The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-08-16
The Manager Of !:
the B. ( A.
BY VAUGHAN HESTER
BY VAUGHAN HESTER
Copyright. 1901, by Harper & Brothers
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

+.-t.-.-a-.-fr.-a-.-s.l-.-s-.-s-..a-.-a....sl-s-.
quite himself again.
His attitude toward the world was
the decently cheerful one Of the man
who is earning a good salary and
whose personal cares are far from be-
ing numerous or pressing. He was
still capable of looking out for Cor
nish's interests, and his own, too, if the
need arose.
He went down to the Office alert and
vigorous. AS he strobe along he nod
ded and smiled at the people he met
on the street. If the odium of his IA
TIERS crime was to attach itself to
him it should be without his help. An
tioch might count him callous if it
liked, but it must not think him weak.
His first official act was to go for
Kerr, who was unusually cantanker-
Gus. and he gave that frigid gentleman
scare which lasted him for the better
part of q week. for Kerr, who had con-
WINGED himself overnight that Oakley
swing With the Huckleberry and was
disposed to treat his superior with
airy Indifference. He had objected to
hunting up an old order book Dan
wished to see on the score that he was
too busy. whereat. as Holt expressed
it. the latter Jumped on him with
both feet" His second official act was
to serve formal notice on Branyon that
he was dismissed from tile shops. He
was even Earnh with Miss Walton, and
took exception to her spelling of a
typewriter letter Which he was send
ing off to Cornish in London
He also inspected every department
in the shops and was glad of an G..
cuSe he discovered to reprimaad .ioa
Stokes, who was stockkeeper Ill tie
carpenters room, for the slovels,y n,a..i
ner in which the stock wa; handed
Then he returned to the Office and a..
matter of discipline kept Kerr busy
all the rest of the morning haulin.
dusty order books from dark closet
He felt that if excitement was what
was wanted he was the one to furnish
it. He had been too easy.
Naturally the office force gave a deep
Sigh of satisfaction when Oakley closed
his desk and announced that he was
going uptown and would not return.
Miss Walton confided to Kerr that she
just hoped he would never come back.
1t was a little before 3 O'clock when
Dan presented himself at the Emorys'
The maid who answered his ring usll-
cred him into the parlor With marked
trepidation. She was timid soul.
Then she swished from the room, but
returned almost Immediately to say
that Miss Emory would be down in a
moment.
When Constance entered the room Ii
advanced little uncertainty. She en-
| tended her hand quite cordially, how
ever There was no trace of ephar
rassment or constraint in her manner
AS he took her hand Dan said sim
ply, going straight to the purpose OF
lis call:
Il have thought good deal over
what l want to tell you, Miss Emory
Miss Emory instantly took the alarm
and was on the defensive She en-
veloped herself in that species of in
scrutable feminine reserve men fine
so difficult to penetrate She coult
not imagine what he had to tell he
that was so pressing He was certain
ly very curious and unconventional
There was one thing she feared III
might want to tell her which she wa
FIRMLY 1nfarpoi1,nI ,,nf TO
Oakley drew forward chair
Wont you sit down?' he aske,
gravely.
"Thank YOU, yes" 1t was all s.
formal they both smiled.
Dan stood with his back to the fire
place, now filled with ferns, and reste'
an elbow on the mantel. There wa
an awkward pause. At last he sal,
slowly:
1T seems I've been the subject of
lot of talk during the last two days
and have been saddled with matte
for which l am in no way responsible
though it appears to reflect on M
quite as much as if were"
Really. Mr.. Oakley began Con
stance, seeming danger ahead. Blu
her visitor was in no mood to tempo
riZe
Zone mo-aent, please" he said hast
ly. You have heard the story from
Mr.. Ryder"
81 have heard it from others a
we'll"
1T has influenced YOU
NO, l won't say that" detiantly
She was not accustomed to being cate
clised
"At least it has caused you to seri
ously doubt the wisdom Of an &C
quaintance," blllrted Oakley.
You are very unfair,' rising, wit
latent anger.
You will greatly oblige me by sit
ting down again.
And Constance, astonshed beyon,
measure at his tone of command, sanl
back into her chair with little smoth
cred gasp of surprise No one had eve
ventured to speak to her like that be
fore. 1t was Il new experience
We've got to finish this, YOU know,