The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-02-22
CHAPTER /

You would not have thought from
his face-from his meager face and
cold eyes and slightly oblique smile
that Jasper Haig, standing and Then
sitting inside the broad plate-glass
windows with the other celebrities
In his greatly celebrated club on Fifth
avenue, was looking for woman-a
young woman. Such things have been
done before, no doubt, from that same
high position-but not. you would
have said instinctiyely, by the owner
of that face. And yet that was the
fact. Jasper Haig. most astute of law
yers, manager of the great Gorgam
Trust Fund-was doing that. it
seemed to him. forever.
Faces-faces Faces of young wom-
en- They were before him now day
and night. And not at all to his lik-
ing. This was no quest of pleasure.
1t was a matter of grim business. And
not matter-more than that--that he
could delegate. like most of his bust
ness, now. to some subordinate. In
this vital and really desperate under
taking of his, only himself and one
other could be employed. and that
other--Heaven knew-was worse than
useless. So everywhere that younger
women-especially young working
women, who might be weary, little
red-looking-either congregated or
passed, Jasper Haig in the last few
weeks had come and come again,
studying them. in the department
stores, factories. even; in the great
railroad stations, and here again al
ways on Fifth avenue, the great high
way of womanl But never yet that
particular woman, that type he must
have immedately-if she were to be
of any usel
The last tide of the women was now
ebbing from Fifth avenue. The morn
ing flood of brght-eyed shoppers, in
motors and out, the slower stream Of
the promenaders of the afternoon. had
come and gone; and now flowed by
the last and most lik ely for his pur-
poses-the tide of girls from the de-
partment stores; and farther down
below them, hurrying home, the great
est Of them all, the tide of the factory
workers. There below. according to
their agreement, the second man,
Hasbrouck Rutherford. the other party
In interest In the Gorgam Trust Fund.
watched-if indeed he were in condi-
ton to. Jasper Haig could not be sure
of this. But he himself. always re-
liable and devoted TO his immediate
purpose, sat still. his eyes fixed upon
Fifth avenue and the passing girls, the
girls in black.
In the center of the street flowed
by the endless, almost terrifying melee
of motors-the fat-topped limousines
of the returning business men, the
takes and their sharp-nosed, sharp
eyed young pirates of drivers with the
dropping cigarettes in their disillu-
stoned lips. the great green busses
toiling up TIE slope from the south.
The broad street was for those who
ride. the broad walks for those, who
pleasure or from necessity.
Suddenly Haig stood up, cigar ashes
upon his immaculate shirt-front. There
she went at last-the exact type of
woman he must havel You would
have said the very woman herself !
Almost within reach of his finger-tips !
The pale and delicate face. like fine
flower sown on barren ground the
same deep. haunted eyes that saw Tn
pleasant visions.
And as he saw her. he cursed him |
self for fool. and started-his hat |
still in his possession
and bolted out the great door of the |
Justly celebrated club. opening upon |
The side-street. But when he was on
Fifth avenue again, hurrying, peering |
over women's shoulders, he passed up !
through the crowd on the broad walk
in vain. Quite naturally AS well
20 hunting one oak leaf In wind
ytorm In the autumn woods as one
woman In that crowdi