The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-06-30

4 fee machine by his wife's
elbow.
w Frowning slightly in her
N% preoccupation, the woman
E remarked the silence, and
passed it over; 1t was a
kwwszMuS part of her daily life-had
..or mart of It ever since, ten ysars
ssgore the curtain had fallen upon
their honeymoon.
qbe was accustomed to say that for
,sn hours of the day, from eight in
~ Morning to six in the evening
Tam west was mere money-making
Machine, with no end in life save the
rnaninuIation of the market, no con-
ceptIon of anything in the world save
hank and railway statements, divi.
dends tickers and the ebb and flow
Of prices. Afterwards. from p. m.
m8am., he was a normal human be-
ing with almost human interests, in
Guiding wife.
Therein she did West justice, and
some Injustice. In point Of fact, the
man adored his wife after business
hours But it was most true that he
forgot her completely throughout the
Wall street working day. And to that,
perhaps, may be attributed his remark
able successful the absolute concen-
ration of all his faculties upon the
natter in hand which generally con-
listed in the bearing" of some secur-
Ety which other men admired, but
which West looked upon with the jaun-
diced eye of the skeptic confirmed in
bis pessimism so far as stock values
we're concerned.
As for his wife, for the time being
her thoughts as well as her slim white
fingers we're busted about the tall cop
DER pot in which the coffee brewed.
Now, with little nod of satisfaction,
she placed the extinguisher over the
dame Of the alcohol lamp, and glanced
tentatively toward her husband, as
though fearful of disturbing him.
OF West, only his fingers were visi-
bic; rough.hewn, blunt, heavy fingers
that conveyed distinct impression of
The mans character, as the world saw
t. They gripped almost fiercely the
edges Of the morning paper. which he
held outspread so as thoroughly to
curtain himself from his wife's gaze.
Behind It he maintained an unbroken
silence; his big, broad brow thrust
forward aggressively, his lips set and
tense, his gray eyes fairly dancing up
md down the serried columns of fig
ures, as he-to use his own phrase
tore the heart out of the market re-
port.
The woman gazed upon the fingers
with tenderness glowing deep in her
eyes; somehow they suggested to her
very clearly the man she knew so we'll
-that man whom the street reckoned
ruthless, but whom she loved with all
0er being, and who loved her in return
WIN a devotion almost womanish-
hIer business hours again.
In time West lowered the paper I'M
It's upper edge was level with the
otiose Of his nose. He stared at her
aosentmindedly; the creature man
vas asserting its desire for refresh
gent though the business man was
"st In pondering of men and meas
Ies' Coffee ready?" he demanded,
ny promptly returned his gaze to the
Sl o. the previous days transactions.
Aeaoy," she replied, quickly and
asafiy, and waiting, Tom" She
aOpped the indispensable two Jumps
u sugar into Vests cup, added the
aeam, then brimmed It with the
scanning black LIQUOR.
S she had multiplication she
studied the man closeIy-the sound o.
81 voice and the stir of the table
ssie distracted the current of his
auughts Reluctantly he folded the
Ns sheet, and laid it at the side of
= Plate, accepted the cup, and began
no. suf the coffee with his spoon, mo-
mi ,SuOGsiy' as though he feared it
ms - lose virtue through inaction,
q glaring at his plate.
sue torebore to question him. she
49,, mat before long he would begin
s Ak, Always, ever since she cauid
49, ,laoeF' he had interlarded his
,rp aAlast with one-sided discussion.
s,,aa" ing comment on the ways of the
NJ aess and on the part he habpened to
tine e'n at tnS particular
Ana
p, aaa 50. inevitably, it came to pass.
bsgs shtly he dropped the spoon and
tbina u 70 use his fork: and. Funny
M = s ABOUT Belden," no observed. talk
sy more at. than to. her.
vs. with the rising infection.
ma IS Funny thing about Belden
M ns yseh. We've been fighting tooth
"a L nan. tor the last five years or so,
both NV NV. 1t Just happens that we're
heiss ratu up at the same time. Co
no nv 10 You know he is hard up?"
Nm unt know it" He was looking
as uo%' and interestedly, but she
atbps Iat ne had forgotten her. The
'essss s'S = Of logical deduction pos
ton w. uln thoroughly: his simagina.
eatIDs Us wrapped with the Joy OF pene,
va A.. rival operators secret, He
happily formu,ot,,,. -