The Monte Vista journal., 1915-07-10

'e Seen her mission had ended In
failure.
detected little figure she sat in
her husbands dressing room. keepinp
up her pretense OF gayety, only when
Clay happened to raise his ewes To.
ward her-which was not often.
telephone for you, SIR" said the
outler, creating a welcome diversion.
as he handed Clay the extension in.
strument.
"Hello-yes, this is Clay. Oh. hello,
irwin. What's that YOU say? All right,
III be right down"
His wife saw the look of anguish
and despair that came into his face
as he hastily slammed up the re.
reiver, finished his dressing and
rushed from the house without giving
her any explanation.
Russell Irwin was early at the office
mat Saturday morning. Things were
pad In the real estate business and It
was only by being on the Job early
and late that he managed to keep
oO'ht ihaud6eu " HOlU tne
nrm of Irwin & Clay on top OF the
turbulent waters of failure that
threatened to engulf them at any mo.
ment.
A rather distinguished man Of fifty
five, as he sat at his desk in a de.
)ected and listless attitude. 1t was
lo:45 and he was still alone; still
awaiting the arrival of his son-in.law
and business partner, whose support
and help he needed more at this time
than he had ever needed it before.
And then came blow from an I'M
expected quarter.
1t was delivered in an ordinary en-
velope by very ordinary messenger
boy and 1t was altogether a very
plain, businesslike document. But
Its effect on the already discouraged
business man could not have been
worse If 1t had been dropped from
above by winged messenger OF the
gods Of financial ruin:
Mr.. Russell Irwin,
City.
Dear sir-As Mr.. Clay failed to apply
Tor an extension last night 1 have placed
for collection. the note I hold against Ir-
win Clay for a loan of $4,000. Out OF
the city today and Sunday. You must
settle Monday
THOMAS NEAL.
Dazed and stunned, and seemingly
bending under weight of suddenly
added years, Irwin CROPPED angrily for
the telephone and In an imperative
tone called for his partners house
number.
Hello, Clay. this you? Well, hurry
down-while you have been dallying
at home we have gone under-we're
ruined-completely smashed"
This was the message that had
startled Clay at his late breakfast,
Irwin wasted no time in prelimi-
naries when Clay hurriedly entered
the firms luxuriously furnished pri-
vate Offices
Fine business" he shouted, angrily
showing the letter at his junior part
ner. Fine business this, missing an
appointment of such Importance; neg
lecting to secure the extension of that
note; fine business"
Clay, confused and ashamed, an
swered nothing.
oh, Edgar, Edgar. trusted YOU"
continued the other man. "My only
folly has been that | placed any re-
sponsibility on you. And this is the
result Why didn't you get the extern
sion on that note?"
81 forgot" began Clay in schoolboy
fashion. 81 forgot l meant to at
tend to 1t. To tell you the truth
started for Meals office, but l met
some of the boys there and Ill,
well. made night of 1t. l forgot
business and everything else. L
well. you know my weakness. Rus
SELL"
yes, l know your weakness. l
know, too, that you inherited 1t from
your poor, dead father. Perhaps you
are not entirely to blame. l should
have known better than to have left
so important detail to you.
81 might have known what the re-
suit would be; l might have known.
You were drunk and We are ruined"
Earnestly but without passion the
two men entered into discussion OF
ways and means.
So earnestly were they engaged in
conversation that neither heard the
entrance of Isabelle. Her manner was
still nervous and the agitated state OF
her mind was betrayed, II in no other
way, by the restless fash In her eye
and the quick, sharp jerk OF her
words: