The Argosy, December 1905 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN not many blocks from here, and he laughed long and bitterly. Oh, to re- turn! In that happy time he had had a roof and a bed and an apology for food, and little more. But he had possessed as well the gift of optimism and the bless- ing of hope, and, more than either, the deep, firm love of Louise. Now he had lost all! With millions upon millions at his command, the bur- den of the world seemed to be resting on his shoulders, and he hoped for very little more than a speedy end to his mis- eries, did it come even in the form of death. | At the office another ordeal awaited him. Barrington hurried into his private rooms a few minutes after his arrival, and Downs and half a dozen more. Morley brought up in the rear. Their purpose was clear. They had come to congratulate him, and they did it heartily enough. Duncan’s responses were rather lack- ing in enthusiasm, until he caught Morley’s warning eye across the room. He thanked them then with all the vigor he could muster. He had nothing more to lose now, .and for the rest of the tragedy he might as well play his part to the best of his ability. The secretary of the International lagged behind the rest, and presently Duncan found that they were alone. “Tt got out, eh?” Duncan glared at him. “ Yes, it got out, Morley.” “Well—why shouldn’t it? It was only a matter of a few days at most when every one would have known the happy fact.” “That was no reason for you to take the announcement upon yourself, Mr. Morley.” Sa ts" The secretary “Who says that I did it?” “No one else had been told, and— there were details.” “Um-um!” - Morley regarded him genially. ‘“ Well, I don’t deny that possibly, in some curious fit of absent- mindedness, I may have dropped a re- mark in a quarter where it would be likely to get into print, but = chuckled. MASQUERADE. 109 Something in Duncan’s expression caused him to pause for a moment, then he continued rather defiantly: “Hang you, Henry! Fraim_ was right in his estimate of you, in one way. He believed you to be about the hardest and most unreasonable mortal to deal with that ever walked the earth—and. I agree with him. What the deuce are you glaring about, any way? Do you know what that announcement has done already? “Tt’s fairly converted Walters to our side, and he’s an acquisition worth hav- ing. Next to Chambers or one or two of the London people, there was not a more dangerous character in the Inter- national. Now he understands which side is going to win, and he’s trying to sneak back.” Duncan’s thoughts were wandering a little, and he did not reply. Morley construed his silence as further evidence of bad temper. He shrugged his shoul- ders, and walked to the outer offices, humming. “Good-by for the present, my re- markable young friend. Come to your senses and be happy.” Be happy! Duncan smiled forlornly over the words when he was again alone. Happiness and he seemed to have become estranged. Still, it was something at least that his sacrifice had not been wasted alto- gether. Walters had returned to the safe side, and that meant a great deal. If two or three more would follow his example, the danger would be past and Cham- bers beaten. When they were once within the fold again and secured there Well, perhaps a way would finally appear by which he could safely abandon his réle and make a new start in life. But—Chambers. Would he allow himself to be thrashed so easily? Dun- can disliked the man hugely, and he had felt a little fear of him on one or two occasions when Chambers’ little eyes had rested on him. He was a wonderfully strong man in many ways, as Duncan knew. He had risen from a laborer at the smelting fur- nace to the ownership of his firm; he Go .OO AMUG S (C©@