The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-09-12

EA&1 AAA 80
crying, because | could hear the sobs.
/ don't go much on Bansemer. Mr..
Rigby. Darn him, be called me a pup
u day when took a message up for
Judge Smith"
See here, Eddie" said Rigby, lean
ing forward suddenly, I've heard two
or three queer things about Bansemer.
want you to tell me all you hear from
broom and all that you see. Don't
you think you could cultivate Droom's
acquaintance a bit? Keep this very
Quiet-not a word to anybody. 1t may
mean something 10 the end"
Gee whizl' murmured Eddie, his
eyes wide with interest From that
day on he and Bobby Rigby were
a~llies-eyen consplrators.
Later in the day Rigby had a tele-
phone message from Graydon Banse-
mer suggesting that they lunch to.
gether. All he would say over the wire
was that he would some day soon ex-
pect Rigby to perform a happy service
for him. Bobby understood and was
troubled. He suspected that Graydon
hal asked Jane Gable to marry him
and that she had consented. He loved
Graydon Bansemer, but for the first
time in their acquaintance he found
himself wondering if the son were not
playing into the fathers hands in this
most desirable matrimonial venture.
With a shudder Of repugnance he put
the thought from him, loyal to that
good friend and cOmrade.
James Ransemer came into his Office
late that morning. He had not seen
Graydon the night before, but at break
fast the young man announced his
good fortune and asked for bis bless
ing. To his sons surprise the elder
man did not at once express his APP
proval. For a long time he sat silent
and preoccupied to all appearance, mar.
rowly studying his sons face until the
young man was constrained to laugh
in his nervousness.
"You love her, you are very sure?"
asked the father at last.
Better than my life" cried Graydon
warmly.
"She has good blood in her" said
Bansemer senior slowly, almost abb
sently.
II should say SO. Her father is a
wonderful man."
Eyes, l dare say" agreed the other.
without taking his eyes from the sons
face.
"But you don't say whether you ap.
prove or dlsapprove," complained Gray.
don.
would it change matters if l dis
a%pprovedT
Not in the least, father. 1 love her
I'd hate to dlsplease you in'-
Then, Of course, l approve" said
the other, with his warmest smile.
Jane is a beauty. and-I am proud OF
her."
"She is too good for me-" lamented
Graydon happily.
II can't very well contradict her fu-
ture husband" said the lawyer. There
was a hungry look in his eyes as he
glanced from time to time at the face
of the boy who had his mothers I'M
%forgettable eyes.
A messenger brought Mrs. Cables
note to Bansemer soon after his ar.
rival at the office. He and Elias
broom We're in the back office when
the boy came. They had been dis
cussing the contents Of a letter that
came in the early mail. The lawyer
accepted the note and dismissed the
boy with the curt remark that he
would telephone an answer in person.
1T looks to me as though this is GO
ing to be a rather tlckllsh affair"
broom resumed after the boy had
closed the outer door behind him.
Bansemer's mind was on Mrs. Cables
note. A queer smile hung on his lips.
I'm rather touched by her astute.
ness" he said. "She's cleverer than /
thought. Oh" suddenly remembering
that it was not Mrs. Cables letter they
were discussing, you always see the
dreary side of things, Eliasg'
Il haven't forgotten New York. said
the clerk dryly.
"Ah, but Chicago isn't New York,
you know"
We'll, l was just reminding you.
This man is going to fight back. that
is plain"
That's what Mrs. Norwood prom
ised to do also, Elias. But she was
like a lamb in the end"
Il wouldn't be very proud of that af-
fair if | were you"
See here, broom, you're getting a
trihe too familiar Of late. I don't like
it." said Bansemer sharply.
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Bansemer,"
said broom, scraping his foot across the
floor and looking straight past his mas
ter's head. Its for the good Of the
cause, that's all. 1t wouldn't do on
Graydon's account for you to be driven
from Chicago at this time. You see, he
thinks you are beyond Teproach."
Course your impudence, Drooml /
won't be spoken to in that way" ex-
claimed Bansemer, white with sudden
rage and loathing.
WAm I m axuoot mn dfeoborro .t.q ~