The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-07-07

nave nothing to do with youI"
instantly Steele began to reerat
also ne was somewhat scared. tbt
passion which had gripped him AZ
strongly that he had forgotten himself
was a new thing in his experience
no mad never made such an exhibi
.ion OF himself-to his knowledge Al
leaSt-so causelessly. He glanced
% % the room, shame-faced, won
port. -'' u ''nS
mere were two Witnesses: Hunt
once partner Of the firm of G. n
Huht & Wilder, through which Steele
cleared his transactions. and in whose
omces he was accorded a desk as q
courtesy; and stranger to Steele
STOUT man, ford of complexion, thick
set. Him Steele intuitively knew for
Iaus1g, Belden's partner.
On" he said, shortly, you're Tan
slg? The fellow nodded. I've moth.
ing against you personally. Tausig, y
steele continued more calmly: but
helden--! A damned scoundrel-
gives you bad name, Tausig, But
thls Is what l wanted to say: you tell
heiden 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"
lausig 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.
IF Belden's looks go for anything,
steele" he commented, you'll pay
high for that"
Steele stared at him duly under
heavy eyelids.
oh, Belden," he said. after a while.
slowly; he 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. It annoyed
Steele, and Hunt was watching him
strangely.
Yes" 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"
ITO tell the TRUTH" said Steele, very
carefully, 81 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 another's troubles.
You've kept yourself keyed up to the
fever pitch for several weeks, and a
reactions bound to come"
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
He reached blindly for his hat and
staggered a pace or two toward the
door. Hunt jumped up, alarmed.
Here, old mani" he said.
Steele fell, like a column pushed
from its base; he fell, to lie inert, su-
pine, breathing heavily.
1t was three months later, almost to
a day, before the Street again knew
Jim Steele's footsteps.
Following his discharge from a sani-
tarium as couyalescent--a discharge
accompanied by a warning that he
would return to business life within
three years at his peril-a few weeks
had been put in at Palm Beach. Now
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 it was an under
stood thing that Steele had given up
the Street and all its works-"for bet
ter or worse" Steele had laughed
when he promised.
Yet 1t was with a distinct shiver of
that the woman looked up
from her breakfast plate, on the morn
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 a
shade of color. and he could not ig-
more the anxiety in her eyes.
What is it," she demanded, almost
He laughed lightly to reassure her.
Why, nothing Of any great tmpor-
.ance, Sara; only that I'm going down
own for an hour or two today" He
saw her little hands cllnch until the
Snuckles stood out white and hard
against the firm pink of her flesh, and
hurried to explain: Hunt writes me
hat he wants to buy my seat on the
exchange. He's establishing couple
If branches, and thinks that the firm
leeds another floor member to handle
rs increased business. He'll pay