News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-09-30
CHAPTER XIII.
Pleasantries,

Pleasantries.
Mr.. Brand sat smoking one Of his
made to order perfectos. The head OF
the Hudson Cement company was in a
very complaisant and jovial mood His
heavy mahogany chair was pushed
back from his heavy mahogany desk
and a substantial, we'll nourished calf
was poised and swinging lightly over
well groomed knee.
Tennessee Coal and Iron had broken
! Is points and somehow Mr.. Brand
seemed to be aware Of that fact. If
one examined him closely and saw
thumbs buried in the top lapels of his
white waistcoat with fat fingers beat
ing time to a merry little whistle and
noted that soft smile played about
his lips in lapses of the tune, one
might almost imagine that he had
known that Tennessee Coal and Iron
would break Is points.
We leave that to Mr.. Brand; but evil
IDENTIFY he had not been buying stock
that day, if some wee lambkins had.
Brand made his living out Of the
cement business. Quite a comfortable
living it was, too. He had town
apartment on the Drive that he used
two or three months out of the year
and a $4,000 residence on the north
shore of the Sound. Mrs. Brand had
a box at the opera and now and then
she wore some jewels. Brand had
quite liking for Paris and the Riviera
and in this his wife did not discourage
him. All these things and more he got
out of the cement business. But, Of
course, if occasionally he felt like TAX
ing little flyer in Wall street his
bank could spare the interest on the
extra deposits he turned in.
The Tennessee Coal & Iron company
made steel Brand made cement. Prod
ucts that we're associated more or less
and sometimes in big way. Brand
knew how to turn a trick or two in
business and his word went long
way. The Tennessee Coal G Iron COM
pany's stock was likely to rise or fall.
If things looked little bad and a
drop was probable-of course they
couldn't tell-but if the market looked
that way, why not let Brand in on it?
He could take his chances. He would
understand that; but if he won he
might return the favor
Well, Brand had won. He had won
$150,000 and so we find him at least
not groveling.
His quick response to knock at the
door brought his secretary.
"a gentleman to see you," said that
mental. "a Mr.. Meade"
That reporter?"
HE wouldn't state his business, sir.
Said you'd know him."
Now, ordinarily Brand would not
have been in to reporters. He consid- |
cred them a prying sort with entirely |
too much knowledge of other peoples |
business and too great a thirst for |
more. But we have said that he was
happy. Some irrelevant thought, too,
fickered through his mind; some in
applicable curiosity to see whether
this particular reporter had an over
coat. For it had grown colder since
that night at Staten Island and Brand
thought that if this young man didn't
have a topcoat-well, let Dick answer.
Show him in" we're the secretary's
orders. He obeyed, and withdrew.
Brand did not rise, but his greeting
was cordial
Sit down Mr.. Meade and make your
self at home" he invited.
I can do the one but not the 9TH
er, the reporter replied. "a little too
grand up here for me. Once more /
suppose you're surprised to see me-"
No, the same answer goes, my
friend, as on the night on the island.
And even If we're surprised l wouldn't
be worrying. We business men put
reporters in most any category, but
We never class them with buzzards.
That's one thing you can say for a
newspaper man; he's never lowering
about a dead oge."
Thanks"
No, l thank you. l was compli-
nenting myself. You see. l don't al
ways want to see reporters, but like !
TO know they want to see me-"
Dick folded his arms. He looked |
at the millionaire. There was
no answering smile for the others
evity. He was there for a purpose.
The pleasantries would do for another
line.
Mr.. Brand" he said, Il fear that
you won't construe this visit as a COM
1liment am not here 30 inquire into
'our business, past, present OF future.
come in behalf of a friend" 4
Brand licked some ashes from his {