Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-07

He reported periodically to Statham
and the latter was always satisfied
During the last couple of years, by
his clever finance, Rolfe had made
much larger profits with smaller ex-
penditure, even though his drastic re-
forms had very nearly caused a strike
among the four thousand hands EN-.
ployed.
He had spent most miserable day
"a grey day, full of bitter reflection
and of mourning over the might-have-
beens The morning he had idled
away walking through Buchanan
street, and the other main thorough
fares, where all the shops were closed
and where the general aspect was in
expressibly dismal. In the afternoon
he had taken cab and gone for a
long drive along to while away thu
hours, and now, after dinner, he was
concluding one of the most melan-
choly days of all his life.
There were one or two other men
in the lounge, keen faced men of COM
mercial aspect, who were discussing.
over their cigars, prices, freights and
other such matters. In the corner was
a small party Of American men and
women, stranded for the day while
on their round tour of Scotland-the
West Highlands, the Trossachs, Loeb
Lomond, Stirling Castle. the High
lands. and the rest-anxious for Mon
day to come, so as to be on the move
again.
Rolfe stretched his legs, and from
his corner surveyed the scene through
the smoke from his cigar. He tried
to be interested in the people about
him, but it was impossible Ever and
anon the words Of old Statham rang
IN his ears. If the house of Statham
which, after all, seemed to be but
house Of cards-was to be saved It
must be saved at the sacrifice of Maud
Petrovitch!
Why? That question he had asked
himself thousand times that day.
The only reply was that the charming
half foreign girl held old Stathams
secret. But how could she AS far
as he knew, they had only met once,
years ago, when she was but child.
And Statham, the elderly melan-
choly man who controlled so many
interests, whose every action was
noted by the city, and whose firm was
believed to be as safe as the Bank Of
England, actually asked him to sacri-
fee her honor. What did he mean?
Did he suggest that he was to wilfully
compromise her in the eyes of the
world?
"Ah, if he knew-if he only knew"
murmured Rolfe to himself, his face
growing pale and hard-set Sam
statham believes himself clever, and
so he is! Yet in this game think l
am his equal" And he smoked on
in silence. his frowning countenance
being an index to his troubled mind.
He was reviewing the whole of the
curious situation. In few years he
had risen from harum-scarum youth
to be the private secretary, confdant
and frequent adviser to one of the
wealthiest men in England Times
without number, old Sam, sitting in
his padded writing chair in Park Lane
had commended him for his business
acumen and foresight. Once. by a
simple suggestion daring though it
was. Statham had. in few hours,
made ten thousand pounds, and, with
many worSS of praise the dry, old fell
low took out his checkbook and drew
check as little present to his
clever young secretary. Charlie Role
was however, INSCRIPTIONS, as a
good many clever men Of business are.
In the world of commerce the divid
ing line between unscrupulousness
and what the city knows as smartness
is invisible So Marion's brother was
dubbed smart man at Statham Broth
ers' and in those big old fashioned,
and rather gloomy Offices he was en-
We'd as being 1.-The governors favor
ite.'
Charlie intended to get on He saw