The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-29
Potter Upon Absc nding

Gu DOWn OFon the 0HOSl u ITO NpSS'
dropped from his hands Although
there were over a hundred people in
the dining room. he was unconscious
of the rustic and hustle and clatter
about him. He had even forgotten his
cashiers defalcations. He only saw
those precious pearls drop faster and
faster. The young lady must have felt
his impertinent stare without divining
his sympathy; for, with a superb sud
den motion of the head, she arose from
her seat, turned her back upon Pot
ter and calmly walked out.
LAS | was saying"-the words 1oated
stridenly into Mr. POtters ears from
the opposite sides of the tablet know
the Arm of Brooks & Potter very well.
Brooks is the heavyweight, while Pot
ter is more of a room trader. Why.
/ used to go to school with Potter.
He's as bold as a lion, cautions as
a hyena with no more heart than
cod Why, l took passage in order to
be present at the birth and christen
ing of the Transatlantic Herald. / tell
you this steamer marks an era-the
most pOrtentous era the world has
ever"
The traveller looked UP and caught
the cold, contemptuous look from Pei
leg Potter's eye. But Ananias Eli was
not TO be abashed. He had property.
but no home He was one of those
eternal travellers who changes his ac-
quaintances as you change a $40 bill,
and who consequently throws off
"reminiscences or an experience as cas-
lily as you puff smoke, and with as
little feeling of responsibility as to
how it will evapOrate.
Not ten feet away, at the head of
the table, sat Phineas Sutton the
purser; sleek, good natured, resource
full, and whose bland countenance be
trayed nothing When he caught Mr..
POtter's warning glance he obeyed 1t.
The rustic of the papers continued.
Each one seemed absorbed in his own
news. That Potter should be entrapped
in the first steamer that should keep
in continual touch with land was eX-
asperating. Besides, he felt, somehow
or other. that Miss Emery's tears were
due to some news brutally thrust be-
fore her notice.
Mr.. Potter has in a somewhat dan
gerous mood. He had not yet looked
at the stock quotations, and was there
fore less dangerous than he might have
been.
Excuse me"-he bowed politely to
his vi-a-vis-'I am a little interested
in this Potter, whom you know"
"Oh, yes, sir, j knew him quite well.
They say he is dying of paresis-
burning arc light at both carbons-not
bad, that? Can't stand the pace; is
about 38, my age, and looks SO. Oh,
these brokers are sad dogs! I'm A
Eli of Eli, Pa. Own the town there
II travel, that's all. What is your
line?"
ooh, l am one of those sad dogs,
stock broker, broken down, on a va
cation" Mr.. Potter spoke with great
suavity.
"Oh, hah! Why, then-you must
have a lot of pointers" Mr.. Eli bent
half way over the table, cycling his
new acquaintance with order.
Mr.. Potter shook his head mysteri-
ousIy-
I'm always taking flyers" per-
sisted Ananias Eli. 81 took one before
breakfast. Perhaps you-?"
Never" The broker allowed himself
an alluring smile, for there had come
to Mr.. Potter an inspiration whose
portent Mr.. Ananias Eli could not sus-
pect.
I'm the smoking room-saw-at-11? PSI
Ananias Eli insinuated this appoint
ment in an Ostentatious whisper But
only tie purser took the trouble to no
tice this circumstance.
IT should be happy to meet you
there" POtters face was inscrutable.
A Slight flush on the forehead was
the only danger signal, and that his
most intimate enemies knew well when
to heed
The little sheet-the triumph of Mar
corni-lay neglected beside his plate
His mind never complex, was now for
the first time confused and annoyed
The defalcation of one of his most
trusted employees and friends-that was
enough TO worry any man-but added
to that was the vision of a perfect pro-
file that seemed to arise from out of
a mist of memory. Where had he met
or seen Miss Emery before? Should
he look at the quotations or not? They
were on the inside page, and he could
see all down the line of the table men
devouring the poison instead of break
fast. Opposite TO him little Ananias
Eli of prOtruding, watery eyes, fat
bullet face and upturned nose. had
just dropped his weak jaw in horror
for he had discovered a loss of two
points in one of his latest speculations.
and the fact was ruefully advertised
in every puffy, shaven feature. Then
Peleg Potter felt the madness of the
street sway the soul he though quoted
by ozone and an unbroken horizon. A
feeling of shame overswept him. He
cast his eyes furtively around, and then
softly opened the sheet.
"U. S. TIT" That defalcation made
a bulldrog of Peleg. The defalcation.
the girl, his illness, everything swept
aside by the knowledge that his enc
mics were at his throat. Instinctively
he reached out his hand for his desk
telephone. He recovered and looked
at his watch. Taking all variations
of time into consideration. he had