The Washington times., 1911-02-03
CHAPTER XVIII.

NH sat in the center of his airy
IVY private office, looking through
the selections from the Mon
day mornings mail that his secretary
had just laid upon the great glass
topped desk. His lofty forehead,
crowned with white hair, made one
think Of the splendid dome Of Sir
Walter Scott. But below the fore
head, in the face that was beginning
to be netted with fine wrinkles, there
was neither poetry nor romanticism;
power, that was all-power under
perfect mastery. The gray eyes were
quiet, steady; the mouth, half hidden
under a thick, short-cropped, iron
gray mustache, was firm, straight
line; the jaw was a great triangle
with a squared apex as a chin.
FaCetious persons sometimes referred
to that triangular chin as Cham
bers' cowcatcher," but many there
were who said that those that got in
Chambers way were never thrown
aside to safety, but went down be-
meath the wheels.
As he skinned the letters through
with rapidity that in him seemed
ease, there was nothing about him to
suggest the human dynamo" which
has come to be the popular concep-
ton of the man of vast business
achievement no violent outward
show of effort, no whirring of wheels,
no Coruscating clashes of escaping
electricity. He ran noiseIessly. eff
1oTllesSly' repoSelulIy- inoSe VINO
knew him Intimately could no more
have imagined Alexander Chambers
under a strain than Providence.
He glanced the last letter through
"a report from Mr.. Jordan on the ne
gotiatiCns for the land controlled by
RoGers-pusned the heap aside. and
touched button. Immediately enter
ed young man of twenty-eight or
thirty-his secretary.
"Please have Mr.. Jordan come over
as soon as he can"
Yes. sir. 1 was just coming to tell
you. when you rang that Mr.. Allen is
waiting to see you"
"Have him come in
AS Allen entered, Mr.. Chambers
raised his strong. erect figure to his
feet and held out his hand with
look as fresh as a spring morning"
Then look as 1 feel. I'm just back
from Myrtle Hill. 1t was a glorious
lot"
"Come now, some of the party may
have missed me-but you. did, you
Mr.. Chambers in a business way alone
would have felt surprise at the hu-
morous wrinkles that radiated from
the outer corner of his eyes.
party I'll see that the wires to Bos-
ton are cut But how did you leave
Helen?"
be desired in point of heaith"-AIlen
hesitated a moment-"and everything
TO be desired in point of regard for
me-"
Mr.. Chambers considered Mr.. Aliens
strongly masculine face. you'll win
her in the end, as you've won every
thing else-by fighting right on.
There's no one that ranks higher V
her than you"
"She's told me If an edlct were pass
ed compelling her to marry tomor-
row. I'd be the man. But-she's not
l.
You've we we Won her head. at least.
Not even all her head. She disap-
proves of my ideas. She made that
clear to me again yesterday. l tell
you, 1 do wish her concern In St
Christopher's and such things could be
well. at least lessened quite Bit"
That's hardly possible-her concern
IS too deeply rooted" Mr.. Chambers
shook his head reminiscently. "She
has 1t from her mother:
Yes. but the strength with viii
she holds to it--that she has from
you. / suppose there is little chance
of uprooting her convictions. Fut-
! feel I've gained one concession"
"She's promised at the end of five
weeks to give me her yes or no."
Mr.. Chambers leaned forward and
grasPed Aliens hand. An5T You u, know now
They looked at each other steadily
a moment then settled back into Their
chairs.
len. That's what brought me In And
Allen. who had handled the legal side
of many of Mr. Chambers affairs. BE-.
gan to discuss certain legal details
Of a railroad consolidation Mr.. Cham
bf.rs had under consideration.
The instant Allen was out of the office
the secretary announced Mr.. Jordon,
and Mr. Chambers order ushered him
in Mr. Jordon, a man whom prosperity
had flushed and bulked, wished Mr..
Chambers good morning with that little
tone of Difference which a successful
business man uses to a more successful
business man, and seated himself in the
leather-covered chair Allen had just va
Gated.
MT. chambers picked up Mr.. Jordon's s
letter from the heap on his desk.
'T wanted to speak to you about the
price this Mr.. Rogers insists on for the
land he controls" he said in his even
voice. at is at a far higher rate than
we maid for the rest Of the land. You've
done all that's possible to get him to
lower his terms?'
"Everything! For emphasis Mr.. Jor-
don ciapped two fat hands down upon
two fat knees "But he's as solid as a
rock. II we were dealing with the real
owners individually 1t would be differ-
ent. They're anxious to sell and they're
ali short on nerve. It's him that holds
them together"
10 withdraw their land from his con-
trol?'
Il tried that long ago. But it wouldn't
work. He's promised them big price.