Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-05-08

f may speak for NV partner ana INV
firm when say that your deposit VIII
he held to your credit for thirty days.
during which time II will constitute an
option on the property which you hav"
selected. r. AT The end of that time
You are still Of your present mind, the
transaction can 20 through rs now
planned: and If you have changed
your mind your deposit will be re-
turned"
Coward shifted under Dawes direct
eye. He preferred 10 look mt Mrs
Hardy. "What Mr. EIdcn has told
YOU about the policy of the firm rs
quite true" he managed to- say. "I'ut.
rs il happens. this transaction is not
with Coward a Eldcu but with me
personally. ! find II necessary 10 dis
pose of the property which ! have just
sold To- You M such an exceptional
pricc'-hc was looking nt Mrs. Hardy
and naturally cannot run chance
Of having my plans overturned 10y any
possible change of mind on your part.
II am entirely satisfied said Mrs.
Hardy. THE fact that Mr. Eden
wants tn get the property back makes
ne more satisfied" she added, with
The peculiarly irritating laugh Of a
woman who thinks She is cXtra0rdi-
uarily Shrcwd and is only very silly.
The agreement is Sicucdf" said
Dave. He walked To- the desk and
picked Hp the documents, and the
check that lay upon them His eye
ran down the familiar contract. This
agreement is in the name Of Coward
Eden" he said. This check is
payable 10 Coward & Eden"
ConwardS livid face had become
white. and il was with difficulty he
controlled his anger. They are all
printed that way" he explained. 81
am going to have them indorsed over
TO me"
You are not" said Dave. you are
charging this woman twenty-five thou
sand dollars for house that won't
bring ten thousand. The firm Of Con
ward & Eden will have nothing to do
with that transaction. II won't even
indorse IL over"
fire was burning in the CRATE.
Dave walked to 1t and very slowly and
deliberately thrust the agreement into
the flame
well. II that doesn't beat all |" Mrs.
Hardy calculated. Are all COW
punchers so discourteousT'
Il mean no discourtesy," said Dave.
IF my behavior has seemed abrupt, I
assure .xou theye aplr snpflssss sserE9.l
Doctor Hardy's widow--and his daugh- !
err"
at Is a peculiar service" Mrs. Har- ,
ly answered, CURLY.
81 can only apologize for my part
ler's behavior" said Coward. 1T need
rot, however, affect the transaction In
he slightest degree. A new agreement
will be drawn at once-an agreement ,
n which the firm of Coward & Eden
will not be concerned"
THAT will be more satisfactory"
'aid Mrs. Hardy. She intended the re- ,
mark for Dawes ears, but he had
moved to corner of the room and was
in low tones with Irene
81 am sorry | had to make your
acquaintance under circum-
stances which, fear, she will not even
Try to understand" he had said to
Irene.
ooh, Dave-Mr. Eden, l mean-that
s-you don't know how proud-you
don't know how much Of a man you
made me feel you are" She was
flushed and excited perhaps l
shouldn't talk like this. Perhaps"
ut all depends on one thing" Dave
what is that?"
at all depends on whether we are
Miss Hardy and Mr.. Eden or whether
we are still Reenie and Dave"
Her bright eyes had fallen to the
floor and he could see the tremor of
her fingers as they rested on the back
Of chair. She did not answer him
directly. But in moment she spoke.
Mother will buy the house from
Mr.. Coward" she said. "She is like /,
that. And when we are settled you
will come and see me, won't you
Dave?
When the Hardys had gone Coward
turned to Eden. 1--WE had better try
and find out where we stand" he said,
trying to speak dispassiOnateIy, but
there was n tremOr in his voice.
81 agree" returned Eden, who had
no desire to evade the issue. do you
consider 1t fair to select inexper.-
enced women for your victimsT"
Coward made deprecating ges-
ture. There is nothing to be gained
by quarreling, Dave" he said. Let
us get at the facts. When we have
agreed as TO facts. then we may agree
as to procedure"
shoot" said Dave. He stood with
his shoulder toward Coward. watch
ing the dusk settling about the foothiu
city.
II think" said Coward, I'VE can
agree that the boom is over. We have
done well. on paper. The thing now
is to convert our paper into cash"
Dave turned about. "You know I
don't claim to be any great moralist.
he said. "and have no pity
for a gambler who deliberately sits in
and gets stung. Consequently am
not troubled with any self-pity. nor
any pity for you. and II you can get
rid of our holdings to other pamhlars |