The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-06
IN WALL STREET.
By Edlth M. poane.


 Jack Bentley was permitting himself the luxury of a day off. He felt that he was entitled to it.
 For month past the situation had been too tense, the ecitement too keen for any thought beyond the whirr of the ticker.
 The firm of curtice & Co. stock brokers, was the medium through which a wealthy syndicate had mani pulated the stock market to it's own advantage Bentley. the junior partner of curtice & Co.. had labored steadily at his post on the Moor of the Ex- change. cool and imperturbable in the midst of the rising storm, and only the day before the deal had been pulled off" successfully.
 And now. upon this bright morning in early Summer, Jack Bentley was feeling decidedly we'll satisfied with life in general His part of ethe tIansan- tion had been well handled. his share in the way of commissions was dis tinctly gratifying, and in addition he had cleaned up neat little sum by go- ing into the deal on his own hook.
 It was getting well into July. and as Bentely's automobile whirled up Fifth avenue his mind turned longingly from the city, sweltering in midsummer heat to the vision of club house in the heart of the Berkshire Hills.
 It was picture often In nis thoughts. The long, low, rambling club house, with it's old fashioned gar den at one side. little winding brook sparkling and splashing between ciumpsfof fern and low banks. willow fringed; a girl, sweet and gracious her white frock cool against a great moss covered boulder, the sunlight falling through the leaves in fickerinE shad- y,sx,u m her soft. fair hair.
 In the height of the fight he had re- natvad her letter You'd better cornes' sine wrote. 'Tts lovely as ever here. and at the end again. "do come" He had smiled as he teiegraphed his am ewer. There was no doubt of his atti- tude where Constance Elliott was con cerned.
 4 great longing for country sights and souds swpt over him. for the woods and hills. and her. A little while, and he could have them. A few days, attention to straightening out the af- termath of the great fight. and then Constance had no parents to object ana even her old curmudEeon or a guar dlan--strange how he had always mis- trusted that rnan-could not fail to be impressed by the tidy sum he had pull led out of the late deal.
 Where Fifth avenue broadens into the Plaza he mechanically lessened speed, his mind still with the girl in Berkshires as the huge car turned smoothly into Central Park,
 And the first person his eyes higntea on was Constance Elliot.
 The next instant he was before her. cap in hand, and she rose in astonish- nent to meet him. For a second they faced each other, he scarcely credtting the evidence of his sense, she coloring prettily and holding out one slim hand in cordial greeting
 q 'phoned to your office this morn ing, but you were not there"
 ''Is anything wrongT" he asked. nn- easily.
 ..Nothlng, except that I return to the country this afternoon at 8 o'clock. and I thought"
 T am wondering" he interrupted, laughing uncertainty to cover his heart. ''why I might not have known you were in townT'
 "But I wasn't not until late last highland Mir. Sheldon did not wish any one to know. He wired me yes terday to come at once. You know, ne has managed everything for me just as much since I have been of age as he did before" She hesitated, flush ing with excitement. Jack" she cried. Tt is h great scret, but I am going to be very rich"
 He regarded her gravely.
 Through some stock deal" she went on. with feminine vagueness. Per haps you've heard of 1t. Mir. Sheldon has made ever so much money lately yesterday--and I am to make a lot In the same way. He has all my securi- ties. gave them to him this morn ing"
 "Do you mean you have given that man all your moneyT Bentley blurted out.
 Had sheldon appropriated the girls money for his own use? That same Instant. Bentley was sure of it. His brain, used to quick deductions. leaped from the rumor on the Street that Shei- don had been badly hit. to the sudden wire to Constance-the secrecy--the mlsrepfesentation. These, coupled with the mans weli-known shrewdness, could mean only one thing. Sheldon had lost heavily and intended to re- coup with Constance's money.
 Ills first impulse was to tell her of the deception that was being practiced him. Besides. he was not absolutely certain of 1t and might alarm her need- lessly.
 How he accomplished what followed he never clearly knew. He heard a voice he hardly recognized as his own claiming a pressing engagement ana begging her to lunch with him later
 He saw the suprise in her eyes suc- ceeded by frank acceptance of his ex- planation, he heard each infection Of her dear voice as she promised to meet him, and then. a pament later, he was speeding toward lower Broadway once only did his pace lesson. and then only for so long as 1t took him to rush up the steps of his apartment and slip something small and shining Into the pocket of his long. loose coat.
 The situation from Sheldon's point of view was bad enough without the ln- terference of Jack Bentley, who had entered his private offlce with scant ceremony.
 '.Mr. sheldon" said that young man, abruptly, "I learned an hour ago that you have, through misrepresentation, certain securities belong ing to Miss Elliot"
 For once Sheldon's self-possession de serted him. ''What lie is thisr' he cried, half rising from his chair.
 And" continued Bentley, coolly. Il have come to get them and return them to her"
 T refuse to give them to you"
 You mustl"
 T am acting as her agent--by what right do you----"
 Bentley leaned across the table.
 MT sheldon" he said. grimly. T