The Desired Woman

hour. The gray-stone building was in Atlanta's most central part on a narrow street paved with asphalt which sloped down from one of the main thoroughfares to the section oc

trucks rumbled and creaked along; there was a whir of a street-sweeping machin

nkers and brokers, came in; and, hanging his straw hat up, he sea

he paying-teller's window, was sponging his fat fingers and counting and

d on the rolling top of the desk. "He cautioned us all not to mention it. You know

n the corner. He had just started to explain more fully when a patient s

e lounge when I left him just now. It is really nothing serious. The doctor says it is only due to loss of

reak down before. He is too intense, too strenuous; whatever he does

m an early riser, and I come down before any one else to get my work up. I found him here this morning at half past seven. He was as nervous as a man about to be hanged. He couldn't sit or stand st

realized the danger afterward. He admitted it to me last night at the club. He said that he was sorry

good news. He didn't show me the telegram when it came, but I watched his face as he read it. I saw his eyes flash; he smiled at me, walked toward his office with a light step, as he always does when he's lucky, and then he swayed sideways an

a plunger for a town of this size. He lets things get on his nerves too much. He has n

eller returned, as he

years of age, tall, broad-shouldered, with blue eyes, yellow mustache, and was good-looking and well built. Glancing up, h

k fit of mine?" he smiled, the corners

evolving-chair at the desk and slowly s

n. You've taken too many stimulants, smoked like the woods afire, and on top of it all instead of getting natural sleep you've amused yourself at all ho

, and if I didn't advance fresh funds they would have to go under. It was the biggest risk I ever took, but I took it. I raised the money on my street-railway bonds. For a day or so afterward I was hopeful, but they quit writing and wouldn't answer my wires. My lawyer in Augusta wrote me that they wer

in a tray on the desk and cut off the tip with a paper-knife.

't intend to open a business letter or think once of this hot hole in a wall for a month. I'm going to fish and hunt and lie in the shade and swap yarns with mossback moonshiners. I've just been thinking of it, and

needn't bother about us; we'll keep this thing afloat. I'm wondering how you are going to get away from your socia

but I declined. I was worried at the time over this deal, but I need something quieter than that sort of trip.

at his cigar. He felt that his friend was expecting what he was saying. "M

nd Irene?" Mostyn said, a ri

nks the sun rises and sets in you. He is constantly ta

as actually to speak of me in-in connection

would care for each other. He knew your father and liked him, and he has been afraid that Miss Irene might fancy some young fellow with no sort

nture he has made, and I suppose he overrates my ability; but, really, I give you my word that I have not thought seriously of marrying any one. I suppose some men would call me a fool-

cement. There is Stillman; he married a typewriter in his office, a beautiful character, and they are as happy as a pair of doves. Then you remembe

the romantic and the practical. So you needn't count on-on what you were speaking of just now. I think the young lady

love him, but they will marry. His eyes kindled when I mentioned her money. He may think he can stand out against it, but he c

s attention was drawn to t

eaking firmly to an elderly man who stood clinging despera

wn while I have to walk the streets without a cent through his rascali

being unable to recognize t

e same old string. He's blocking up the window. A thing like that ought not to

send him to me," Saunders ordered,

gy trousers, disreputable shoes, and a battered silk hat of ancient, bell-shaped pattern. He was smooth-shaven, quite pale, and had scant gray hair which

quietly. "He is not at work this morning, Mr.

t believe there is any law or justice anywhere. You and him are partners, but I don't believe you know him clean to the bottom as well as I do. You wouldn't be in busine

er matter," Saunders reminded him

ding-donging at me about his mill idea. Well, I went in-I risked the whole amount. He was made president although he didn't hold ten thousand dollars' worth of stock. Then I reckon you know what happened. He run the thing plumb in the ground, claimed to be losing money-said labor was too high; claimed that the wrong sort of machinery had been put in. It went from bad to worse for twelve months, then it shut down. The operatives moved away, and it was sold under the hammer. Who bought it in-my God, who do you reckon bid it in for twenty-five cents on the dollar? Why, the same smooth young duck that is taking a nap

upon which two parties disagree," Saunders said, diplomatica

aw. I spent the twelve thousand and odd dollars that I rescued from the ruin in suing him, only to

aid, lamely. "Of course, I mean in regard to this particular matter. If you are in want, howe

ce my children after the way I acted. I simply trusted Mostyn with my all-my life's blood-don't you see? I remember when I was hesitating, and a neighbor had hinted that Mostyn was too high a flyer-going wit

Saunders said again, "but

nd on anything else." He laid his disengaged hand on Saunders's shoulder almost with the touch of a parent. "I'll say one thing more, and then I'm gone. You've done me good this morning-that is, some. I don't f

rm shamble between the count

"The shame of his lack o

ut. He paused over an electric adding-machine which was being manipulat

son was here talking to

it's the ol

p. "I did what I could to pacify him;

nt to take steps to restrain him, but I'll have to if he keeps it up. I can't afford to have him slandering me on every stre

th one hand and tugged at his brown mustache with the finger

k I ought to do?"

ecide. His condition is really pitiful. His family seem to be in actual need. Girls brou

s to many others who happened to lose in that mill. His suit against me cost me several thousand dollars, and he

lounge, but instead sat down at his desk, took up a pen and drew some paper to him. "I'll write Tom Drake and ask h