Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-11-17
A Failure of No
Consequence
By LOUISE II. CUYOL
"a. 1925. Western Newspaper UnionD

from the New orleans COttOu
Exchange across Varieties alley, Alice
Dalton glanced up from Samuel 4
Sons ledger but, somehow, instead of
the brass bars Of her bookkeeper's
cage, she saw the low-hanging boughs
Of ancient live oaks; and, instead OF
the medley Of mems voices she heard
but one. We've waited such a long
time" that voice seemed to say
words having nothing to do with the
furious specializing across the way
that, on this December day, preceded
the reading of the governments esti-
mate Of the cotton crop. They had
much to do, however, with Alice, re-
membering, and with Norman Alex
ander who had spoken them the night
before.
They were to be married in the
spring.
Norman had at last made, on the
exchange, what he considered money
enough to carry out the plans he had
for Normandy plantation.
But it will take lots Of money" he
had often said in the years while he
and Alice waited for Alexander & Co.,
the name under which he carried on
his brokerage business, to make
enough for him to retire from the ex-
change and get into his fields.
1T will take lot Of money" he
had repeated again last night when
seated on the front steps Of the old
vrhA ahn hNo rhnd. ho Qnd
Alice had laid plans for their future
silver bright as the. southern moon
light, land we can't take any chances
You're taking chances tomorrow"
she had answered.
well be rich tomorrow" Norman
laughed. And married the day after.
Have you told old Samuels we're en-
gaged?"
Alice shook her head
Tell him tomorrow"
mo, next week. Tomorrow's too
hard. / hate that old bureau report"
Il don't. But I'm not buying tomor-
row. nor selling much. Just calling
; contracts. Bladen's my biggest man."
mot Bob Bladen!'
A record, none too good, Of Bladen's
recent transactions was on the books
she kept.
you won't touch Normandy-the
plantation? Speculate with that7"
was what she said.
Not one acre!" Norman Alexander
had spoken emphatically. Then,
you'll like fixing up the old house|
She nodded, dreamily.
And now, in the lull of business, she
fell again to dreaming Of the beautiful
old house in the shade Of the trees.
"What'mT' A bench boy pushed
message from the exchange under the
bars Of the cage.
Nothing" Alice laughed as she
took the paper.
She dreamed no more that day.
The office doors swung back and
forth excitedly. Bench boys and mes
sengers darted in and out; the ticker
spoke increasingly, and, from across
the narrow alley the sound Of mems
voices came-loud, and louder. Alice
could picture the buyers.
What was Norman doing, she won
dered. How about Bob Bladen?
"Bladen Just blew his brains out"
young Samuels, In the passageway out
side the bookkeeper's cage, answered
Alice's thoughts and was gone, while
she was turning to Bladen's account.
Suddenly the sound from the cotton
exchange died out Alice glanced at
her watch. 1t was half past two. The
Office doors swung open slowly now.
Men came in, YEARLY.
Another failure" Young Samuels,
entering the cage, held out bit Of
ticker tape, printed side uppermost.
Alice's pen fell gathering to the floor
as she slipped from her high stool.
She brushed past young Samuels,
passed from her cage into the main
office, thence into the passageway
where she met Norman Alexander as
he crossed the threshold.
"Alice," his gray lips barely moved.
"everything'
"Norman" she tried to call his
name.
mo. Not Normandy" His voice
was strong with that.
Alice swayed, but only for mo
ment The next, laying her hands in
his outstretched ones she raised hel
eyes to his so he might see at once
the eternal love that was to start
him on his way again.
Hours later-centuries later it may
have been-someone spoke to Alice
Dalton.
"Such a terrible day." 1t was ole
Mr.. Samuels standing beside her desk
$50 much trouble. Young Bladen'i
suicide. So many failures Oh
Here-he was fumbling in his pockets
there Answer this" he dropped {
crumpled paper on the desk. Openini
| 1t, Alice read three cipher words IL
blue typewriting,. below them a pen
ciled translation: What effect ha'