The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-09-28
In Wall Street
Il By EDITH M. DOANE
!; Copyright 1906, by Ruby Douglas
By EDITH M. DOANE
Copyright, 1906, by Ruby Douglas

the luxury of day off. He felt that
he was entitled to it.
For a month past the situation had
been too tense, the excitement too keen
for any thought beyond the whir OF
the ticker.
The firm of Curtice & Co., stock
brokers, was the medium through
which wealthy syndicate had manip-
ulated the stock market to its own adj
vantage. Bentley, the junior partner
of Curtice q Co., had labored steadily
at his post on the floor of the exchange,
cool and imperturbable in the midst of
the rising storm, and only the day be-
fore the deal had been pulled off sue
cessfully.
And now upon this bright morning in
early summer Jack Bentley was feeling
decidedly well satisfied with life in
general. His part of the transaction
had been well handled, his share in the
way of commissions was distinctly
gratifying, and in addition he had
cleaned up a neat little sum by going
into the deal on his own hook
Bentley's automobile whirled up Fifth
avenue his mind turned longingly from
the city, sweltering In midsummer
heat, to the vision of clubhouse in
the heart of the Berkshire hills.
1t was picture often In his thoughts.
The long, low, rambling clubhouse,
with its old fashioned garden at one
side, little winding brook sparkling
and splashing between clumps Of fern
and low banks, willow fringed; a girl,
sweet and gracious, her white frock
cool against a great moss covered
bowlder, the sunlight falling through
the leaves in Pickering shadows on her
soft, fair hair.
In the height of the fight he had re-
ceived her letter. you'd better come"
she wrote. Its as lovely as ever
here" and at the end again, DO
come" He had smiled as he tele-
graphed his answer There was no
doubt of his attitude where Constance
Elliott was concerned.
A great longing for country sights
and sounds swept over him, for the
woods and hills and her. A little while
and he would have them. A few days
attention to Strengthening out the after
math of the great fight and then
Constance had no parents to object,
and even her old curmudgeon of a
guardian-strange how he had always
mistrusted that man-could not fail to
be impressed by the tidy sum he had
pulled odt of the late deal.
Where Fifth avenue broadens into
the plaza he mechanically lessened
speed, his mind still with the girl in
the Berkshires as the huge car turned
smoothly into Central park.
And the first person his eyes lighted
on was Constance Elliott.
The next instant he was before her,
cap in hand, and she rose in astonish-
ment to meet him. For a second they
faced each other, he scarcely crediting
the evidences of his senses, she color
ing prettily and holding out one slim
hand in cordial greeting.
81 phoned to your Office this morning,
but you were not there"
'Ts anything wrong?" he asked un-
easily.
Nothing, except that return to the
country this afternoon at O'clock, and
/ thought
II am wondering" he interrupted,
laughing uncertainty to cover his hurt,
"why l might not have known you
were in town."
''But 1 wasn't, not until late last
night, and Mr.. Sheldon, did not wish
any one to know. He wired me yes
terday to come ut once. You know, he
has managed everything for me just as
much since 1 have been of age as he
did before" She hesitated, flushing
with excitement Jack" she cried, sit
is a great secret, but am going to be
very rich.'
He regarded her gravely.
Through some stock DEAL" she
went on, with feminine vagueness.
perhaps you've heard of it. Mr..
Sheldon has made ever SO much
money -yesterday-and / am to
make a lot in the same way. He has
all my securities. l gave them to him
"Do you mean you have given that
man all your money! Bentley blurted
out.
Had Sheldon appropriated the girls
money to his own use? That same in
slant Bentley was sure Of it. His
brain, used to quick deductions, leap
ed from the rumor on the street that
Sheldon had been badly hit to the sud-
den wire to Constance-the secrecy
the Misrepresentation. These coupled
with the mans well known shrewd-
ness, could mean only one thing.
Sheldon had lost heavily and intended
to recoup with Constances money.
His first impulse was to tell her of
the deception that was being prac-
ticed upon her. But she would not
believe him. Besides, he was not alb
solutely certain of it and might
alarm her needlessly.
How he accomplished what follow
ed he never clearly knew. He heard
a voice he hardly recognized as his
own claiming a pressing engagement
and begging her to lunch with him
later.
II. f..