The Press., 1906-11-28
In Wall Street
 By EDITH M. DOANE E4oyvrio,b+ 1ooe h,, Duh~ no,.lo,
By EDITH M. DoANE
Copyright. 1906, by Ruby Douglas


 Jack Bentley was permitting himself the luxury of day off. He felt that he was entitled to it.
 For 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 ad- vantage. Bentley, the junior partner of Curtice & 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 we'll satisfied with life in general. His part of the transaction had been we'll handled, his share in the way of commissions was distinctly gratifying, and in addition he had cleaned up neat little sum by going Into the deal on his own hook.
 It was getting we'll into July, and as 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.
 It was picture often in his thoughts. The long, low, rambling clubhouse, with It's 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 powder, the sunlight falling through the leaves in fiickering shadows on her soft, fair hair.
 In the height of the fight he had re- eeived 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 md 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 out of the late deal. 7 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.
 "I phoned to your office this morning, $nt you were not there."
 ''Is anything wrongT' he asked un- easily.
 Nothing, except that return to the country this afternoon at 8 o'clock, and I thought
 'T am wondering" he interrupted, laughing uncertainty to cover his hurt, ''why might not have known you were in townr
 ''But I wasn't, not until late last night, and MT. Sheldon did not wish any one to know. He wired me yes terday to come at once. You know, he has managed everything for me just as much since I have been of age as he did before." She hesitated, flushing with excitement. "Jack," she cried, '1t Is a great secret, but I 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. MT. Sheldon has made ever so much money lately -yesterday-and I am to make a lot in the same way. He has all my securities. gave them to him this morning."
 Do you mean you have given that man all your moneyY' Bentley blurted out.
 Had Sheldon appropriated the girls money to his own useP That same 1n- stant 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 we'll known shrewd- ness, could mean only one thing. Sheldon had lest heavily and intended to recoup with Constance's money.
 His first impulse was to tell her of the deception that was being prac- t1ced upon her. But she would not believe him. Besides, he was not ab- solutely certain of 1t and might alarm her needlessly.
 How he accomplished what follow ca 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
 He saw the surprise in her eyes succeeded by frank acceptance of his explanation, he heard each infection of her dear voice as she promised to meet him, and then a moment later he was speeding toward lower Broad way. Once only did his pace lessen, and then only so long as 1t took him 70 rush up the steps of ms 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 interference of Jack Bentley, who had entered his private office with scant ceremony.
 'Mr. Sheldon" said that young mar abruptly, q learned an hour ago that you have, through misrepresentation appropriated certain securities belong ing to Miss Elliott"
 For once Sheldon's self possession 6osortnd him ssWhat lie is this p he