that you refuse to
move in a matter which should be the
first duty of good citizen, Mr.. Kent%
he asked, purringly.
T certainly do refuse to fall into
any such clumsy trap as you have
been trying to bait for me, Mr.. Meigs,"
said David Kent, dropping back into
his former curtness.
The door opened slowly under the
impulse of the slender womanish hand.
"You have task Of some magnitude
before you, Mr.. Kent. You can scarcely
hope to accomplish it alone"
The door closed softly behind the re-
treating figure of the attorney general,
and Kent released the spring OF the
night-latch. Then he went to the
dropped portiere at the farther end OF
the room, drew 1t aside and looked In
on a man who was writing at table
pushed out between the windows.
The ex-manager nodded.
"They are hard pressed" he said.
Then, looking up quickly: "You could
name your price If you wanted to close
out the stock of goods in hand, David
1t was in the afternoon Of the same
day that Kent found note in his key
box at the Clardendon asking him to
call up 124 TETON avenue by telephone.
He did 1t at once, and Penelope an
swered. The key-box note had been
placed at Elinor's request, and she,
Miss Penelope, could not say what
was wanted; neither could she say
definitely when her sister would be In.
Elinor had gone out an hour earlier
with Mr.. Ormsby and Miss Van Brock
in Mr.. Ormsby's motor-car. When was
he, DAVID Kent, coming up? Did he
know they were talking OF spending
the remainder of the summer at
Breezeland inn? And where was Mr..
Loring all this time?
Kent made fitting answers to all
these queries, hung up the ear-piece
and went away moodily reflective.
He was due at a meeting of the exec
utive committee OF the Civic league,
but he let the public business wait
while he speculated upon the probable
object of Elinor's telephoning him.
Now there Is no field In which the
inconsistency Of human nature is so
persistent as in that which Is bound
ed by the sentimentally narrowed
horizon of a man in love. With Orms-
by at the nodus of his point of view,
David Kent made no secret Of his open
rivalry of the millionaire, declaring
his intention boldly and taking nc
shame therefor. But when he faced
about toward Elinor he found himself
growing hotly Jealous for her good
faith: careful and fearful lest she
should say or do something not strict
ly in accordance with the letter and
spirit of her obligations as Ormsby's
6ancee.
For this cause he had been postpon'
ing the promised visit, and thereby
postponing the taking of the final step
in the campaign of intimidation. The
unexplained telephone call decided
him, however. He would go and see
Elinor and have the ordeal over with,
But as a preliminary he dined that
evening with Ormshy at the Camelot
club, and over the coffee had 1t out
with him.
81 am going out to see Miss Brent
wood tonight" he announced ab-
ruptly. Have you any objection?"
The millionaire gave. him the
shrewdest of overlooks, ending with
deep-rumbling laugh.
Kent, you are the queerest lot
have ever discovered, and that Is say
ing a good bit. Why, in the name OF
all the properties, should ! object?"
Your right Is unchallenged."
Kent admitted.
rs it? Better ask Miss Brentwood
about that. She might say 1t isn't"
Il don't understand" said Kent,
dry-tongued.
Don't you? Perhaps Id better ex-
plain: she might find 1t little diff
cult. You have been laboring under
the impression that we are engaged
haven't you?"
"Laboring under the-why, good
heavens, man! it's in everybody's
mouth"
Curious, isn't it, how such thinga
| get about" commented the player oi
long suits. How do you suppose they
get started?"
81 don't suppose anything about It
so far as we two are concerned;
have your own word for 1t. You said
you were the man in possession
Ormsby laughed again.
"You are something OF a blunei
yourself, David. Did you let my little
stagger scare you out?"
David Kent pushed his chair back
from the table and nailed Ormsby WIFI
a look that would have made q young
er man betray himself.
do you mean to tell me that there
is no engagement between you and
Miss Brentwood?'
Ill