Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-06-30

have nothing to do with you!"
J. Instantly Steele began to regret:
also he was somewhat scared; the
passion which had gripped him SO
strongly that he had forgotten himself
was a new thing In his experience.
He had never made such an exhibit
ton OF himself-to his knowledge, at
least-so causelessly. He glanced
around the room, shame-faced. won
dering who had witnessed his trans
port.
There were two witnesses; Hunt,
office partner of the firm of G. D.
Hunt & Wilder, through which Steele
cleared his transactions, and in whose
offices he was accorded desk as
courtesy; and stranger to Steele-a
stout man, ford Of complexion, thick
set. Him Steele intuitively knew for
Tausig, Belden's partner.
"Oh,' he said, shortly, you're Tau
sig?" The fellow nodded. "I've moth
ing against you personally, Tausig,"
Steele continued more calmly; "but
BeIden-! A damned scoundrel-
gives you bad name, Tausig. But
this is what wanted to say: you tell
Belden what I had intended to, that
your firm will get just the same treat
ment from us as the rest Of the shorts
in this deal. And-and we're not dis
posed to be hard on the shorts"
Tausig nodded CURLY. That's what
we wanted to know, Mr.. Steele" he
replied. "If there's to be no discrimi-
nation, we may pull through. Good
day" And he left.
Hunt watched the door close before
speaking. Then he laughed shortly.
eff Belden's looks go for anything,
Steele" he commented, you'll pay
high for that"
Steele stared at him duly under
heavy eyelids.
ooh, Belden," he said, after while,
slowly; she be damn Anyhow, his
power in the street Is broken"
To himself his tongue seemed thick
| and unwieldy; he had some difficulty
in enunciating distinctly. 1t annoyed
| Steele, and Hunt was watching him
strangely.
eyes," he heard Hunt say, "but this
isn't the first time that Belden's been
broken. Maybe it isn't to be the last,
either"
"To tell the truth said Steele, very
carefully, Il didn't mean to flare up
that way. Something seemed to snap.
| I wonder"
Reaction, perhaps" suggested
Hunt, coolly philosophical in the con-
sideration of anothers troubles.
you've kept yourself keyed up to the
fever pitch for several weeks, and a
reactions bound to come +&sa>~'
Steele did not directly reply. He
sat down. with his hands in his peck
cts, and stared gloomily at the carpet.
Anyhow" he said, rising again
after an interval, "I'm-tired, tired.
I'm going home-now. Take care of
| things" ~"N"-''-"~'"
He reached blind1y for his hat and
staggered pace or two toward the
door. Hunt jumped up, alarmed.
"Here, old mani" he said.
Steele fell, like column pushed
from its base; he fell, to lie inert, SUI
pine, uCdFAAJ.
It was three months later, almost to
| a day, before the Street again knew
| Jim Steele's footsteps.
Following his discharge from SAM
tarium as convalescent-a discharge
accompanied by warning that he
| would return to business life within
three years at his peril-a few weeks
To- - Del, oh N~yry
Steele and his wife were to spend a
few weeks in town until their sons
spring term at school should be end
ed. when the three Of them were to
go abroad.
AS for Mrs. Steele, she was radiant
ly happy; for the first time in their
twelve years of married life she had
what she most desired in all the
world-f1rst place in the thoughts of
her husband. For 1t was an under
stood thing that Steele had given up
the Street and all it's works-"for bet
ter or worse" Steele had laughed
when he promised.
Yet it was with distinct shiver of
foreboding that the woman looked up
1IOm uOI O1Cdh1CaoL PAe@tO1 vi eAA0 AAAOA -
ing following their return to the city,
to find Steele cycling her with gaze
half doubtful, half deprecating.
She put down her fork deliberately,
her eyes upon the letter which he had
been reading, and still held in his
hand. Steele fancied that she lost
shade of color, and he could not ig-
more the anxiety in her eyes.
What is it?" she demanded, almost
breathlessly.
He laughed lightly to reassure her.
"Why, nothing of any great impor-
lance, Sara; only that I'm going down
town for an hour or two today" He
saw her little hands clinch until the
knuckles stood out white and hard
against the firm pink Of her flesh, and
hurried to explain: Hunt writes me
that he wants to buy my seat on the
Exchange. He's establishing couple
Of branches, and thinks that the firm
needs another floor member to handle