Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04
BY GEORGE GIBBS
Drawing by the Author

That was curious. Brooke thought he had misunder-
stood. Mrs. Garrott is not in? he asked.
Oh, yes sir She is in the house; but she asked me
to say that she was engaged, Sir.
The monotonouS repetition of the phrase maddened
him, and he answered impatiently "See her again
at once, Bradley. 1t is Mr. Garriott. Do you under
stand9"
Eyes, understood, sir. I gathered that she could
not to the telephone, sir.
"Oh, well. Tell her will hold the wire and wait
until she can speak to me-"
He awaited the mans return eagerly, and little
worried. Could she be i'll?
Il have seen Mrs Garriott,' the monotonous
voice again. She asks to repeat the former mes
sage She is engaged, SIR,
There is nothing more?'
Nothing more, SIR
Brooke snapped the receiver into its bracket vciousy
and regarded the instrument with malevoent eye.
Surely there was mistake! Had Bradley suddenly
taken leave of his senses? The repetition of the phrase
had ugly sound and Bradley would have Jared badly
if he had been within reach. But it was no time to
his brain in idle conjectures while Naalles fate
for the future seemed to hang in the balance.
II room when Salotti entered with his lunch and
early edition of an afternoon paper
He put the mi bottle andbun on his desk and seized
the paper eagerly. The first words that met his eye
were the red scareheads of sensational journal.
Trust Company President Suicide Edward Hall
burton Blows Out His Brains" He read on, Natalie,s
GERS Unable Give Accurate Statement of Trust Com
panys Affairs-Failure Believed Have Been Caused
by Speculations of Its President Ontario Consolidated
Roller Bearing Company, American Storage Battery.
and Columbia and Brazil Steamship Lines All Fail
There reading more. Those companies
all Halliburton and it was clear that the
worst was be expected with regard to the Judson
estate. The Clinton old line trust company, on
whose board of directors sat men with names known
throughout the country whose interests extended from
one end of the city to the other.
Brooke knew what this failure meant, not only to
Natalie and himself but to the whole financial system
of which Halliburton was part the nerves and hbers
in Wall Street. How it to affect the plans for his
work? The officers of the crosstown line had assured
him some weeks ago that money for the new cars and
truck would be forthcoming the successful compile
ton of his trials; but then there had been rors of
such disaster as this
1t seemed that his had reached its greatest
crisis. Success and failure faced him side by side.
Which was it to be? A living for himself was already
assured but living for him did not living for
Natalie. Even if the truck did not up to the
qurements of the crosstown line, he would still have
enough from the freight wagon and ventilatng machn
cry to give him small income. But how could he ask
Natalie to live upon that? 1t was too severe test of
time. Could her knowledge of the bad of the day
have had anything to do with Bradey's strange mes
sage?
sentimental. He quietly read the report in the paper
through to the end then got up and paced the floor
slowly his brows in deep tange Then with set lips
again and made appointment with Northrop, then
washed up and got into his street clothes.
A he went down into the shop ODowd looked up at
\ him obviously GIVE got to 60 out, Jim.'
"See here, Brooke! This amt my motor. I'm not
going it alone
lin sorry; but it can't be helped"
Twill you be back3" asked the mechanic.
mo You've got to do without me to-day. I'll be in
tomorrow If she runs by six phone the car company.
ODowd took off his cap, scratched his head, and
watched Brookes figure darken the doorway. Then he
turned to the engine again, muttering, She amt
goin to run right know it! There be trouble in that