Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-26
"What9" whispered Sclteyn.

breath, his clinched hands relaxed, and
he picked up his hat and gloves.
''They are my friends" muttered
Gerald, as pale as he. You drove me
into speaking that way
Perhaps did. my boy. don't judge
you. If you ever find you need help
come to me. And if you can't come
and still need me send for me. I'll do
what l can always. know you better
than you know yourself. Goodby."
He turned to the door. and Gerald
burst out: why can't you let my
friends alone? l liked you before you
began this sort of thing!''
Il will let them alone if you WILL"
| said Selwyn. hating. Il can't stand by
and see you exploited and used and
perverted. viii you give me one
| chance to talk it over. Gerald?"
mo: WON'T" returned Gerald hotiy.
I'll stand for my friends every time.
| There's no treachery in mer'
You are not standing by me very
| fast" said the elder man gently.
Il said 1 was standing by my
| friends"' repeated the boy
Very well. Gerald, but it's at the ex-
| pense of your own people. I'm afraid"
That's my business. and you're not
one Of EN-" retorted the boy, infuri-
ated, land you won't be. either. if |
! can prevent it. no matter whether peo-
pie say that you're engaged to her.
"WhatY' whispered Selwyn, wheel
! ing like a fash. The last vestige of col
or had fed from his face. and Gerald
caught his breath, almost blinded by
the blaze of fury in the elder mans
| eyes.
Neither spoke again, and after Il mo-
ment Selwyn's eyes fell, and he turned
heavily on his heel and walked away,
head bent, gray eyes narrowing to
Sits.
Yet through the brains chaos and
the hearts loud tumult and the clamor
of pulses run wild at the insult flung
into his very face the grim instinct to
go on persisted, and he went on and on
for her sake-on, he knew not how, un-
til he came to Neergard's apartment in
| one of the vast west side constructions
bearing the name of sovereign state.
and here after an interval he followed
his card to Neergards splendid suit
where manservant received him and
left him seated by a sunny window
overlooking the blossoming foliage OF
the park.
When Neergard came in and stood on
the farther side of big oak table Sci
wyn rose, returning the cool, curt nod
"Mr. Neergard," he said, sit is not
easy for me to come here after what
| said to you when l severed my con.
nection with your firm. You have
every reason to be unfriendly toward
me, but l came on the chance that
whatever resentment you may feel will
not prevent you from hearing me out y
Personal resentment" said Neergard
slowly, never interferes with my bust
ness. l take it, of course, that you
have called upon business matter
VIII you sit DOWN."
THANK you, I have only moment
and what I am here for is to ask you
as Mr.. Errolls friend to use your In
fuence on Mr.. Erroll-every atom OF
your in6uence-to prevent him from
uuduCH1iy through lis
excesses. l ask you for his family's
sake to discountenance any more gam
bling, to aold him strictly to his dutie:
in your office. to overlook no more
shortcomings Of his, but to demand
from him what any trained business
man demands of his associates as wei
as Of his employees. ask this for tbs
boys sake"
Il am not aware that Gerald re
quires any interference from me Of
from you either" said Neergard coolly
And, as far as that goes, l and my
business require no interference either
And l believe that settles It"
He touched a button. The man
servant appeared to usher Selwyn out
The latter set his teeth in his unde
lip and looked straight and hard q
Neergard, but Neergard thrust bot
hands In his pockets, turned SQUARED
on his heel and sauntered out of til
room, yawning as he went.
- It bid fair to become a hard day fo
S0lwyn He forpsaw If for tbera xya