The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-05-10

haps I shall understand what you are driv-
ing at, said Mr.. Kelter, tartly.
''You are holder in the Denver Mug
get Mine to that amount, as happen to
know. 1t has had a misfortune Water
has broken in, and the mine will probably
never be worth working again. The news
is not out, but I have friend on the
spot-one of my friends-who sent me
private telegram. You may rely abso-
lutely upon his information. On the
strength of it, I have disposed of my
stock"
Kelter never for one moment doubted
the story His knowledge of the young
man would not permit of it. Things
looked decidedly serious. He jumped at
the one possible loophole-the fact that
the news was not yet public property, and
moved toward the telephone.
"No use, Mr.. Kelter; it can be done
in the time
Kelter turned quickly.
''Then why the devil have you come
here to tell me this? presume you did
not do so for your own edifcation p
"Certainly not" replied Dick, imper-
turbably; "self interest-that is all. My
representative in the Exchange has in
structions to give the thing away at eleven
thirty unless he hears from me to the con-
trary. Whether he does so or not depends
upon yourself In the one case, you lose
your money; in the other, you will have
time to sell out, as there is no suspicion at
present of anything being wrong with the
mine Shares are now slightly above par,
and the disaster will be kept dark as long
as possible by the parties interested"
"Well p said Kelter, impatiently; Ego
on! What are you driving at p
"Well," returned Dick quietly, Sin the
event of your giving your consent to my
marrying your daughter my man will be
| told to keep his mouth shut. You have
not much time, Mr.. Kelter.
The audacity of the scheme took away
Mr.. Kelter's breath for moment, and
then for the second time within three
days he boiled over.
"Nor' he shouted violently; econ
found your impudence!'
The sounds penetrated to the outer
office, and the clerks marveled at such
unwonted ebullition on the part of their
usually calm and impassive employer.
Dick took up his hat and gloves.
every well, sir, he said, indifferently;
81 wish you good-day." "
At times the mind works with lightning
rapidity and before Dick was half way
down the stairs Mr. Kelter had lot of
thinking. He had already dropped sixty
thousand dollars that day, and another
hundred was as gone if he did not quickly
decide upon accepting the young mans
odious condition
Whether he accepted it or not the result
was likely to be the same, for his daugh-
ter 8 first defiance of his wishes had opened
his eyes to strength of will he did not credit
her with possessing, and which he did not
conceal from himself would ultimately end
in her going her own way, in spite of any
opposition on his part. And one hundred
and sixty thousand dollars! He groaned;
it must not be! He rushed to the door.
sAsk Mr.. Rudford to come back" he
shouted and clerk started in pursuit.
Dick came back. He knew quite well
what this meant, but did not allow any
undue elation to appear.
81 agree, Rudford," said Mr.. Kelter,
briefly; and, having passed his word, Dick
knew that Madeline was good as his.
He dived at the telephone, there was
just time. He rang up his man and can
celled his previous instructions. When he
came out of the box his prospective father
in-law had disappeared, having rushed of
to the Stock Exchange, where he made the
most of his opportunity and finally sue
ceeded in unloading his shares at very
slight loss before the bubble burst. The
doubtfulness of the transaction did not
trouble the two men-they were stock
brokers.
Dick returned to his Office considerably
elated. He was considerably more elated
when, in the course of the afternoon, he
received an invitation to dine with Mr..
Kelter that evening.
That gentleman never did things by
halves, and Dicks action, though by no
means disinterested, had undoubtedly
saved him very heavy loss, for which he
was correspondingly grateful.
X X X X
| So, when the wedding day took place,
six weeks later, he came down handsomely,
and Dick took to himself by no means
dowerless bride. Furthermore, her frocks,
in number and in every other way, were
all that could be desired.