The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-20

informal but evidently friendly leave
taking, they went away. And Selwyn
followed them presently, walking until
he took the subway at Forty-second
street for his office.
He went into his own office, pocketed
his mail and still wearing hat and
gloves came out again just as Gerald
was leaving Neergard's Office.
He walked leisurely into Neergari's
Office and seated himself.
$50 you have committed the firm to
the Slowitha deal?" he inquired coolly.
Neergard looked up and then past
him: mo, not the firm. You did not
seem to be interested in the scheme, so
went on without you. I'm swinging
1t for my personal account"
''Is Mr.. Enroll in it?'
Il said that 1t was a private matter"
replied Neergard, but his manner was
affable.
81 thought so; 1t appears to me like
a matter quite personal to you and
characteristic Of you, Mr.. Neergard.
And, that being established, am now
ready to dissolve whatever very loose
ties have ever bound me in any asso-
citation with this company and your
SELF"
Neergard's close set black eyes shift
ed point nearer to Selwyn's. The
sweat on his nose glistened.
"Why do you do this7" he asked
slowly. Has anybody offended your
do you really wish to know?"
"Yes, certainly do, Captain Selwyn."
every well. It's because l don't like
your business methods, l don't like
several other things that are happen.
ing in this Office. It's purely a differ
ence Of views, and that is enough ex-
PLANTATION, Mr.. Neergard."
II think our views may very easily
coincide"
"You are wrong; they could not.
ought to have known that when / came
back here. And now I have only to
thank you for receiving me, at my own
request, for six months trial, and to
admit that I am not qualified to CO.
operate with this kind of a firm."
That" said Neergard angrily,
"amounts to an Indictment Of the firm
If you express yourself In that manner
outside, the firm will certainly resent
lt!''
my personal taste will continue to
govern my expressions, Mr.. Neergard,
and believe will prevent any further
business relations between us. And,
as we never had any other kind of re-
lations, have merely to arrange the
details through an attorney"
Neergard looked after him in si-
lence. The tiny beads of sweat on his
nose united and rolled down in big
shining drop, and the sneer etched on
his broad and brightly mottled fea-
lures deepened to a snarl when Sci.
wyn had disappeared.
For the social prestige which Sci
wyn's name had brought the firm he
had patiently endured his personal dis.
like and contempt for the man after
he found he could do nothing with him
in any way.
He had accepted Selwyn purely in
the hope Of social advantage and with
the knowledge that Selwyn could have
done much for him after business
hours, if not from friendship, at least
from interest or lively sense of bene-
fits to come. For that reason he had
invited him to participate in the valu-
able Siowitha deal, supposing a man
as comparatively poor as SelwyI
would not only jump at the opportuni'
ty, but also prove sufficiently grateful
later. And he had been amazed and
disgusted at Selwyn's attitude. But
he had not supposed the man would
sever his connection with the firm il
he, Neergard, went ahead on his own
responsibility. 1t astonished and irri
tated him. 1t meant, instead of selfish
or snobbish Indifference to his own
social ambitions, an enemy to block
his entrance into what he iesired-the
society of those made notorious in the
columns of the daily press.
He was fairly on the outer boundary
now, though still very far outside. But
a needy gentleman inside was already
compromised and practically pledged
to support him, for his meeting with
Jack Ruthven through Gerald had
proved of greatest Importance. He
had lost gracefully to Ruthven and
in doing it had taken that gentleman's
measure. And, though Ruthven him
self was a member of the Siowitha,
Neergard had made no error in taking
him secretly into the deal where to-
gether they were now in a position
to exploit the club, from which Ruth
ven of course would resign in time to
escape any assessment himself.
Neergard's progress had now reach
ed this stage. His programme was
simple-to wallow among the wealthy
until satiated, then to marry into that
agreeable community and found the
house of Neergard. And to that end
he had already bought building site
on Fifth avenue, but held it in the
name of the firm, as though it had been
acquired for purposes merely specula'
tive.
2 chnpterD4l
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