Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-07-08

/ i've mllnons more, at the least lie
stood up. "If you will pardon me a
moment | have something should
like to show you"
He went out, returning presently
with large envelope and a pad of
writing paper. Taking seat near his
| guest, he removed the contents of the
| envelope and spread them upon the
| table. now cleared of everything save
a vase of flowers and some brandy
| and cigarettes. With characteristic
precision he began detailing his rea-
sons for believing the then panic
| stricken condition of the wheat mar
| ket would continue until May, or even
| beyond selecting, as he talked, divers
| papers from the array before him,
submitting them to his auditor, or re
| ferring to them for confederation.
Fitzhugh, however, seized some
| slight excuse for soon interrupting
him, and taking up the thread of the
| argument where he had broken it,
| carried it along with sureness that
| displayed an irreprOachable knowledge
| of the subject in hand. When he fin
| ished severa! sheets Of the paper We're
| covered with figures and Otis was
regarding him in quite new light.
You show most thorough knowl-
| edge of the wheat market, Mr.. Fitz-
| hugh. can see you have studied it
very extensively"
i've studied it for little over a
year."
Otis smiled. "of course you are
jesting?"
II solemnly assure you that all
know about wheat have learned in
that length of time. There are some
mon MIR. Otis. who can learn more
about given subject in a few months
than others can in as many years. It's
as much matter of work as it is of
brains. Now. When am sufficiently
enthused over thing apply myself
to it. concentrating upon it every fac
ulty OF my mind for eighteen, yes.
twenty, hours day, and begrudge the
few hours | must give to sleep. That
sounds egotistical, doesn't it? But
matter"
~ like to hear man talk that way.
despise modesty in business. Of
course you are coming in with us?
AS | said we shall require five addi-
tlonal millions, perhaps more, to work
the thing properly. There is no need
now to go into further details. You
understand the situation even better
than do" He paused.
Since this is Saturday," said Fitz-
hugh. "and since nothing can be
gained by your knowing my decision
before Monday, l shall meet you Mon
day morning at ten o'clock and will
then give you my answer"
slight frown appeared on Otis
thin face. He began gathering up his
data. VERY we'll. At what placer"
"At my brokers' Shirley & Co., in
| the Merrimac block
AT ten? Very we'll. 1 know al
| ready what your answer will bean
emphatic yes" Suddenly he stood
! up, with a sweeping gesture, as
though to force into the background
everything pertaining to business.
| Now let's talk no more shop. We've
| had enough for one night"
While they We're exchanging part
ing words the hail door opened and
Mrs. Otis and Kathleen entered.
Fitzhugh's heart seemed to stop for
the intinitesimal part of a second. and
then as Kathleen came down the hall
| it leapt. bounded, raced on with mad
dening speed. He tingled to his finger
| tips. 1t was the first time he had
seen her since that moonlight night
| two summers ago Then. with the soft
! June moon on her glorious hair, a
| gauzy scarf over her bare shoulders,
he had thought her exquisite ethe-
real. Now, with her sables, her tur-
ban of white fur, the tang OF the
frosty night in her glowing skin, he
thought her ravishing, distractingly
beautiful.
Momentarily Otis seemed to hesitate.
as though reluctant to do something
that might afterward earn him re-
buke. But as Kathleen and her
| hhOthSA NiSW uChl llS litSlSSPlSu luell
with his guest and presented him, first
| to his wife then to his daughter
AS the girl spoke an acknowledge
ment of Fitzhugh's salutation she
looked up for the first time into his
eyes. The next instant she started
visibly, and, seemingly unconscious of
her act, did rather singular thing
| she came very close to him and looked
| searchingly into his face. The bright
color heightened in her cheeks. Her
fingers closed convulsively on the muff
| she carried. Her eyes travelled swift
! ly over him to his feet, and came to
rest again on his face. She seemed in
| a state of bewilderment.
Then. recovering her composure as
| quickly as she had lost it, she MUIR
INJURED something conventional and
was gone.
He never quite knew, when he
found himself walking rapidly down
the drive. with the snow swirling
round him. how he got there. His
brain was in whirl, his pulse on fire.