Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-07-15

rated the character ana ability Of
oormly. The Gotham Freight Trac-
tton company. for instance. had pooh
poohed him At nrst. and even now.
though the public press was filled
with accounts Of him and his doings,
they sttH greatly underestimated his
Qualities Haldane himself had Joined
In this depreciation until he had met
oormly. He had as yet enjoyed no
opportunity of conversation with him.
save In general way, rs has been
seen; but he was accustomed to deal
with men, and he saw Instantly that
he vas face to face with q personal
fty 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 GormIy's ex-
ceIlent Havanas; glasses. bottles, and
ice on q little table at hand He had
disapproved of Mrs. 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. He had been inclined on
the first entrance TO follow his wife's
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 a deep interest in Haldane AS
the father of the woman he loved, he
would necessarily be a great factor
in the battle he meant to wage for her
hand. His consent and influence,
/ w a fa1 fial
| naturally be of great value. If he
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 Miss
| Haldane's consent. Yet Gormly was
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 a prospect
| i've father-in-law never entered his
head. That was sufficient to render
the Interview memorable to him.
The conversation began with a re
| mark from the older man about the
weather. 1 have long wondered why
| the weather is the staple inaugural
| topic.
| Il have rarely experienced SO severe
| a SnOwstorm,''- said Haldane blandly.
Il have been coming down to Long
! Island in winter off and on ever since
1 was a boy, and this surpasses any
thing within my knowledge"
4
| sponded Gormly. Here when the
| mark and the wind blows thirty OF
forty miles an hour, and it SHOWS hard
all day, we call it a blizzard
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 a moment with
| deeper interest at his companion.
| ct take it from your allusion thai
you have experienced worse storms
| than this
81 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 cut like whips, and the storm
had full sweep unchecked and un
broken by any thing. However, l an
| glad of the storm in this instance
since it has enabled me to extend tt
you and your party the shelter of my
roof. I have been acQuainted-I have
mad the privilege of knowing, that il
your daughter for some time, and
am honored in the acquaintance of hel
father and mother and your friends
You say you have known my daugh
ter for some timer"
Il have had that pleasure"
"If 1 mistake not, she said that yot
had been interested in her settlement
work. Quixotic imaginations of al
enthusiastic girl. my dear sir; but
humor her"
You do WELL" returned the other
And If you will give me leave to DIFF
fer with you, hardly call it QuixOtic
1 have examined into the plan thor
oughly, and must say it strikes me a.
being altogether admirable as well al
entirely feasible. I hope and believ,
it will succeed"
quite So" returned Haldane. HI
was not in the least interested in tn,
matter.
'I have assisted Miss Haldane il
every way possible" returned Gormly
who did not propose to be questioned
as to the details of his relation to thu
scheme. "Of course, he went on