The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1915-07-03
Very sincerely.
RICHARD WALKER"

despair OF hopeless disappointment
and as though to make his pain alb
solute and complete. now that 1t was
so deep, he called Edith on the phone
When he put the receiver down, he
had reached the lowest point of des-
pair to which he had. or would ever
descend. 1t rather stupefied him with
its dull aching heaviness. a heavfness
out OF which he dreaded to come.
II was In this condition that George
Sumner found him when he came to
Jack him up" on his margins.
She's broken ten points more.
Keene. Do you want to go on?"
No answer.
III you do, you know, you'll have
to cover. I've been waiting to hear
from you"
No answer
Il say, do you want to cover, or
shall SELF"
An impatient wave of his hand was
all the answer Hugh Keene gave.
The other was a man Of few words,
and he had already spoken those few.
Very we'll then, IL you can't cover.
you're wiped OUT"
It was those last words that Rich.
ard Walker heard as he paused for
moment outside the door. 1t was
these words that changed his smile
of affable patronage to one of I'M
pleasant menace as he entered Keene's
office.
He wasted no time In preliminaries,
but began, very abruptly. There's
report about town. Keene, that is, in
the financial district. that you've been
loading yourself down with the worth
less A. & NJ. Is 1t true, and II it is,
what. man, In heavens name, have
you been buying 1. With"
Keene was Immediately attentive.
you need have no fear he said
I'm glad OF that" said the other,
because, to be frank with you, I've
had an unavoidable fear that, err
we'll. that you'd been something that
the word reckless wouldn't adequately
describe"
You need have no fear" the young
man reiterated heavily.
Walker held out his hand, and
Keene took 1t listlessly
I'll see you tonight?"
yes, tonight" DULY. and congrat
ulations."
Thanks"
Walker smiled afrably. turned and
was gone.
keene listened to his footsteps as
they echoed and died out down the
long corridor Then he went to his
desk quickly and opened the bottom
drawer with key from his safe His
hand sought its dark recesses and at
cold touch he smiled cunningly as
he looked toward the door, and his
lips framed two words his expression
made hideous: Tonight"
VI
That night lights blazed throughout
the palatial residence OF Richard
Walker. 1t was the night of his for
mai announcement of his engagement
to Edith Hilton. Liveried servants
hustled hither and thither about the
rooms making all ready for the ex
pected guests. They came on time.
all but Hugh Keene. who was tardy
There was another guest, early, un
invited. and unexpected He had fol
lowed Walker home from Keene's of
ice that afternoon. and now patient
ly hid behind the folds of the heavy
curtains that separated the reception
room from the dining room. He kept
very quiet this guest. and when he
could. watched intently Walkers face
He noted also the pale tragic look on
the face OF the young man who came
late, but was too interested In his
own affair to indulge his sympathy
sympathy! Strange thing. that, In
one who had come for what he had
come. Strange that those years In
prison cell had not entirely killed
that He thought, passingly, how
strange II was that he should enter
tain thought OF sympathy-he.
whose hearts desire
But his interest in the pale young
man was, perforce. concentrated when
he noted, after dinner. and Just as
Walker was about to crown his future
bride with magnificent diadem thai
the young mans hand sought indie
cisively his hip pocket
Porter's interest changed quickly to
apprehension at the sudden thought
that this pale young man might cheat
him out Of what he felt to be specifi.
cally his. His hearts desire" He