The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-01-28

him a little the boy turned sullen, and
selwyn let the matter drop very quick
ly.
But neither tact nor caution seemed
10 serve now. Gerald, more and more
engrossed In occult social affairs OF
which he made no mention 10 Seiwyn,
was still amiable and friendly, even at
times cordial and lovable. but be was
no longer frank or even communlca-
tive. and Selwyn, fearing TO arouse
him again to sullenness or perhaps
even to suspicious defiance. forbore to
press him beyond the most tentative
advances toward the regaining OF his
confidence.
Gerald and Neergard left the office
together frequently now. They often
Iunched uptown. Whether they were
in each others company evenings Sell
wyn did not know. for Gerald no
longer volunteered information rs to
his whereabouts or doings. And all
this hurt Selwyn and alarmed him.
too. for he was slowly coming TO the
conclusion that he did not Ike Neer-
gard. that he would never sign arti.
Giles OF partnership with him and that
even his formal associateship with the
company was too close u relation Tor
his own peace Of mind. But on Ger
aids account he stayed on. He did
not like to leave the boy alone for his
sisters sake as well as for his own.
Matters drifted that way through
early spring. He actually grew to dis.
Ike both Neergard and the business OF
Ncergard a. Co., for no particular rea'
son perhaps. but 10 general, though be
did not yet care to ask himself TO be
more precise in his unuttered criti-
cisnis. But Neergard broke his word
TO him.
And one morning before he left bis
rooms at Mrs Greeve's lodgings 10 80
downtown Percy Draymore called him
up on the telephone, and. as that over
fed young mans usual rising hour was
VIGOROUSLY nearer noon than O'Clock,
Il surprised Selwyn to be asked to re-
main IN his rooms for little while I'M
III Draymore and one or two friends
could call on him personally concern
Ing matter Of Importance.
First there was Percy Draym0re,
oyerrroomed for gentleman, fat, good
humored and fashionable-one OF the
famous Draymore family noted solely
for their money and their tight grip on
II. then came Sanxon Orchil. the ia
nous banker and promoter. small, ur-
bane. dark. with that rich, almost ori-
entail. colorIng which he may have In
herited from his Cordova ancestors,
who found II necessary to dehumanize
their ma mes when Rome offered them
the choice. With immediate eternity as
alternative,
Then came fox faced young man,
Phoenix Notify, elegant arbiter VI all
pertaining 10 polo aud the hunt-slin
legged. Ratchet faced and more pro
Scuiable In the saddle than out OF II.
He was followed by Bradley Harmon,
with his washed out coioring OF con
tumpiiye Swede and his corn colored
beard. and. looming In the rear Ike an
amlable brontosaurus. George Fame.
whose swaying neck carried his head
as camel carries his. nodding as be
walks
I'VE heard last night" said Dray-
more, '.bow that fellow--bow Neer-
gard had been tampering with our
farmers what underhand tricks be
has been playing MS. and ] frankly ad-
eiit 10 you that we're worried lot OF
near sports. That's what this dismal
matinee signifies and we've come to
ask you what It all really means"
why did you not call on Mr. Neer-
gnrlT~ asked seiwyn cooliy. Yet be
wss taken completely by surprise. for
he ga not know that Seergard had
gone ahead and secured options on bis
own responsibility. which practically
smosn,ed 10 violation OF the truce
between them Il know nothing about
n. I did not know tnat SIR. seerearo
had acquired controi OF the property
! don't know what be means 10 DC
with Il. And. gentlemen. may J ask
why you feel at liberty 10 come TO una
I inssead " going to Mr.. NeergardT
"A desire 10 deal with one Of oui
own Kind. I suppose returned Dray
more blunily And. for that matter
he said. turning to the Others, wa
might have known that Captain Sci
Nyn could have had 20 hand IN and 10
inowledge Of such ~ underbr~d aud
dirty