The Irish standard., 1910-10-08

|. wv
~ Want to Do Something for You,
| Miss HaIdane."
which was indeed necessary almost
vital in fact, to the furtherance of GER
tain matters in which he was deeply
concerned, but he did not desire that
his interest, personal interest, that is.
in the affair should appear e In other
words he wanted to talk seriously
about something of great Importance
to him without disclosing that the
matter WAS of more than passing mo-
ment.
The opposition had greatly under
rated the character and ability of
Gormly. The Gotham Freight Trao.
ton company, for instance, had pooh.
poohed him at first and even now.
though the public press was filled
with accounts of him and his doings.
they still greatly underestimated his
qualities. Haldane himself had Joined
ip this depreciation until he had met
Gormly. He had as yet enjoyed no
opportunity of conversation with him,
save in general way, as has been
seen; but he was accustomed to deal
with men, and he saw instantly that
he was face to face with personal.
ity at once able, courageous, deter.
mined, and strong.
| Behold the two men seated on either
side of the bright fire in the library.
Haldane smoking one of Gormly's ex.
cellent Havanas; glasses, bottles, and
ice on a little table at hand. He had
disapproved of Mes. Haldane's man
ner, not because he thought it insult
ed to the occasion, but on account OF
the peculiar qualities and characters.
tics of Gormly and the relationship In
which he stood to certain matters OF
Importance. Heahad been inclined on
the first entrance to follow his wife'a
patronizing, arrogant assumption OF
superiority; but now he strove to in
fuse all the geniality and cordially
possible into his voice and manner
On the other hand, Gormly natural
ly had deep interest in Haldane. AS
the father of the woman he loved, he
would necessarily be great factor
In the battle he meant to wage for her
hand. His consent and influence
while not absolutely essential, would
naturally be of great value. If be
could by any means win the support
and countenance of the great financier
his dream would be by that much the
more easy Of realization. He had an
idea, however, that this would be i'm.
possible. That did not daunt him OF
render him the less alert. To win
Haldane's consent possibly might be
no more practicable than to win Mis-.
Haldane's consent. Yet Gormly waa
accustomed to attempt the impossible
and nine times out of ten to achieve
It. That Haldane had any relation
ship, or could have any relationship
to him other than that of prospect
I've father-in-law never entered his
head. That was sufficient to render
the interview memorable to him.
The conversation began with re
mark from the older man about the
weather. l have long wondered why
the weather is the staple inaugural
topic.
Il have rarely experienced so severe
. snowstorm," said Haldane blandly
II have been coming down to Long
Island in winter of and on ever since
l was boy, and this surpasses any
thing within my knowledge"
1T is bad enough for New York." re.
sponded Gormly. Here when the
temperature gets down to the zero
mark and the wind blows thirty OF
forty miles an hour, and it SHOWS hard
all day, we call it blizzard. Most
people welcome this sort OF snow
storm because Of the mild excitement
of the situation, and the street clean
ing department rejoices at the oppor
tunities Of graft presented"
At that last remark, though Haldane
had no ostensible connection with the
street department, or any other de-
partment of the municipal administra
ton in fact. the man slightly lifted his
head and glanced for moment with
deeper interest at his companion.
II take 1t from your allusion that
you have experienced worse storms
than this"
II have been in real billiards, Mr.,
Haldane," answered Gormly quietly:
more than once where the winds
velocity was scarcely to be measured,
where the temperature was from
twenty to thirty below, where the sleet
needles cat like WHIPS. apd the storm