The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-07

~, '''",heh' III siSnihcant surprise, and
then bowed respectfully to the beauti
Iui silent partner In the great concern
1t was tho first time she had been
seen In ihe Offices since the tragic event
that had served TO make her n member
Oh the hrm. boy at tho Information
aesk, somewhat impressed by her
beauty ana the trim elegance OF her
ionS black broadtail coat TO say moth
ing of the dark eyes that shone tn rough
inc narrow veil. forgot the dignity OF
his office and went so far az to polite
~ AJAX her who she wanted to see and
what name, please"
The senior clerk rushed forward and
'rahshxed the new boy with n glare.
"A new boy, Srs. WrandaIl" no made
haste to explain. To the new boys
surprise. the visitor was conducted
with much bowling and scraping into
tho private Offices. where no one von-
tured except by special edict OF tho
powers.
Who was it?' he asked, in come awe.
OF veteran stenographcr who came
up and sneered ut him
Mrs. Challis wrandaIl you little
simpieton." said she. and for once he
failed TO snap back
1t is OF record that for nearly two
whole days he was polite to every
visitor who approached him and was
generally worth his salt
Sarn found herself in the close lit
.ic room mat once had been her hus-
bands but was now scrupuIousiy held
in reserve for her own use Rather n
waste or space, she felt AZ she looked
about the office. The clerk busted an
easy chair and threw open the long
unused desk near tho window
we are very glad TO see you here.
madam" he said. This room hasn',
been used much. as you may observe.
Is there anything / can do for your
she continued hor critical survey Of
I tho room. Nothing had been changed
since the days when she used TO visit
her husband here on occasions of rare
social lmportance-such as calling TO
! take him out to luncheon or to see
that he got safely home on rainy af-
ternoons. The big picture of "A steam
snip stsll hung on tho wall across tho
room. Her own photograph. in n sill
Yer frame, stood In one OF the reccsses
OF tho desk. she observed that there
was clean white blottcr there, too;
but the inl<wel!s appeared 10 be empty
IL shc Was 10 judge by the look OF
chaBrin on the clerks face as nc IN
spcctcd them. Photographs OF polo
scenes In which Wrandail was a prom
: inent ngure, hung about the walls,
with two or three pictures OF his fav-
critic ponies and one OF n ragged gypsy
girl with wonderful eyes. carrying a
monkey in q crude wooden cage strap
ped 20 her back pm closer obxerya-
ton ono would havb recognized Sara's
peculiarly Gypsy-llke features in the
face Of the girl, and then would
have noticed the caption written In red
ink at tho bottom OF the photograph:
Tho Truulbells Fancy Dress Ball.
January 10. OF. Sara as Gypsy Nab"
With atart, Sara came out of her
painful reverie. She passed her hand
over her eyes and seemed thereby to
put the polite senior clerk back into the
picture once more.
mo, thank you. Is Mr.. Redmond
Wrandall down this afternoon
He came IN not ten minutes ago.
Mr. Leslie Wrandail Is also here. Shall
| j tell Mr.. Wrandail you wish TO sec
hm2"
You may tell him that / am here, 81
you please" che said.
| IL am very sorry about the ink
| wells. madam" murmured the clerk.
| We've were not expecting"
Pray don't let 1t disturb you, Mr.
Bancroft. / shall not use them to
day"
They VIII be properly hlled by to-
morrow"
Thank you"
| He disappesred She relaxed IN tbs
familiar. comfortable old leather cush-
Toned chair, and closed her eyes. There
waa sharp little line between them,
| but 1t was hidden by the veil.
The door opened slowly and Red
mona hTGnutlI CAME INTO the room,
She arose at once.
| This is--er-an unexpected pleas
ure. sara he said, perplcxed and III
at-ense. He stopped just inside tho
door no had been careful to close be-
hind him. and did not offer her his
hand.
Il camo down to attend to some
business, Mr.. Wrandall" she said.
| "Business?" he repeated, staring.
! She took noto OF the tired, haggard
| look In his eyes. and the tightly COM
pressed lips.
Il intend to dispose OF my entire in
tcrest in Wrandall & Company" sho
announced calmly
| He took step forward, plainly
startled by the declaration.
whats thls?" he demanded sharply.
| 1--WE may as well speak plainly, Mr..
| Wrandall," she said. You do not care
to have me remain member OF the
firm. nor do l blame you for feeling
as you do about 1t, year ago you
offered to buy me out--or off. as
/ took ii to be at the time. j had rea-
sons then for not selling out to you.
/ To- day ] am ready either to buy or to
sell"
"You--you amaze me-" he exclaimed.
| Does your offer OF last December
still stand?"
Il think we would bettor have
Leslie In, Sara. This is most unpected.
/ don't quite feel up to-"
"Have Leslie In by all means" she
said, rcsuming her seat.
He hesitated moment, opened his
lips as If to speak, and then abruptly
! left the room.
! Sara smiled.
Many minutes passed before the two
! Wrandalls put In an appearance. She
understood the delay. They were tele-
phoning to certain legal advisers.
Whats this hear. Sara?" demand
ed Leslie. extending his hand after a
seconds hesitation.
She shook hands with him, not list
lessly but with tho vigor born OF nerv-
BUSINESS.
II don't know what you've heard
she said pointedly.
His slim fingers went searching for
the end of his mustache.
| "Why-why, about selling out to u.s."
he stammered.
II am willing to retro from the frm
of Wrandall & Company" she said.