The Washington times., 1911-01-31
CHAPTER XVI.

DAVID found keen pleasure In the
- business on which he was now
engaged. For four years he had talked
20 no one. and for a year he had
talked to but four or five. Now he
was actively thrown among men OF
the world-Jordan, this general agent
of the New Jersey Home Company, his
assistants, and the attorneys of the
company. He instinctively measured
himself beside them, and he exulted.
for though they were the shrewder IN
business. he felt himself bigger, broad
er, than they.
The deal progressed hopefully. David
discovered the five owners in Rogers
syndicate to be five ordinary men, with
no particular business courage and no
courage of any other kind. Their in
terest in their own welfare was their
had confidence in Rogers success and
stood solidly by him-which was all
that could be desired of them.
From the first meeting with Jordan,
David, too, was confident of success.
Jordan held off, talked about prepos-
ferrous prices-but David felt surrender
beneath the grand air with which the
general agent brushed Rogers PROPOSE
ton aside.
One morning, two weeks after he had
entered upon his new duties, he was
looking through some papers in the liv-
ing room relating to the land, when
Kate knocked at the door and entered.
There's a woman out there wants to
see yOu," she said, with sharp glance.
whats she Want?'
She wouldn't tell me. She said you'd
see her all right-she was an old friend.
If she is, ! think some of your friends
had better sign the pledger'
David followed Kate into the office. A
tall woman rose from his chalr ana
smiled at him. It was Lillian Drew.
The life went out of him. He stood
with one hand against the door-j -jamb
and stared at her. When he had seen
her five years before she had had grace,
and lines, and a hardened sort of beauty
and she had worn silks and diamonds.
Now the face was flushed and coarsened
and lined with wrinkles-the hands
were gemless, the hair was oarelessly
done, and in place of the rich gown
there was an ill-fitting jacket and skirt
For her, it was evident, the last five
years had had a dizzy slant.
What a warm welcomed" she said,
with A short laugh.
David did not answer. Kate's quick
eyes looked from one 10 the other.
wouldn't you just as soon our talk
should be private?" Lillian Drew asked,
with a smile of irony. You'd better
run out for awhile, little girl"
hdI6 BldHCGu dL Will
hatred. Lillian Drew glared back
"Come, run along, little girl!'
Kate turned to David. You'd better
leave us alone for few minutes" he
said with an effort.
Kate jerked on her hat, jabbed in the
pins haphazardly, marched by Lillian
Drew with You old cat!' and passed
out into the street
"Well, now-what do you want?' Da-
vid demanded.
"Oh, Tve just come to return your
call May ! sit down? I'm tired" And
smiling her batting smile. she sank back
into Davids chair.
David crossed to his desk. How did
Surely you thought I'd look you up
when / got back to town! I asked at
the Mission. A girl in the office there
wrote your address down on a card for
me. And told me a few things" She
narrowed her eyes. "A few things,
"PIease say at once what you want"
He tried to speak with restraint.
%Just to see an old acquaintance
"Come to the point!' he said sharply.
"Well, then-I'm broke"
81 don't see why thatbrings you to
because you're going to give me
money-that's why"
asI certainly will not!'
"Oh, yes you will-when get through
with YOU. You wouldn't want me to
tell ali 1 know of Phil Morton"
"Ten il you want to-" Anger at her