The midland journal., 1914-11-27
CHAPTER XXI.
Brand. the ImmutabIe.

Ihat Brand, despite all appearances,
had deliberately sold Reynolds out,
was not certain. But In Dicks mind
there was no doubt about it He saw,
or imagined an Interior motive that
made II q reasonable conclusion, but
he dared not reveal his suspicious to
Bob. Dick had never believed the mill
Honaire persisted In his excursions TO
Staten Island merely for financial
benefit to either Bob or himself. He
accounted for Brands first appearance
on the grounds OF seifjpterest and the.
snhEequent visits he attributed to I'M
tsrestin Mrs. Reynolds. That he could
hesso ospenurious as to actually scheme
tosget back the stipend he had meted
out 70 Bob did not appeal to Dick.
either. For, whatever the amonnt was,
the young writer knew II was but a.
stipend to Brand. He believed that
the capitalist wished to crush Rey-
n0ids and raise such an insuperable
barrier to his success that he would
sucoumb and become alienated from
his wife through hopeless realization
OF his own unWorthiness. But there
was Mrs. Brand to consider in this
line Of deduction and the millionaire
mad never given sufficient evidence of
pnloyalty to warrant It. At least. not
enough to arouse such thoughts In
Bob.
But young Meade, usually so far see
Ing, had drawn cursory perspective
and perhaps prejudiced one. For
Dicks antipathy to Brand was found
ed on two things. He despised him as
the traducer of Bob and he hated him
for his associations with Jane; the
more bitterly, too, because Brand had
removed her from the sphere OF his
own intimacy. In short, Dick was
Jealous Of Brand. though he did not
analyze his feeling in Just that way
When the cataclysm had come for
Bob that afternoon-when the ticker,
that instrument Of JOY, or torture, had
told him Of his ruin, he had found but
one definite conclusion. He would ask
Brand to meet the overdraft on his
bank and call 1t quits. He had been
prompted to attempt what now stood
Qua clearly as criminal act, through
failure to secure an expected mortgage
on his home and through belief that he
would win on the stock. The house,
fortunately. was still unincumbered,
but In the face of failure he shrank
from reducing Jane to absolute pow
erty and had determined to ask this
hnal boon of Brand. He had tele-
graphed the millionaire asking him to
come that evening before the theater
party.
Now. Dicks revelation gave an en-
tirely different aspect to the case. Bob
had lost and Brand had won and Brand
could atEOrd to pay. True, the million.
aire had not told him to buy Consoli-
dated Wire that day. but he had not
advised him not to. and If Brand knew
enough to get in on the right side Of
the collapse. he must have known the
crash was coming many hours before
It did. There were rumors In the street
that the concern had gone into the
hands Of receiver. II this were true
the capitalist must surely have been
warned OF 1t. He was very close to
the officers Of the company, Reynolds
was positive.
XCung Meade passed two more hours
with most unsociable host who In
sisted that he remain but who sat
either In moody silence or paced the
door amid his mental fiagellations Of
Brand. impatient for his arrival. He
went up to his room for more cigar
cites and while he was gone the mil.
honaire arrived. Dick went to him
smiling pleasantly as Frieda admitted
him.
Hello, MIR. Brand" he greeted. with
extended hand. I'VE meet once more.
though rye given you quite rest.s
Brand took the hand and dropped Il
quickly as IL the mere act Of touching
Il were ample condescension on his
part.
How do you do. Mr.. - I forgot
your name," he added lightly. He
spoke as II II were OF little conss-
Quenee. anyway.
Meade. Richard Meade" Dick
prompted. unabashed.
.sOh. yes: still on the newspapers"
sNo. rm nearly respectable now"
the reporter answered. Magazines"
Brand looked relieved. He handed
his hat and coat to Frieda and ad-
vanoed to the fireplace.
Thought you might be here to see
your friend on story Of some kind, y
he ventured. Il believe you haven't
seen much OF each other for year or
90. Where Is Reynolds now2s he an
ished, IL having just occurred to him
that he had not inquired for him.
upstairs for a minute" Dick told
him. Hes expecting you. Hen be
right down. Bob is sort Of shot to
pieces tonight. thought he would be
and that's what brought me around.
Thought ! might be Of some help 70
him.,
The millionaire raised HIS head
quickly and looked searchingly at
A..