Putnam patriot., 1916-08-25
THE PUTNAM pArRlo, August as r9l6

HlN q ial-t ttNANAAtaAANta Nt iifn- ton of his name in quarters where ke was not personally known gained him respectful attention. but he found him. self working in the shadow of the cop per trust. and its silent influence over came his stru. -Csst arguments,
 No one. lt seemed. cared to risk even a semhlance of rivalry with that men- Streas aggregation ef cJrliat for the luterlaeing of financial interests was amazingly intricate. aud fmauciers were fearful of the least misstep Ererywhere o'NeiI encountered the s1me disheartening timidity His bat lie. 1t seemed, had been lost before il was hecun
 Days passed In fruitle>s endcavors eveaiH1S faeoj C'Eeii m lis corner of hc hatei cafe racbina his bHa,a fer some way out of his uetdeNifies. t-su- ally he was surrounded hy friends. for be continued to entertain iu inc lavish aShiou for which he had gainc1 a rep uuti3u- but sametiUcs he Waz alone. snd tban his solitude bscame murc oppressive tlan il had ever been even u tAe iarlheSl wastes el the uarth- and lie Uas made to fevl his re spousiblity with dreadful keeuness. or hls assaeiates were in panic and hamhaf ed him WI.h dails in iuisies. veSalioUS aHtl Efd to answer. Che eveuiny as he Eu thrun.h his .auH he found a icstcg in a woman's handwriting and. glaneiug at the sig nature. started t was guel ..Sloria Gordon" Briefly it aRprised him of her marriage and of her and Natalie,s return to Rope Gloria thanked him perfunetorily fer his many klndnesses. but she neither expressed nor implied an invitation for him te visit them. He smiled little grimly. Already her loyalty had veared to Gerdou.s side and Natalie no doubt shared her feel ing Well 1t was but natural per hapS.
 He was aroused from his train of thought by stranger whom he found standing beside his tab,e and looking down at hiri with wavermg eye.
 "Misser O'Neil. ain't it2" the fellow inquired sure. Thought I knew you I'm Bulker of the old North pass Remember me2'
 Mir Bulker had been imbihinS freely He showed evidences of nrotraeted spree not only in his sneeeh but in the trembling hand which he extended His eyes were hloodshot and luis good naturcd face was purple
 0'Ncf greeted hin p'casantly and, considering himself enthusiastically welcomed the newcomer sat down suddenly as if some one had ripped him.
 "Been washing you for ten minute.
 Washing me-"
 No. washing you. Couldn't make you out; eyesieht's getting bad. Too many bright lights i'll this town. Hal Joke, Lets have q gill
 Thank xou, no
 "AInst have little dram for old times sake. You're tho only one of the North pass crowd I'll drink with" Mr Bulker gestured comprehcnsiYely at group of walters. and Murray yielded. sYou were my friend. 0'$eil You always treated mo right
 What are you doing uowf' asked OtNeil. with the interest he could not refuse t0 any one who had ever worked with him He remembered the fellow perfectly He had come an from the east as auditor and had appeared to be capable. although somewhat given to drink
 I'm q broker. Wall streets my halo fiat. Fine time to buy stocks, Misser O'Neil" Bulker assumed an eXpres- sion of great wisdom. Like to have q tipf No? Good. You're a wise man. They fired me from the North Pass. Wha'd you know about that? Fired me for drinking. Greatest injustice l ever heard of, but I hit running, like a turkey That wasn't the reason they let me go though Not on your life. " He winked porteutously and, strangely enough, his eyelid failed to resume it's normal position. It continued to droop, giving the appearance of waggish leer. "I knew too mush! Isn't healthy to know too mush is itF'
 i've never had chance to find out, /" smiled Murray.
 "Oh, don't be an ingenue; you saw vied more than anybody on the job. I'll admit I took nip now and then, but l never got pickled. Sayl Who d'you s'pose l saw today? Old man Illisr'
 O'Neill became suddenly intent. He had been trying to get in touch with Poultney His for more than fort night. but his cables to London had brought no response.
 When did he arriye"
 Just lately. He's game old roost- CT, ain't he? Gee, he's sore.'
 Sore about whatT'
 Bulker winked again, with the same --A- re -~----~--t~- -~-,.-ot
 (To Be Continued.D