Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-25

note A queer smile hung on his lips.
I'm rather touched by her astute-
ness" he said ''She's cleverer than l
thought. Oh" suddenly remembering
that it was not Mrs. Cables letter they
were discussing you always see the
dreary side of things, Elias"
Il haven't forgotten New York." said
the clerk dryly.
"Ah, but Chicago isn't New York,
you know
well. 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 lamb in the end
Il wouldn't be very proud of that af-
fair if were you
"See here, broom, you're getting
trihe too familiar of late. 1 don't like
it, said Bansemer sharply.
4 beg your pardon, Mr.. Bansemer,"
lsaid broom, scraping his foot across the
floor and looking straight past his mas
tiers 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 reproach."
Curse your impudence, broom!
won't be spoken to in that way" ex-
claimed Bansemer, white with sudden
rage and loathing.
Am l to expect my discharge, sir?"
asked broom, rubbing his hands alb
jectly, but looking squarely into Ban
semer's eyes for the first time in their
acquaintance. Bansemer glared back
for an instant and then shrugged his
shoulders, with nervous laugh.
I'VE shan't quarrel, Elias" he said.
Speaking of Graydon, he is to be mar
ried before long
81 trust he is to do well, sir. Gray
don is fine boy"
HE is to marry David Cables daugh-
ter"
"Indeed. 1 did not know that David
Cable had daughter
'You know whom l mean-Jane Ca
Bile" He turned rather restlesSly, con-
scious that Droom's eyes We're follow
ing him to the window. He glanced
fHgain at Mrs. Cables note and waited.
II suppose you are pleased" said
broom after long pause.
Certainly! Jane is a splendid girl.
She's beautiful, accomplished and
well, she's thoroughbred" said Ban
semer steadily, turning to face the old
man.
ut is not necessary to remind you
that her parents are unknown" said
broom.
"Still," said Bansemer, and he sat
down and leaned forward eagerly, "she
has good blood from both sides.''
"Yes-the so called best
You speak as if you know the
truth"
81 think-yes, I'm sure 1 know.
have known for twenty years, Mr..
Bansemer. l had the same means as
you of finding out whose child she
was"
That's more than Mrs. Cable knows"
"She did not take the trouble to in
vestigate. It's too late now"
Il don't believe you really know the
names of her father and mother" said
Bansemer shire wdly. You are trying
to trick me into telling you what l do
know"
There are portraits of her ancestors
hanging in Fifth avenue" said broom
promptly. Here" and he picked up a
pencil. I'll write the initials of her
parents. You do the same, and Wen
see that they tally" He quickly
scratched four letters on pad of pa
per. Bansemer hesitated and then
slowly wrote the initials on the back
of an envelope. Without word they
exchanged the papers. After a moment
they both smiled in relief Neither had
been tricked. The initials were identi-
. cal.
Il imagine the ancestors hanging III
Fifth avenue would be amazed if they
knew the story of Jane" said broom,
with a chuckle.
Il doubt it, broom. Ancestors have
stories, too, and they hide them"
by the way, now that your son is to
marry her, I'd like to know just what
your game is"
Bansemer turned on him like tiger,
: his steely eyes blazing.
Game? There is no game. Listen to
me. Droom Well settle this now I'm
| Ddl ludIl, Dut We ttlcu W De Il SOOu
father. People have called me heart
less. So be it. But love that boy of
mine. What little heart / have be-
longs to him. There can be no game
i, where he is concerned. Some day per-
haps he'll find out the kind of a man
I've been to others, but can always re-
member that I was fair and honest
with him. He'll despise my methods,
and he'll spurn my money. but he'll
; have to love me. Jane Gable is not the
girl would have chosen for him, but
she is good and true, and he loves
her"
For the first time in his life Elias
broom shrank beneath the eyes of his
master. He hated James Bansemer
from the bottom of his wretched soul.
but he could not but feel at this mo-
ment touch of admiration.
Through all the years of their asso-
. citation Elias broom had hated Ban
semer because he was qualified to be