Bought and Paid For

ended, his frank, boyish face

, athletic figure suggested the football field rather than the counting room, was one of the most influential railroad men i

ss had already told him that he could dispense with the formality of changing

so sorry I am late. Ok

d Virginia. "He to

to Fanny

esume, is y

ened to make

, "let me introdu

hether to offer her hand, felt awkward and ill at ease, as do most people who

, to meet you, Miss Blain

n-law elect, who stood gaping in the background, "is M

e," stammered Fanny,

and gave the shipping clerk

ou do, Mr

h an indifferent nod as he nursed

ave them, but he looked as if they were just the people whose society he enjoyed most, a happy knack which some men possess of adapting themselves to their environments, and which had al

e had sized up with one quick glance. He winced as he took note of the man's cheap, ready-made clothes and boorish manners. Decidedly he was quite impossi

I am forgiven for keeping you waiting? Believe me, it w

irginia quickly, "we'

, who was busy at the table, placing t

in thoroughly,

n look

e big meeting and say 've

d his master, with a laug

he tray and mad

se, pleas

peared, Stafford turned t

like this, I generally leave the selection of the dinner to Oku and have it served in there-" He pointed to the dining-room, the folding doors of which th

d, trying to summon up enough courage to take an a

ce you have here

scape Virginia's notice, hovering around the co

t. Have you seen

lecked the ashes from his cigar on to the f

handed to his master. Stafford glanced over it and nodded approvingly, then

o nicely. Have dinne

-excuse,

leave the room, when his

urning apologetically

ndertone to the butler, he sa

sala

ng else

ou ca

use-pleas

t rejoined his guests. Addressing

like this room

umor that evening, and he wanted his guests to feel perfectly at home, but Jimmie, in his ign

act. I think i

ry beyond, the millio

Did you notice this?" He picked up from a table a piece of carved ivory and held it so

it?" asked Jimmie,

d Stafford,

es

a few ce

a day?" gap

es

d walked away. Con

ve joined the C

ord l

if there had been he wouldn't have joined. He w

ered. Sneeri

suppose, but I've never seen a man

h Blow vase, which only a few moments before had met with disaster. But the damage was not visible from a distan

think are rather good. There is one up

his fiancée a nudge. In a fright

ing! It's

ief. Stafford, meantime, had gone up to the bookcase. Reaching up his han

se is sa

ff. For a moment he stared at the fragment in amazement, while the others looked on in silent consternation.

oken!" exclai

id Jimmie

y that an expression of bewilderment on he

s quite cool and to all appearances the least concerned of the fou

. I never knew him to do

uture brother-in-law. In

ll

he same tragic whisper. "He doesn't

d, Virginia move

" she said lou

urprised at her

" he

dn't br

red at her i

n't

N

all

as if still unwilling to disclose the real

d surprise came over h

d w

lly failing on Fanny. Alarmed at his scrutiny, s

hem!" she

ide as a collector he was too much the man of the world to betray annoyance or to permi

matter in

ts any longer, Jimmie now came forwar

dressed me and I dropped it." With airy self-a

his shoulders. C

e it another thou

roached her host. Looking up at him

ll you how

at her, taking good-naturedly what might well have irritated any man, she thought to herself how handsome and nice

a little cloud over what I hope will be a very pleasant evening. If you want to be re

y best," s

ning to Fanny, h

d confusedly; "it wasn'

t bother you,

she

ned to the s

Gil

icrous expression. H

ough I ought

o!" laughe

ared to pay out $3,000 at a moment's notice,

y do," said his

luctantly, "I suppose I shall

ord s

rginia, he said: "I think you told me tha

es

her betrothed, he ex

hope you'll both b

d Fanny, with a

l be all right,"

other cigar. Stafford took another seat near him, while Virginia and her sister conti

ing takes place?" inquir

ps. Jimmie threw back his head and b

relessly, "on how-a-a-busines

g clothes, cheap tie, frayed linen and shabby shoes. He hardly looked the kind of man likely to be burde

siness are you

shippin

not in busines

h I hope to be some day. Y

aire nodded

ery young man sho

vis-à-vis confidently. "I have the abili

scepticism in his voice. "In what direction

I've got ideas, too! For instance, Mr. Stafford, did you ever st

ss I never did,"

to tell you about another scheme of mine, which is going to revolutionize railroading in t

ord n

ned it to me. You must te

Here he was discussing business opportunities with one of the biggest men in New York. Carelessly he added: "I've got

for a moment without speaking. The

big positions. I don't mean mere fifty-thousand-dollar men. I mean hundred-thousand-

he is a big man?" inquired the clerk

nly says it, will probably have it for the rest of his life. But the man who says 'I'll show my boss that I'm too good for

ugh to overhear the last few wo

Big Things!

g and turning to Virgin

subjects as that." Changing the topic, he asked:

id not,"

ch time to read latel

emanded t

a lot of sewing to do, and three times in the last two weeks

exclaime

at, but I couldn't stand for those milk chocolate Dutch women with the Mellen's Food babie

d towards the room bey

nes, I have two Meissoniers, which I think

ed the clerk, anxious to

anny, he added: "There's also a collection

ll," she smiled. "

tain

the threshold turned and called to h

ng, J

and join her. Stafford accompanied them as far a

terest you. You needn't hurry. Oku wi

rginia please excuse us. Jimmie and I