The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-03-30
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A man And a CHILD
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BY PRISCILLA M. SPRoUL.

"Mr. Thompson will see you now,"
the head clerk announced. "You may
leave the little girl here. I'll take
care of her."
The woman made no reply, but
gave him grateful glance. Enter
ing the private Office, she timidly ap-
preached the man, who was sitting at
the desk. AS she caught sight of
him she recoiled.
"You!" she gasped.
The man looked up In surprise. A
sardonic grin spread over his face
when he recognized the woman be-
fore him.
"As l live!" he calculated, leaning
over his desk and exaggerating his
wonderment to the point of mockery.
"It's Grace!" He paused as though
expecting reply. "By jove," he then
continued, "as handsome and prob
ably as heartless as ever. This is
certainly an honor. Pray be seated. +"
With mock politeness he arose and
proffered her chair She sank down
silently and covered her face with her
hands.
And to what am indebted for the
honor of this visit?" he asked with
veiled bitterness. at certainly must
be important to come here without
your-husband.
She looked up beseechingly 81
came for him and my child" she said
simply.
"Well?" There was little encour-
agement in his tone.
HE is on the verge of ruin; and
It is you who is doing it."
"I?" He looked incredulous.
"Yes, you. You and your friends
are beating down Amalgamated. He
told me so last evening; said you
were trying to break the market. If
the stock falls below sxty-six he is
wiped out"
$50 he's another one of them, Ell?
Well. l suppose the under dog must
have his whine"
Hes not whining. He suffers be-
cause of Elsie and me. We mean all
to him, all; and if the stock falls to
sixty-siX We are beggars."
$50 you come to me, expecting me
the man you Tilted for him-to help
you. Did you have any pity when
you threw me over because | didn't
have any money and he did? You
warped my faith in womankind and
turned me into a money getter. And
now you want me 70 help you"
Il ask no mercy for myself" she
replied duly. 81 plead for my hus-
band and child"
But the. face of the man opposite
showed no signs of relenting. 1T is
your turn to suffer. If you feel one
tithe of the anguish l felt years ago
it would be more than enough. You
yourself destroyed what you now ap-
peal to. 1t is just retribution"
'You mean" she whispered unbe-
lievingly.
81 will do nothing" His stolid re-
fusal precluded further appeal.
She rose and groped blindly from
the room. The man sat motionless,
staring tensely ahead.
The door slowly opened again.
This time it was different visitor
little girl. In childish wonderment
she examined the office. until her gaze
rested on the man at the desk. For
some time she looked at him. At
last, summoning her courage, she
went to the railing and coughed po-
litely.
N'Please, sir" she asked in a some
what uncertain voice, where's my
mammal"
The man started and for the first
time saw the vision on the other side
of the railing. "Why, little girl,
where did you come from?"
please, is my mamma here?"
Her mother! 1t was her girl, the
Elsie about whom she had spoken.
He examined her closer Yes, there
was the same hair, the same eyes, the
same coquettish expression about the
mouth that her mother used to have.
what is your name, little one?"
he asked.
'''Elsie Jenkins" lisped the girl,
her lips curving in gracious smile.
'And where has mamma gomez"
''If you will wait here she will come
back soon.''
The child followed the suggestion
by climbing into the leather chair and
leaning back with an air of luxurious
ease. Without disturbing his guest,
the broker closely surveyed her. an
untarnished being, breathing forth an
air of purity that seemed out of place
in that office, where only the seamy
came and went. The frame was not
fitting for so beautiful picture.
The flowers, the birds. the sunshine
were all lacking.