Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-01-26

ndu Caught MIN WIFI the SOOuS OF
him He stammered and stutterea.
clas9ed my hand eagerly, dropped II
as ir it had stung him; he jerked out
a string of hysterical nonsense, end
ing with laugh SO crazy that the
sound of it discoh@Srted him. Drink
was the explanation that drifted
through my mind; but in fact |
thought little about it, so full was 1
of other matters.
when is your brother returning?"
said | to Tom.
"On the next steamer, | believe"
he replied. He went only for the
rest and the bath of sea air" With
an effort he collected himself, drew
me aside and said: II owe you an
apology, Mr.. Blackjack. | went to
the steamer with Mowbray to see him
off, and he asked me to tell you about
our new dividend rate-though it was
not to be made public for some time.
Anyhow, he told me to go straight to
you-and frankly forgot it," Then,
with the winning, candid Langdon
smile, he added, ingenuously: The
best excuse in the world-yet the one
nobody ever accepts"
No apology necessary" said | with
the utmost good nature. I've no per-
sonal interest in textile. My house
deals on commission only, you know
never on margins for myself I'm
a banker and broker, not a gambler.
Some Of our customers were alarmed
by the news of the big increase, and
insisted on bringing suit to stop it.
But I'm going to urge them now to
let the matter drop"
Tom tried to look natural, and as
he is an apt pupil of his brothers, he
succeeded fairly we'll His glance,
however, wouldn't fix steadily on my
gaze, but circled round and round 1T
like a bat at an electric light ITO
tell you the truth" said he, I'm ex-
tremely nervous as to what my
brother will say-and do-to me,
when | tell him. l hope no harm
came to you through my forgetful-
ness
None in the world" | assured him.
Then | turned on Sam. What are
you doing down town today" said
l.. Are you on your way to see me-"
"Oh, was just calling on Tom," he
replied rather haughtily.
Then Melville himself came in.
brushing back his white tufted burn
sides and licking his lips and blink
ing his eyes-looking for all the world
like a cat at it's toilet.
"Oh! ali! Blackjack" he exclaimed,
with purring cordiality-and | knew
he had heard of the big deposit was
making. Come into my office on your
way out-nothing special-only be-
cause it's always a pleasure to talk
with you"
| saw that his ELUSIVE friendliness
confirmed Tom Langdon's fear that |
had escaped from his brothers tolls.
He stared sullenly at the carpet until
he caught me looking at him with
twinkling eyes. He made q valiant
effort to return my smile and succeed
ed in twisting his face into knot
that seemed to hurt him as much as
it amused me.
We'll, good-by, Tom" said |. Give
my regards to your brother when he
lands, and tell him his going away
was a mistake. A man can't afford
to trust his important business to UNI
der-strappers. This with a face free
from any suggestion of intending a
shot at him. Then to Sam: See you
tonight, old man., and ! went away,
leaving Lewis looking from one to the
other as if he felt that there was dyn-
amite about, but couldn't locate it.
stopped with Melville to talk coal for
few minutes-at my ease, and the
last man on earth to be suspected of
| hanging by the crook of one finger
from the edge of the precipice.
rang the Ellersly's bell at half
past nine that evening. The butler
faced me with eyes not down, as they
should have been, but on mine, and
full of servile insolence to which he
had been prompted by what he had
overheard in the family.
Not at home, sir" he said though
had not spoken.
was preoccupied and not expecting
that statement; neither had | skill,
nor desire to acquire skill in reading
family barometers in the faces of serv-
ants. So, | was for brushing past him
and entering where | felt | had as
much right as in my own places. He
barred the way.
BEG pardon, sir. Mr.. Ellersly in
structed me to say no one was at
home"
halted, but only like an oncoming
bear at the prick of an arrow.
What does this mean?" | ex-
claimed, waving him aside At that
instant Anita appeared from the little
reception-room few feet away.
"Oh-come in" she said cordially.