The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-02

at your service" bowed. 81 owe
you something"
"Indeed?" Mrs. Knapp raised her
eyebrows in surprise.
For your kind recommendation to
Mr. Knapp"
MY recommendation? You have
a little the advantage of me-"
was stricken with painful doubts,
and the cold sweat started upon ne.
Perhaps this was not Mrs Knapp after
all
"oh, perhaps you didn't mean it,"
I said.
Indeed I did. If it was a recon-
mendation. I'm afraid it was uncon~
scious. though. Mr.. Knapp does not
consult me about his business"
1 was in doubt no longer 1t was
the injured pride OF the wife that
spoke in the tone.
I'm none the less obliged" said
carelessly. He assured me that he
acted on your words"
What on earth are you doing for
Mr.. Knapp" she asked earnestly,
dropping her half-bantering tone.
There was trace of Apprehension in
her eyes.
I'm afraid Mr.. Knapp wouldn't
think your recommendations were
quite justified If l should tell you. Just
get him in a corner and ask him"
Il suppose 1t is that dreadful stock
market" e.
"Oh, madam, let me say the chicken
market. There is a wonderful Oppor-
tunity just now for corner in fowls
There are a good many to be
plucked in the market that Mr.. Knapp
will look after" she said with smile.
But there was something of a worried
look behind 1t. "Oh, you know.
Henry, that / can't bear the market.
have seen too much of the misery that
has come from it."
She shuddered as she looked about
her, as though in fancy she saw her
self turned from the palace into the
street.
Mr. Knapp is not a man to lose,"
said
said with a proud straigtening Of her
figure. But the whirlpool can suck
down the strongest swimmer"
But l suspect Mr.. Knapp makes
whirlpools instead of swimming into
Them l said meaningly.
"Ah, Henry" she said sadly, how
ofte& have l told you that the best
- II, +Io RI a.
1t may not take much to start bould-
er rolling down the mountains side, but
who is to tell it to stop when once it
is set going?"
81 think" said I, smiling, that Mr..
Knapp would ride the boulder and find
himself in a gold mine at the end of
the Journey"
Perhaps. But you're not telling me
what Mr.. Knapp is doing"
He can tell you better than /"
mo doubt" she said with trace of
sarcasm in her voice.
And here he comes to do it, ex-
pect," l said, as the tall figure of the
King of the Street appeared in the
doorway opposite.
I'm afraid l shall have to depend
on the newspapers" she said. Mr..
Knapp is as much afraid Of woman s
/ tongue as you are. oh" she continued
after a moments pause, Il was going
/ to make you give an account of your
! self; but since you will tell nothing l
/ must introduce you to my cousin, Mrs.
/ BOwser." And she led me, unresist-
/ ing, to a short, sharp-featured woman
/ of sixty or Whereabouts, who rustled
her silks, and in a high, thin voice
/ professed herself charmed to see me.
She might have claimed and held
the record as the champion of the con-
/ versational ring. | had never met
her equal before, nor have l met one
! to surpass her since.
| Had l been long IN the city? She
I had been here only a week. Came from
Maine way. This was dear, dreadful
city with such nice people and such
dreadful winds, wasn't it? And then
she gave me catalogue Of the places
she had visited, and the attractions OF
! San Francisco, with a wealth of de-
tail and a poverty OF interest that was
little less than marvellous.
Fortunately she required nothing
but an occasional murmur Of assent in
the way of answer from me.
looked across the room to the cor
ner where Luella was entertaining the
insignificant Inman. How vivacious
and intelligent she appeared! Her
/ face and figure grew on me in attrac
tiveness, and l felt that 1 was being
very badly used. AS I came to this point
/ was reused by the sound of two low
voices that just behind me were plain
ly audible under the shrill treble OF
Mrs. Bowser. They were women with
their heads close in gossip.
Shocking, isn't it," said one.
Dreadful" said the other. 1T gives
me the creeps to think Of it"
Why don't they lock him up? Such
a creature shouldn't be allowed TO &c
at large"
ooh. YOU see. maybe they can't be