The Press., 1907-11-13
v Bad A
 Beginnings.
By BRIAN cAHILL

f 1 + CopyriGhted, 1907, by F. C. EastE0ent. !. s
 Eddowes scowled at the clock as he let himself into the office. A freight train on the branch line over which he commuted to town had blocked the tracks and he had been forced to tramp two miles across country to reach the trolley. Arriving after series of transfers, he found BentOns card on the floor beneath the letter drop with the penciied legend that he was going out of town.
 The deal Eddowes had been working on would not hold out until Benton's return, and he gritted his teeth as ne thought of all the commission on the transaction would have meant to him It would have made up the sun needed to complete the purchase of the little house he wanted to offer Edna Conant as a home, and it might mean a year now before another such bril- liant opportunity would o6er. He glanced out of the window through the light, driving rain, at the sodden vista of wet roof tops and smoke stained buildings, and thought how we'll the weather matched his own feelings. For months he had been working to close the real estate trans action. Benton was to be at the office at 10 to put the final details through, and now he had sailed for Europe and would not be back for several months. It was the final happening of a chail of accidents that had begun with his stubbing his toe as he got out Of bed, followed by the loss of his last collar button under the bureau, the burning of half his breakfast by green serv- ant girl and then the wreck and Its attendant discomforts.
 He turned from the window with a shudder.
 "This is a fine beginning for the week." he said to himself. "If 1t keeps up this way until Saturday shall land in the lunatic asylum"
 He took his seat before the desk and busied himself with the papers ln the Benton matter. Four signatures and the exchange of check would have made the set complete and would have brought him a commission of $10,OO0. Everything had been arranged to ex- pedite matters. Benton had waited half an hour in the hall until he had just time to make the steamer upon which he was to sail.
 Eddowes carefully clipped the papers to file board and caught up his um- brella. There was no chance of any other caller during the lunch hour. and the loss of his breakfast and the tramp across country had put an edge on his appetite.
 The streets were filled with the usu- al hurrying throng and. raising his umbrella. he fell in with the process sion of moist and steaming mortals. The wind had freshened. and the rain was driving in sheets now. At the cor ner by the trust company building the air currents were unusually strong, and just as he passed the curb girl ahead made clutch at her umbrella as 1t turned inside out. while the torn silk futtered from the bent ribs. Ed doves covered the dainty hat with his own umbrella and steered her to the protection of the entrance.
 "Let 1t drop in the gutter" he said There Is no hope of saving any part of it."
 "Harryp' gasped the girl. "Where did you come from?"
 From the oflce," he laughed What brings you downtown. EdnaT'
 q was to meet father for lunch" she explained. He was called to an important conference and left word for me to go to lunch alone. was going home. I am so perfectly miser- able. Everything has gone wrong to- day. It has been a chapter of acci- dents ever since I rose"
 Lets be miserable together" he suggested. Come and have some lunch. and we'll tell each other our troubles" .-.s-
 He led the way to a little place where the service was excellent and the prices moderate. Here. at little table in the corner. she detailed her chapter of accidents. while he in turn gave whimsical account of his own mishaps.
 We are companions in misery" he said, with a laugh. "I really believe that 1t has done me good to pour my tale of woe into sympathetic ears."
 "I know that 1t has done me good to share nay burden" she said, with look that made Eddowes' heart beat the faster. "I'm sorry about that deal you lost"
 Tt meant great deal to me-" he said mournfully T was going to pur- chase the Gordon place."
 "For investrnent?" she asked. though she knew we'll enough she had said once when she had visited his sister how much she would enjoy q place like that for her home.
 "An investment in happiness" he said meaningly. ''I suppose that the place will be sold long before I am able to get another deal like this through"
 ''Is your happiness entirely depend ent upon that one placer she asked. "Is happiness a matter of real estateT'
 Real estate contributes materially to happiness he said, with an uneasy laugh. T should not want to ceec- ::: .