Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-06-20

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 l forgot It," Then,
with the winning, candid Langdon
smile, he added. ENORMOUSLY: The
best excuse In the world-yet the one
nobody ever accepts"
mo apology necessary" said I with
the utmost good nature. "I've no per.
sonal interest in textile. My house
deals IN 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 il.
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 well. His glance,
however, wouldn't fix steadily on my
gaze, but circled round and round it
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 I tell him. 1 hope no harm
came to you through my forgetful-
ness"
None in the world" l assured him.
Then | turned on Sam. What are
you doing down town today" said
l. Are you on your way to see me?"
ooh, I 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 its toilet.
ooh! ali! Blackjack" he exclaimed,
with purring cordiality-and 1 knew
he had heard of the big deposit l 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 a valiant
effort to return my smile and succeed
ed in twisting his face into a knot
that seemed to hurt him as much az
1t amused me. .
well, good-by, Tom" said l. 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 I'm
der-strappers.'" This with a face free
from any suggestion of intending {
shot at him. Then to Sam: See vol
tonight, old man." and l 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 TO,
a few m~inutes-at my ease, and thu
last man on earth to be suspected o
hdu61u5 NY ClC ClOOh VI OHO llSC
from the edge of the precipice.
I rang the Ellersly's bell at hall
past nine that evening. The butte
faced me with eyes not down, as the,
should have been, but on mine, an
full of servile insolence to which h
had been prompted by what he ha,
overheard in the family.
mot at home, sir" he said, thougl
l had not spoken.
l was ~preoccupied and not ~expectini
that statement; neither had I skill.
nor desire to acquire skill, in readin
family barometers in the faces of sery
ants. So, l was for brushing past hir
and entering where l felt l had a
much right as in my own places. II
barred the way.
beg pardon, sir. Mr.. Ellersly il
structed me to say no one was a
home"
I halted, but only like an oncomin
bear at the prick of an arrow.
What does this mean?" I e,
claimed, waving him aside. At tina
instant Anita appeared from the littl
reception-room a few feet away.
/, "Oh-come in" she said cordially
II was expecting you. Burrough:
!, please take Mr.. Blacklock's hat"
l followed her into the reception
room, thinking the butler had mad
some sort of mistake.
How did you come out?' she aske
eagerly, facing me. You look you
natural self-not tired or worried-s
1t must have been not SO bad as yo
; feared"
IF our friend Langdon hadn
!. slipped away, I might not look an
feel so comfortable said l.. Hi
! brother Numbered, and there was n
one to checkmate my moves" Sh
seemed nearer to me, more in syn
I pathy with me than ever before.
{ Il can't tell you how glad l ami"
: Her eyes were wide and bright, a
from some great excitement, and he
( color vas high. Once my attentio
was on 1t, I knew instantly that onl
some extraordinary upheaval in thu
household could have produced til
fever that was blazing in her. Neve
: had seen her in any such mood a
this.
: What is it," l asked. "What ha
) h~appened?"
l ITO be Continued.)