Part 27 (2/2)

”I'm afraid not, Ma'am,” replied Mr. Skee darkly. ”Andy's hard hit in a worse place than his heart. I wouldn't betray a friend's confidence for any money, Ma'am; but this is all over town. It'll go hard with Andy, I'm afraid, at his age.”

”Oh, I'm so sorry!” she whispered. ”So sorry! But surely with a man of his abilities it will be only a temporary reverse!--”

”Dunno 'bout the abilities--not in this case. Unless he has ability enough to discover a mine bigger'n the one he's lost! You see, Ma'am, it's this way,” and he sunk his voice to a confidential rumble. ”Andy had a bang-up mine, galena ore--not gold, you understand, but often pays better. And he kept on putting the money it made back into it to make more. Then, all of a sudden, it petered out! No more eggs in that basket. 'Course he can't sell it--now. And last year he refused half a million. Andy's sure down on his luck.”

”But he will recover! You western men are so wonderful! He will find another mine!”

”O yes, he _may_! Certainly he _may_, Ma'am. Not that he found this one--he just bought it.”

”Well--he can buy another, there are more, aren't there?”

”Sure there are! There's as good mines in the earth as ever was salted--that's my motto! But Andy's got no more money to buy any mines. What he had before he inherited. No, Ma'am,” said Mr. Skee, with a sigh. ”I'm afraid its all up with Andy d.y.k.eman financially!”

This he said more audibly; and Miss Elder and Miss Pettigrew, sitting in their parlor, could not help hearing. Miss Elder gave a little gasp and clasped her hands tightly, but Miss Pettigrew arose, and came outside.

”What's this about Mr. d.y.k.eman?” she questioned abruptly. ”Has he had losses?”

”There now,” said Mr. Skee, remorsefully, ”I never meant to give him away like that. Mrs. Pettigrew, Ma'am, I must beg you not to mention it further. I was only satisfyin' this lady here, in answer to sympathetic anxiety, as to what was making Andrew H. d.y.k.eman so down in the mouth.

Yes'm--he's lost every cent he had in the world, or is likely to have.

Of course, among friends, he'll get a job fast enough, bookkeepin', or something like that--though he's not a brilliant man, Andy isn't. You needn't to feel worried, Mrs. Pettigrew; he'll draw a salary all right, to the end of time; but he's out of the game of Hot Finance.”

Mrs. Pettigrew regarded the speaker with a scintillating eye. He returned her look with unflinching seriousness. ”Have a chair, Ma'am,”

he said. ”Let me bring out your rocker. Sit down and chat with us.”

”No, thanks,” said the old lady. ”It seems to me a little--chilly, out here. I'll go in.”

She went in forthwith, to find Miss Orella furtively wiping her eyes.

”What are you crying about, Orella Elder! Just because a man's lost his money? That happens to most of 'em now and then.”

”Yes, I know--but you heard what he said. Oh, I can't believe it! To think of his having to be provided for by his friends--and having to take a small salary--after being so well off! I am so sorry for him!”

Miss Elder's sorrow was increased to intensity by noting Mrs. St.

Cloud's changed att.i.tude. Mr. d.y.k.eman made no complaint, uttered no protest, gave no confidences; but it soon appeared that he was working in an office; and furthermore that this position was given him by Mr.

Skee.

That gentleman, though discreetly reticent as to his own affairs, now appeared in far finer raiment than he had hitherto affected; developed a p.r.o.nounced taste in fobs and sleeve b.u.t.tons; and a striking harmony in socks and scarfs.

Men talked openly of him; no one seemed to know anything definite, but all were certain that ”Old Skee must have struck it rich.”

Mr. Skee kept his own counsel; but became munificent in gifts and entertainments. He produced two imposing presents for Susie; one a ”betrothal gift,” the other a conventional wedding present.

”This is a new one to me,” he said when he offered her the first; ”but I understand it's the thing. In fact I'm sure of it--for I've consulted Mrs. St. Cloud and she helped me to buy 'em.”

He consulted Mrs. St. Cloud about a dinner he proposed giving to Mr.

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