The Argosy, December 1905 — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

110 had brought other small concerns into his own and controlled at last a certain part of the iron market. He was self- educated and arrogant, as hard as flint, and as violent, sometimes, as lightning. However, he could hardly do much if the rest forsook his leadership. Duncan found the second vice-president an un- pleasant subject for speculation, and he called for his stenographer and _ set about certain routine matters which were up for his attention. The work had hardly begun when Chambers entered. He surveyed the scene as he crossed the room, and went straight to his point. “ Pardon me, Alvin, but are you very pressed for time this morning?” ce No.” “Then, if you'll ask the young man to step out for utes ‘4 ‘The stenographer rose and left the offices. Chambers followed and tried the door, and then snapped the catch. He brought a chair to the side of the ten or fifteen min- desk and sat down. Duncan wondered _ what was coming. “Alvin!” “Well?” “'There have been a lot of quiet little private interviews around these offices since you turned up again, haven’t there ? ” “Why, perhaps. What of it?” Chambers hitched a little closer. “Well, you and I’ll have one our- selves, right now!” CHAPTER XII. A NEW ALVIN HERITAGE. Duncan dropped the papers he held and turned inquiringly to the second vice-president. The latter remained silent for aano- ment, eying the ex-architect with that keen, beady stare the latter disliked so intensely. Finally he smiled a little and spoke. “Alvin, youre afraid of me!” A wave of anger surged up within Dunean. “You’re mistaken, Chambers.” *Well—perhaps I am.” The other THE ARGOSY. laughed slightly. “Or, perhaps you will be within a few minutes.” “YT hardly think so,” said Duncan evenly. “ What is the mystery, Cham- bers?” “There’s nothing very mysterious about it, I think. You know pretty well my sentiments on certain matters.” “T know very little about any of your sentiments. And,” Dunean added rather sharply, “I don’t know that I am par- ticularly interested in knowing any more just now.” “You have a particularly cool way, haven’t you—something very much like that of your respected uncle.” __ He fell silent again. Duncan rapped out impatiently: “See here, sir! What on earth does it all mean? JI shall not try to misun- derstand our relations; I know that we are not particularly friendly. There- fore, if you have any business here, let’s get down to it, and have it over with.” Chambers glanced at him. “ All right, we will! Alvin, what the devil did you mean by it?” “ By what? ” “By doing what you’ve just done.” “You mean * Dunean’s_ eyes opened. ; “T mean in getting yourself engaged to that Morrison girl, and you know it.” “My dear man!” Duncan’s anger was rising again. “ We will not discuss Miss Morrison here.” “Yes, we will! Don’t glower like that—it doesn’t impress me.” “We will not discuss Miss Morrison here.” “Bosh!” Chambers snapped his fin- gers. “ Alvin, you'll have to break that off, d’ye hear? ” “ Break it off? ” gasped Duncan. “ Yes, sir, and quickly, too! ” “Why, you infernal zs “Stop! Your rage doesn’t bother me a trifle. I say that that engagement is going to be broken, and I mean it.” Chambers’ face was turning an angry red. “Oh, it is not altogether for busi- ness reasons, my young friend! J Well, I am going to marry Beatrice my- self.” For an instant or two Duncan was too startled to reply, but very soon a CORnICLOOOKS (C@