Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 76: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“LOOKS LIKE FATE.” 67 Half a dozen had recognized him, and hisname was passed from mouth to mouth. ‘‘Mr. Clayton,’’ they murmured. A messenger was dispatched for a doctor, and the un- conscious form was tenderly borne to the secretary’s room and laid upon a sofa there. It was two o’clock and business was for the time being suspended, as it was uncertain whether the breath was about to leave the body of the stricken man or not and presently the floor of the exchange was cleared as if by magic. Mr. Clayton’s friends lingered around until the doc- tor appeared, and then, learning from him that he was in no immediate danger of dying, to the best of his belief, they, too, went their ways one by one. ‘‘Apoplexy, is it not, doctor?’’ asked Arthur, who still stood near. The doctor nodded. ‘¢And he must be taken home at once. Will you and an- other gentleman accompany him?”’ he said. “T will,’’ replied Arthur, after a pause, ‘“‘and will you come, too, Dick?’’ ‘“Certainly,’’ answered Forrest at once, fixing his eyes steadily on Arthur. ‘Then let some one call a carriage,’’ commanded the doctor. ‘‘There must be no delay.”’ | As carefully and rapidly as possible, the coachman guided his horses through the crowded thoroughfare and up Fifth avenue to the address given But to those inside the carriage, it seemed a rough and endless journey. Mr. Clayton lay as quiet and nerveless as thougn dead. “Tt is always so hard to break sad news to the family,” remarked Forrest. | EGomichbooks (C(O) im