The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-08-22

facing the task, cheerfully they had
battied and won.
There were days when it was hard to
smile, but the next day always brought
with it a fresh sign Of hope. The
rough, hard days in the far west cul.
minated In his elevation to the Office
Of general manager Of the great rail-
road system, whose headquarters and
home were in the city Of Chicago. At
tanning this high place two years prior
to the opening of this narrative, he
was regarded now as n of the brain
lest railroad men and slated to be pres
ident Of the road at the next meeting
Barely past fifty years of age. David
Gable was in the prime Of life and use
fitness. Age and prosperity had I'm
proved him greatly. The iron gray Of
his hair, the keen brightness Of bis
face, the erect and soldlerly carriage of
bis person, made him a striking figure,
His wife, ten years his junior. was one
of the most attractive women in Chi
cago. Her girlish beauty had refined
under the blasts Of adversely. Years
had not been unkind to her. In a way
she was the leader of a certain set, but
her social ambitions were not content.
There was a higher altitude in fash
ions realm. Money. influence and per-
severance were her allies. social des-
potlsm her only adversary.
Tho faI1 hoanfsf,rl ovJ o-....-ts-t 4
daughter Of the Cables was worshiped
by her father with all the warmth and
ardor Of his soul. Times there we're
when he looked In wonder upon this
arbiter Of not a few manly destinies
and for his life could not help asking
himself how the Creator had given
him such a being for a child, comment
ing on the fact that she bore resem-
blance to neither parent.
For years Mrs. Cable had lived in no
little terror OF some day being found
out. AS the child grew to womanhood
the fears gradually diminished, and a
sense Of security that would not be dis
turbed replaced them. Then just as
she was reaching out for the chief
prizes of her ambition she came face
70 face with a man whose vlsage she
never had forgotten - Elias broom!
And Frances Cable looked again into
the old and terrifying shadows.
1t was late in the afternoon. and she
was crossing the sidewalk to her car
riage, waiting neal Fields, when a man
brushed against her. She was CON
scious of a strange oppressiveness. Be
fore she turned to look at him she
knew that a pair of staring eyes were
upon her face. Something seemed to
have closed relentlessly upon her heart.
One glance was sufficient. The tall.
angular form stood almost V G her;
the two wide blue eyes looked down
in feigned surprise; the never to be
forgotten voice greeted her hoarsely:
Good afternoon, Mrs. Gable! And
how is the babyT
"The baby?' she faltered. Struggle
against it as she would. a sort of fasci
nation drew her gaze toward the re.
markable face of the old clerk. "Why
-why-she's very well. thank you
she finally stammered, Her face was
as white as a ghost. With a shuddel
she started to pass him broom
blocked the way.
"She was such a pretty little thing
remember" and then insinuatingly
"Where is her father nowT"
"He-Mr. Cable" answered Mrs. Ca.
BILE, feeling very much as a bird feels
when it is charmed by a snake. why
he's at home, of course"
"Indeedy' was all that Elias broom
said, for she had fed to escape the
grin that wrlthed in and out among
the wrinkles Of his face.
AS her carriage struggled through
Washington street an irresistible some.
thing compelled Frances Gable tC
glance back. broom stood on the
curb, his eyes following her almosI
hungrily. Half an hour later wher
she reached home she was in a state
Of collapse. Although there was nc
physical proof of the fact, she was
positive that Elias broom had followed
her to the very doorstep.
In suspense and dread she waited
for days before there was a second
manifestation of broom. There was
rarely a day when she did not expect
her husband to stand before her and
ask her to explain the story that had
been carried to him by a demon in the
form of man.
But broom did not go to David Ca,
BILE. He went to James Bansemer with
the news.
James Bansemer's law and loan of.
fees were not far from the river and,
it is sufficient to say. not much far.
Their from State street. He who knows
Chicago well cannot miss the location
more than three blocks either way il
he takes city hall as a focal point,
The Office building in which they were
located is not a %pretentious structure,
but its tenants were then and still are
regarded as desirable. 1t may be well
to announce that Bansemer on reach.
ing Chicago was clever enough to turn
over a new leaf and begin work on q
clear white page, but it is scarcely nee.
essary to add that the black, besmirch.
al 1fpoo ~, A. ....sA- -. -