Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-11-24

page. He had scarcely glanced at Il
when Somes re-entered the room. II
possible in greater agitation than ever.
BEG pardon. sir" he began, his
usual method Of address.
We'll, what is IT."
There's two people in the drawina
room asking to see you"
But thought | gave you orders
not TO admit anybody, to tell every.
body that | would see them at the
auditorium In the store at half.past
ten?"
Yes, sir, you did, SIR. But I couldn't
very well keep these people out"
Tell them l am busy" said Corn.
ly. Il have no time for anonymous
callers"
Beg pardon. sir" said somes
again; but really, Mr.. Gormly, II
you'll excuse me. sir, this presump.
ton, you must see them" d.
Are you mad?' asked Gormly.
Nearly, SIR answered the valet
truthfully.
Gormly looked at him curiously.
There was 30 much excitement and
nervousness In the mans manner. and
yet 1t seemed to be a rather cheerful
excitement, too, that 1t seemed to
presage something Of Importance. AT
any rate, after a moments reflection,
the merchant decided from the
strangeness of the situation that he
would e the people mentioned.
AS Gorply entered the\sunny, cheer
full drawing room, the occupants rose
to greet him. One was young Hal.
dane, the other was his sister. Hal.
dane was intensely excited. He rushed
ut Gormly with the enthusiasm of a
boy; grasped his hand. and wrung 1t
frantically.
It's all right" be shouted. Its
turned out better than anybody could
have expected. It's killed the opposi.
ton dead. Everybody Is for you now"
Gormly heard him as In q dream.
He allowed him to shake his hand as
he might have shaken a pump handle,
could that ancient and useful article
have been found In New York. He
vas looking with all his soul in his
glance at Eleanor Haldane, who had
not come forward, but stood by the
chair in which she had sat, her hands
tightly clasping the low back Of It.
The color that had flooded her face
when she first saw him had subsidized
almost as quickly as it had come. She
was very pale and trembling.
Thoughts, strange, b%ewildering,
rushed through Gormly's mind. what
could Miss Haldane be doing there?
What did she want? Why had she
come? She had heard Of the Incl.
dent. He remembered that her broth
err had taken her n copy of his let.
ter last night. What did her pres
ence mean?
Il just came down here" continued
young Haldane, ito tell you these
things to relieve your anxiety, and to
bring Eleanor. She wanted to see
you about-well. you know about
what, of course, and"
Gormly did not know at all; but he
nodded vaguely.
"Of course, by this time you've read
all about 1t in The Planet. That old
miner came in like a scene in a play.
It was perfectly splendid, and l sup
pose" he looked meaningly at his sis.
ter, his glance calling the color once
to her cheek, that you have
read the other communication, which
is scarcely less important"
Gormly stared at him in utter
amazement.
II must say" he continued mis-
%chievously, that for a man who is
getting everything he wants as you
are, you are singularly undemon.
strative about it."
"Mr. Gormly," ~interposed the WORT.
an, 81 don't believe that you have
read the morning papers?"
Not yet, Miss Haldane."
Obi" cried the girl in great dis
may.
"By Jove!" exclaimed the young
man, ito think Of it, should have
had the first copy from the press
brought to me IL l had been in your
place. Well, then, I'll tell you the
whole story. Or you've got it in The
Planet and you can read 1t yourself.
Well excuse you while you glance
over it; won't We sis?"
Il don't understand" said Gormly,
lifting the paper slowly. He had not
yet taken his eyes off Miss Haldane.
"On second thoughts" said the
young man, II guess Eleanor had bet
ter tell you herself. II you'll excuse
me, you two, for a few moments. I'll
go into the library"
livingstone cried the girl i'm
ploringly; but her brother only
laughed as he left the room, carefully
closing the door behind him.
What is 1t that l am to be told,
Miss Haldane?" asked Gormly, step.
ping toward her, paper still in hand.
Miss Haldane was in a dilemma
She had been surprised when he hid
entered the room that Gormly had
not greeted her differently. Her posi-.
ton was a tremendously dificult- enc
at best, and his failure to read the
paper had rendered 1t almost insup-
portable.