The Bassett Claim

i Copyright by American Press Association. 1 [ CONTINUED. ] "Mr. Stovatu?" he asked, glanciag at the cari. "Yes, sir," the visitar replied, a little chokingly, in spite of hií wrath and resolution. He had lived in Washington long enough to lose bis fear of statosmen, but here was a man who made senators and used them to mn hia errands. It was not surprising that in the august presence of millions the j-oung clerk's voice faltered. "From Mr. Atwood?" asked the magnate, courteously, yet with the economy in speech of a man whose time was worth anywhere from a mere routine two thousand a week to half a million a minute. "Yes, sir. And as he spoke the young man studied the railroad king. It was a stern face the young man fronted, a heavy, stolid, cruel face. The head was big and round, the throat short and thick, the shouldersand chest broad, the whole frame burly. He, too, was a etrong animal; quite a match for those Wind"ward hadadmired at the diplomatist'a. Quite a match, also, Stevens thought, for an intriguing secretary. The magnate signified that the dictation should begin, and he set the pace at the speed of one of nis express trains, resting as rarely and for as brief intervals. Possibly he was testing the new engineer. The stenographer had no time to catch the bearing of the flying words, but even in his modest speed he could not help perceiving one exL.-aordinary feature of the correspondence. In the course of two or three confidential notes to gentlemen who seemed to be special friends, the "Old Man" betrayed the company's, and presumably his own, secrets precisely on the lines which Mr. Atwood had taken a few honrs previously. This discovery effectively dispelled wnatever promptings to denounce treason lingered in Stevens' purpose, and it rafber transf erred his indignation froin servant to master. "That is all," said the magnate, finally "Now you'll extend the letters by breakfast?" Stevens knew that meant an all night session, but he would not weaken, or disappoint the hard, rich man. "Yes, sir," he said, finally. "All right," from the magnate. "Can you come again to-morrow?" "I'm in a department," said Stevens. The magnate grunted his displeasure. "Well, get out of it then." "Yes, if I could find work," said Stevens, desperately. "Something to make me worth" "Money?" interrupted the railroad Mng. "Well, maybe" - - Stevens was angry and :eckless. 4lt was none of this coarse, rich man's business; still he most find a vent. "No; a woman. I love a woman who won't have me. How'a money to buy her?" "Easily," observed the king with the most irritating coolness. "Is she married? Sit down, sir; wel discuss that." What is imperünence in common peopie is of ten only kindly interest in the case of a millionaire, and tolerated, to say the least. Stevens blushed redder yet, but he sat down and said, "No; she isn'tmarried." "Not married," repeated the King; "well, so she won't have you. That'a what they always say." "Ihaven't asked her," said Stevens, looking very sonr and sheepish. The latter part of the interview was rapidly becoming more awkward even than the first. It now seemed the magnate's turn to show anger and impatience. "Haven't asked her!" he oxclaimed; "why not?" "Becaose," replied Stevens snllenly, 'Tknow she would refuse me." "Well, suppose she did?" retorted the magnate testily. "My wife did; thatfa part af the fnn." "Bat she onght to refuse me," cried Sterons, determined to have no mexcy on himself ; "1 am not the man for her." "Oh, dammit!" was the king's profane but very expressdve comment on thia rueful speech. And then for the first time he smiled, and his tone grew gentle, as ho said: "What sort of awomanis she anyway?" Just here there carne a tap at the door and the servant entered, hearing a senator"s card. "Teil him Til be diseugaged in a few minutes," said the magnate, and then tnxning to tire young man, when they were alone once more, he said with a strange tenderness : ' ' Come, tell Jhe about your girl!" "Oh, she is a beautiful young woman, and all that's good. Pve thought of her for years and now she is here, viáting her brother, my best friend, but she is not for ine, I see that." "Why?" demanded the king. "Well, Tm such a commonplace individual, I suppose, for one reason," replied Steven?, in a tone of self contempt. "Commonplace!" retorted the millionaire. "Gad, I don't think so, and I'll back my judgment Of men against a woman's." "Well. then," continued Stevens 3y, "I think she ioves, or at least favors, Another, a man she has met here, a lieutenant in the navy." "Oh, ho!" exclaiined the magnate. "Smitten with brnss buttons, is she? I guess," he added dryly,"' "it is she, not you, that is commonplace. Ah, how old is she?" "About 22, I believe." "Humph!" muttered the king, his harsh mannet retnrning. "Old enongh to know better. You might expect such tricks in eighteen. Are yon sure she isn't a fooi - a süly, shallow woman, with all her stock in the front window, like a French shop?" "Oh, no, indeed!" exclaimed Stevens. "She is a true, fine woman." "Tes, I suppose so," replied the king, snappishly , and yet with a smile. ' ' Well , then, go for her. Teil her you love her. There is no love potion like a declaration; that generaüy does the business, after one or two ref usals anyhow. And dont be bltrffed. Keep at her. The women have a saying among themselves that a persevering man is the enemy of the sex." Here he rose to indícate, after the manner of monarchs, that the interview had terminated, and stretching out his hand to the young man said: 'Til expect yon in themocning. I wish you well with the girl; don't be afraid oí her, or of that tupenny lieutenant either. Let us see, have I your address?" "I live where Mr. Atwood does - at Mrs. Ex's," said Stevens. "Ah, yes," replied the magnate. " Your lady lives" "There also," said Stevens. "Miss Bassett is her name; and the lieutenant's name is Quire, and he boards with us too. There, I think you have it all nowl" He smiled as he spoke, in spite of himself. The king bowed gravely. "I believe I onderstand the situation. I bid you good evening, sir." Stevens walked briskly home, excited and exhilarated by the interview. Somehow, he could not teil why, he believed the tide had changed, and was now on the flood. Without definite cause for erultation he feit triumphant; perhaps i: was the simple magnetism of the great man he had just left, who always succeeded. Be the reason what it might, the spirit of( victory was in his heart, and it shone in his features as he entered the chamber where "Windward was impatintly awaiting his return. "You didn't teil him, I fancy?" he said, smiling. "No, bat sometime I'll teil you an interesting tale," replied Stevens mysteriously. And that was all Windward was able to get out of him: so, finaiiy, in despair he changed the subject. "You missed some good stories, Peter, bybeing away," he said; "Lieut. Quire was in oor rooms for a while, and told a lot of 'yams' abont jelly fish that cnrled like apple parings, and the games sailors have aboard snip and how he climbed a volcano. Say, Stevens, what do you think about Quire, anyway?" "Oh, I don't know," airily replied Stevens, the confidant of millionaires. "He's a good enöugh sort of a f ello w, handsome and all that; a 'jolly yonng sea dog' - by the way, I suppose a 'young sea dog' is a sea puppy? Oh, I like him." "He's very entertaining," ventured Windward in rather a subdued manner. "Evidently," thought he, "something is up." And secretly he thought bis friend might be a little more communicative. "Oh, yes, entertaining," replied Stevens with the severity of a judge, "but he is not an upright man, nor a man of much character. He is good enough company for an idle hour." "Well, well, tbis is a new vein for Stevens !" mused Windward. Yes, something was up. Indeed there was, and nothing less than the spirit and will of young America. CHAPTER XVni. A TEMPORARY SÜPPLY. Af ter scarcely more than a nap Stevens carne to the breakfast table the neit moraing in a very battered condition. He was eating hia breakfast with a relish, however, when the servant bronght in a card for him which paralyzed his appetite on the instant. "The gentleman said hé'd like to see yon a moment," erplained the servant. "Certainly!" exclaimed Stevens, tossing his napkin into the buckwheat cakes and rnshing out of the room. Miss Sophia leaned over and took np the card the yotmg man had lef t beside his plate. " Why, Liddyl" she exclaimed, "it must be Mr. Atwood he wants tosee. Mr. Atwood left yesterday." "No, Miss; he said Mr. Stevens," replied Liddy. "Well, I wonder what he wants of Mr. Stevens!" exclaimed the amiable spinster, handing the card to her neighbor, the lientenant. He was at a loss to know, in fact coTÜdn't guess. And her query ran around the table nnanswered. Even Windward was forced to confess he could not teil. What on earth could the magnate want of Peter Stevens? It took away not only his appetite, but all their appetites. 'Tm going into the back parlor, where I can get a good look at him," whispered Miss Sophia. "I am too," whispered Florence, j "Quick, before ho gets awiiy!' "Psliaw, Floy, be quiet!" expostulated Mrs. Bassett, and then she got np and followed the two younjt ladies. Meanwbile Stevens hád gulped down his last rnouthf nl and had met his visitor in the parlor, who apologized for interrupting him at liis meal, vnd said ha fonnd it necessary t bat way and had called for the uotus. Just here there was a rustle of dresses in the back parlor, and flitting visions of ladies, passing to and fro on what wero probably fictitious errands, were to bc seen. "111 eipect you at my rooms at 8 o'clock to-niglit," said the magnate. And then, his business despatched, his manner tmderwent a magical change. He leaoed over to Stevens and whispered, "Le!s see your girll" And as he spote he winked; he did, the magnate winked. F TO BE CONTINDED.Í