Polly's Business Venture Part 24

Paul was saying: "Isn't it too jolly of John to send me East for the Holidays, by making me power-of-attorney for the Stock-holders meeting the first of January. That was the only way I could have come--by having my fare paid!" Paul laughed because they all knew of his financial problems, and how he was striving to win success that he might propose to Eleanor.

Polly felt annoyed because she was sure Eleanor had led Tom to the den that she might advise him further in his love-affairs. And it was this interference by Eleanor, that roused much of Polly's indifference or impatience towards Tom. Now she felt she had been given a good opportunity to square accounts with her chum.

Paul and she were standing alone for a moment, when she saw him looking about for someone. She gave the desired cue: "You'll find Nolla with Tom, enjoying a tete-a-tete in Mr. Dalken's little den across the hallway, Paul."

As she watched Paul hurriedly excuse himself, she experienced a new sensation--that of gratified revenge on a friend. She walked about the room, apparently looking at the pictures, but really to reach the hall without attracting attention. Once she got out of the room, she made a dash for a shadowy corner made by an old ormolu secretaire between the two doors. She could see into the den and watch Paul's next action.

Two huge Turkish chairs were drawn up before the fire-place but the electric lights were out and only the candles on the tables near the door were lighted. The leaping flames of the logs burning in the fire-place threw dancing shadows over the two occupants of the chairs, but anyone standing near the door could not see who these occupants were.

Paul crept stealthily over to the chairs, planning to surprise his two old friends--believing Tom to be one, and Eleanor the other. He lifted his hands with the intention of clapping them over Eleanor's eyes to make her guess who was there, when he heard words that rooted him to the spot.

Polly saw but could not hear, so she lost the best part of her retaliation on Eleanor.

Just as Paul was about to bring down his palms over Eleanor's eyes, a strange voice murmured intensely: "You know how I feel about it, Nolla.

This love is so absorbing that I cannot give my attention to studies, or to any other important matter. If I am treated to second place, now that another lover is at hand, I will clear out of New York and never be heard from again. In fact, I am going to purposely throw myself in the way of danger and end it all!"

Paul realized that another man had found his treasure and had been encouraged, or why should he be saying "given second-place now that another lover is at hand?" And it was evident that someone knew of his, Paul's, proposed visit, as _this_ young man knew of his coming to see Eleanor.

Such is the mortal's egotism! One never thinks of others in connection with a selfish hope or idea, but believes that anything seen or heard must appertain to that one thing. So Paul thought Eleanor was the love this young man referred to, and that she had given him second-place because of Paul's coming.

These thoughts flitted through his mind as young Baxter concluded, and Eleanor waited a moment before answering. Then she said with a sigh: "Dear Jack, a mild little flirtation never hurt any real case of love, and I've told you many times, that a game of love like this would improve or become fatal, because of such a flirtation. Like anti-toxin--it _kills_ the germs or makes them wild so that no further doubt remains about the patient. Let's use the hypodermic courageously and watch results. If the love-germ dies, then go and throw yourself on the railroad track and end your troubles. But should the opposite effect result, you can always think of me as the specialist who advised the heroic treatment!"

Paul was shocked to hear his "angel-girl" talk of her love in such a dreadfully frank way, but the suitor's next sentence left no doubt in Paul's mind that Eleanor was a horrid flirt.

"Well, Nolla, you must know best. Paul has been in love with you for a long time, now, and you've had many young admirers since you came to New York; so you understand and appreciate my present position and my right to demand one thing or the other--either _I_ am the accepted one, or the other man. Both of us cannot be kept dangling about, nor take turns in loving when the other is absent from New York."

Paul was distressed at hearing this--that Eleanor could accept the attentions of other men when he, Paul, was so hard at work out West, trying to succeed in his profession that he might offer her a suitable home! Now she was flirting with others, and this young man was heart-broken over her short-comings, even as he, Paul, was.

Polly saw Paul wheel and rush from the room, and immediately after that, Eleanor and Jack jumped up from the chairs and gazed at the door where the intruder had disappeared. When Polly saw who Eleanor's companion was, she gasped in astonishment, for she believed it was Tom sitting before the fire.

Had Polly hurried after Paul, to explain matters to him, all would have ended well that evening, but she went to the room where her wraps had been left and sat down to think out the problem. Meantime, Paul found Mr.

Dalken and drew him aside to say:

"Don't ask questions, and don't try to stop me, but I am going away as quick as I can. I'm through with girls for all time. They're not to be trusted when a man's absent. I'm going to live for my mother, hereafter, and make her life happy."

Mr. Dalken was taken by surprise, because he had no key to this new puzzle, but he said: "Do wait, my boy, and have some refreshments with us. I have so much to ask you about the mine."

"No--no! I can't stay. The mine isn't my affair anyway, and I was a fool to coax John to give me power-of-attorney to come East for him. Now I'm rus.h.i.+ng back and he can send Tom Latimer the affidavit necessary for the meeting in January."

"Now, now, Paul! You are a hot-headed young fellow and I feel sure matters can be explained quickly, if you will but wait!"

Paul scowled and stiffened his spine as he replied: "Mr. Dalken, I heard with my own ears, that Nolla is infatuated with another young man. She said, _and I_ heard her say it: 'She was not certain which one of us she preferred but the test would show if she used a good dose of anti-toxin to help the germ! But I'm no 'second fiddle' even if that other fellow is! If a girl can't tell whether she loves me without using hypodermics to help her find out, then she's no wife for me! Maybe I'm a wild and woolly westerner from Denver, but believe me! we westerners never stand around waiting for a bit to be forced between our teeth."

Mr. Dalken could hardly restrain his sudden desire to laugh, but he averted his head for a moment and covered his face with a handkerchief until he composed his risibles, then he said: "Still, I am sure I can mediate in this case, Paul. Only stay and let me inquire."

"I guess not! No one can mediate between me and a flirt! I am through, I say, and I'm going home!"

So saying Paul thrust out his hand and Mr. Dalken had to take it.

"Good-by, and say good-by to the others for me. This much I want you to do, as I will not see them again!"

Mr. Dalken went to the door with his excited guest and saw him go down on the elevator, then he rushed madly back to the telephone and ordered the man to detain the departing guest. Back to the den where he had seen Eleanor standing with Jack, was his next act, and dragging both out of the apartment and along the hall to the elevator, he pushed the b.u.t.ton furiously.

While the wondering attendant was coming up, Mr. Dalken said: "What in the name of conscience did you two crazy creatures do or say to Paul Stewart, to drive him frantic?"

Jack stared in ignorance of what his guardian meant, but Eleanor gazed as if she thought Mr. Dalken had suddenly gone mad. The elevator stopped at their floor, and the man opened the gate. Mr. Dalken pulled his two companions on, and the man started down again.

All this time, Eleanor was speechless with doubt of Mr. Dalken's sanity but the elevator man turned to him and said: "The young man I just took down, refused to remain. He said he would arrest anyone who tried to detain him against his will."

Mr. Dalken ran his hands through his hair and rolled his eyes upward.

Turning to Eleanor he hissed: "What _did_ you say to Paul to make him act like a man in torment?"

"Paul! Are you crazy, Mr. Dalken?" asked Eleanor, fearfully.

"No, but _you_ must be to throw over such a sweetheart. You'll wait a long time before you get another like him, even though I do like Jack immensely, and will further his case when he meets the right girl. I'm sure you are not the right one, and you ought to know it, from what you told me yourself, yesterday. Can't you see that Jack thinks he loves Polly, just because she won't have him?"

"Of course I understand!" retorted Eleanor, but annoyed that her plot to bring Polly and Tom together again was exposed.

"Then why in the name of heavens did you send Paul away believing it was _you_ that Jack wanted?"

Before an answer could be given, the elevator reached the ground floor and the man quickly opened the doors. Out in the vestibule the telephone-operator was b.u.t.ton-holing a young man and using every persuasion to detain him.

Jack Baxter had never seen Paul so he did not recognize him now. But Eleanor did, and she stood stock-still in such surprise that Mr. Dalken ran ahead without her.

"Paul, Paul! I knew you had made a mistake. Eleanor is here to explain everything," said he, taking the place of the amazed servant.

"What can she explain that will change my opinion of her?" scorned Paul, sending a cold look at poor Eleanor.

"Nolla, come here, Paul wants you to explain," begged Mr. Dalken, beside himself.

Her first surprise at finding Paul Stewart in New York _and in the house_, pa.s.sed over and Eleanor forgot Jack and everything else, as she rushed forward to welcome her old sweetheart.

"Paul--Oh Paul! When did _you_ come?" cried she.

But Paul's haughty stare stopped her when she was not ten inches from him. He turned to Mr. Dalken and said: "Now that you've broken your word with me, you had best explain."

"_I_ broken my word! I never gave my word to anything that is broken.

Remember, Paul, you may be a hot-headed impulsive youth, but you cannot make such sweeping accusations without grounds for them. I am so sorry for you in your disappointment that I will excuse you this time, however, and explain for your benefit, that I caught hold of Jack and Nolla after you left and dragged them down here without 'breaking my word' as you claim, or any other unhonorable deed. Unless you consider getting at the truth is unprincipled." Mr. Dalken was stern and dignified in his self-justification, and Paul had the grace to flush uncomfortably.

Eleanor was standing, uncertain of what was best to do in this strange meeting. She had felt over-joyed a moment before, to find Paul there, but now she wondered why he was so angry, and why he had not waited to greet her, as long as he had been up in the apartment. Baxter, not feeling at home in this group, turned and asked the man to take him up again.

Mr. Dalken had not seen Jack leave again, so he turned to call him, but found he had disappeared.

"Nolla, what did you say to Paul when he met you?" demanded the older man.

"I? Why, Mr. Dalken, I never knew Paul was here. The first hint I had of something unusual was when you rushed in to drag us downstairs."

Mr. Dalken was puzzled so he turned to Paul. "Then why did you say Nolla was a flirt and had made a fool of you? I thought she met you and began to tease, as she does everyone."

"There was no need of her saying anything to me, as I heard her tell, when she was not aware of my standing behind her chair, that the young man she was with might prove to be the accepted love after all." Then Paul repeated the substance of the talk he had overheard between Jack and Eleanor.