(9) (6) $3. HER OPPORTUNITY RV HENRY CLEMENS PEARSON. AUTHOR OF " HIS OPPORTUNITY." BOSTON JAMES H. EARLE, PUBLISHER, 178 WASHINGTON STREET. 1889. Copyright, 1888. BY JAMES H. EARLE. All rigm* reserved. TO THE KINDEST OF CRITICS, THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. 2046427 CONTENTS. I. AN ADVENTURE ON THE CABLE ROAD . 9 II. AN UNFASHIONABLE PROCEEDING .... 20 III. A COURAGEOUS VENTURE 33 IV. "CONLON'S" 50 V. AN EAST-SIDE ATTIC 68 VI. ARMITAGE HALL 90 VII. AN AMATEUR DETECTIVE 105 VIII. Two HEIRESSES 130 IX. A "FREEZE OUT" 141 X. SIMPLE ADDITION 154 XI. FASHIONABLE EFFORT 165 XII. "STANDING ROOM ONLY" iSl XIII. THE OLD WAREHOUSE 200 * XIV. TREASURER CRITTENDEN'S PROPERTY . . 213 XV. BIG TOM'S REVENGE 227 XVI. AN EVENING AT THE BATTERY .... 242 XVII. A NEGLECTED CORNER 259 CONTENTS. XVIII. MR. ErtTjj'.woFFER's LEASE 278 XIX. SATAN'S RECORD EXAMINED 291 XX. MCFADDEN'S BOOMERANG 306 XXI. WALL-STREET WILES 317 XXII. WON WITHOUT WOOING 331 XXIII. COULD NOT BE BOUGHT 341 XXIV. ON DEMAND 355 XXV. THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED 370 XXVI. A COWARD'S BLOW 389 ;>'XVII. A FEARFUL HARVEST 399 XXVIII. THE ROOF MEETING 416 XXIX. A VOICE FROM THE CHIMNEY 431 XXX. UNWILLINGLY CONVINCED 445 HER OPPORTUNITY. i. 0r) frje ^able. I\0e have one among us who owns a second corner of this historic ' Wedge.' ' Belle looked puzzled and asked, "Is it m \rnma?" "No, dear, it is your own innocent sr 1 ! The storage house, at what might be terrred the apex of the ' Wedge,' is yours, with the rest of Grandfather Van Alstyne's real estate. L lies at the corner of Bruges and Van Alstyne Greets, and was occupied by Grandfather Van .^.'styne years ago, as a warehouse for silks and other goods from the China trade." " I remember the building," said Belle s) wly TWO HEIRESSES. 135 and soberly, " and I think I am sorry that it belongs to me. It seems dreadful to own prop- erty in that neighborhood. Since I have been down there, the sights and sounds have fairly haunted me, they are so full of sin and wretch- edness." The mother's heart was stirred by this out- burst, and the graceful, gentle woman glided over and slipped an arm about her daughter's waist, saying, " You must not go there again, darling, and it need not trouble you that father's old warehouse still remains in the family. Since it was built the character of the neighborhood has entirely changed. It may change again, and for the better." Jack, who had been watching this little scene between mother and daughter, said, with a sob in her throat, " When I get my propputty that rum-shop has just got to 'git.' It's them places that spiles a neighborhood." " There 's a reformer for yon ! " laughed the Governor. " When she is grown, things will have to move in straight paths." After a serious talk between the members of the Pitcairn household, it was decided to keep Jack with them for a few weeks, at least, until it was possible to learn just where she belonged, HER OPPORTUNITY. and her inheritance could be secured to her. This course necessitated a complete outfit in clothing, a room of her own, and an initiation into the mysteries of civilized life. As this latter was a work of some little time, it was found advisable to secure for her a governess, and al- most before Jack knew it, she was transformed into a very proper little girl named Lucy, who had regular studies each day, and was no longer allowed to run down the streets bare-footed and with tangled hair, calling the morning papers. In the meantime the Governor put the mat- ter of righting the little waif into the hands of the legal firm of which he was a member, and the work of getting witnesses and preparing for the Court of Probate went rapidly on. As this is but a side issue in our story, we may as well state that there was no trouble in proving that the property belonged to the child, and that she had been defrauded of rentals for a long time back. The sudden absence of ' Big Tom ' prevented any thing being done towards the re- covery of this money, and Conlon's lease having run out, the place was shut up until a desira- ble tenant could be secured. The court appointed Miss Belle Pitcairn guardian of the child Lucy Jackman, according to her desire, and the work of her education went on slowly, but surely. TWO HEIRESSES. 137 It happened, soon after this, that the Professor was at the home of the Governor to pay a "party call," and as was natural the talk drifted from the news of the day to the part of the city which .had been of such deep interest to them all the "Wedge." " I see you have let the Conlon saloon to an old friend of mine," said he. " Yes, the agent came to me a week ago with Mr. Thomas, and I had papa look him up, and found that he was just the man for the place." " I have known him for many years," contin- ued the Professor, warmly, and a more conscien- tious man does not live. He has laid aside money-getting, and his prospects were brilliant, to go among the poorer people as missionary. By the way, is he related to Miss Kate Thomas, whom I met here one evening ? She also was a missionary, I think?" " At present they are not related, but expect to be this week," was the smiling reply. " Indeed ! of the same name, the same faith, and the same purpose in life, they certainly should be happy." "I am sure they will be, and am so thankful that Kate can still continue her work, for she has grown invaluable to me," replied Belle. Neither the Professor nor the world at large 138 HER OPPORTUNITY. were aware that the rent, for the rooms at Conlon's, hereafter to be known as the " Faith Mission," was regularly sent by Belle to the new Mrs. Thomas, and by her given to the agent who managed the property for the blind man's granddaughter. The responsibility that she felt as an owner of property in so wretched a place as the "Wedge," and now the additional feeling that she was answerable, in part, for the good management of her ward's place, had led her to do so much towards sweetening the at- mosphere. She felt that good would be done by the Mission, with its evening songs and its work among those who could be induced to come in there ; but she wanted some wider and more sweeping change than this, and just how it was to be accomplished, or, indeed, what its outward manifestation would be, she had no idea as yet. How many times she had encouraged conversation with " workers," missionaries, and reformers, hoping that some practical plan would be suggested that would make the way plain, but it came not. Her father, engrossed in busi- ness, was ever willing to put his hand deep down in his pocket for charitable or religious projects, and was not at all averse to her spending money in the same way; but even that did not suit her. She wanted her work to go further TWO HEIRESSES. 139 than to just feed and clothe the girls in her mill ; she wanted to reach the heart, the soul, and to awaken in them a desire to be doing for others. It often happens that woman, while she may be modest and ladylike in every thing, appreciates the fact that her word is law with many of the sterner sex, that she can mould their actions and cause them to do well or ill as she wishes. If she offers a glass of wine in dainty ban- ter, few enjoy refusing it, if, on the other hand, she is opposed to its use, her admirers are at once carefully abstinent. Belle knew, if she so desired, an association of young people could be formed in their rich city church, that would put missionaries at work in this quarter, that would send old clothes down to the half-clad children, and that would do good. She knew that Mr. Chick would be a leader in this for her sake, that there were other young men who would come in if only the ladies took the initiative ; but that did not satisfy her. It should be a work for its own sake, not for the sake of some lady friend, and she also felt that a way should be devised by which these people could help themselves. " Is the missionary spirit still striving ? " in- quired the Professor, as Belle awakened from an 14 HER OPPORTUNITY. instant's reverie to find him smiling at her rapt look. " If I say yes, you will imagine that you are a mind-reader, which would be a calamity," re- plied she, brightly ; " but I will acknowledge this, my brief acquaintance with the miserable condition of the people at the ' Wedge ' makes me long to help them. Something should be done, must be done, and the question that I am trying to settle is, what can / do ? My mill, as yet, only touches a few of the residents there." "An honest ambition, and one in which the Lord will show the way," replied he, heartily, somewhat to her surprise, for he was naturally reticent on religious matters. "Thank you," she replied, "you are the only one of my society friends who, as yet, believe in my plans. Of course they say it is ' sweet of me,' and all that, but they don't say, 'Your purpose is honest, God bless you in it.' " "A FREEZE OUT." IX. e/i HUT in a tiny mahogany closet, with the telephone, Stanley Armitage was conversing with a friend who was a well-known West-side manufacturer. "Do you accept my offer?" he called. " Say it again, somebody cut us off just when you reached the interesting part," came in a muffled voice from the further side of the city. " My proposition is this : I will let you have the money you asked for, provided you let me have the control of the votes of a 'majority of your stock on a scheme for a combination." " But are n't paper boxes a trifle out of your line ? " " Possibly, but I have a side issue to bring about, by means of this combination, that will be of advantage to me, and incidentally will help your business. I can't elaborate my plans by telephone, but if you can arrange to dine with /4 2 HER OPPORTUNITY. me, this evening at the Hoffman, I shall be glad to give you all of the details." "All right, good -by," came over the wire, and the railroad king, with a look of shrewd satisfaction on his handsome face, went back into his office, and was soon deep in the intri- cate problems of his regular business. That evening, true to the appointment, the gentleman came, and seated before a sumptuous repast, was in a position to receive very favora- bly any proposition that his wealthy host might bring forward. Two hours at the table sufficed to dispose of the various courses, and further to arrange a plan whereby Stanley Armitage became a stockholder in the Eagle Box Manufacturing Company, and so placed that, with his guest's assistance, he could control a large majority of the votes cast by the holders of stock. When this arrangement was consummated and the gentleman had been made a director in the company, he began at once with his own peculiar energy to make his presence felt. In the first place he took time to learn the line of goods manufactured, the profits at the present market prices, and the amount of goods that the market would stand. When he had mastered these nec- essary details, and had a list of the competitors in the business, he brought out his first address "A FREEZE OUT." 143 on the subject of a combination, or as it is often called a "trust." It was at a regular meeting of the board of directors that he defined his wishes, which by this time had become the law of the corporation ; he said, "The business done by this firm should, at fair prices, net us one hundred thousand dollars a year, instead of thirty or forty. The trouble is, all of the box manufacturers are cutting prices, and in doing that are cutting each others' throats. It is time it was stopped, and the only thing that will avail to stop it is an iron-clad combi- nation of the reputable firms, and the ' freezing out ' of the rest. Now, let our Secretary notify the list of box manufacturers that I have handed him, to consider this question and to attend a meeting here, say, next Monday. Let each send a representative, with full power to act. You may add that I will address the meeting." The plan was received with enthusiasm, and the circulars went out, the only mill of -im- portance that was ignored in this general con- ference being the Van Alstyne Manufacturing Company, in Harlem. Perhaps it was fortunate that the Secretary of the company knew so little of the private affairs of Mr. Armitage, else he surely would have sus- pected there were personal interests at stake, 144 HER OPPORTUNITY. when he received so positive an order to pass that house by. " But, I understand they are a growing firm, and doing a large business, with plenty of capi- tal back of them," he had ventured timidly. "I intend to force them out of the business!" was the short reply, and the Secretary wisely forbore to question further. In a word, that was the cause of the gentleman's sudden interest in box manufacture. He disapproved of Belle's course in owning and running a factory, even if it did good, yet was too proud to say a word to her against her pet project. He, therefore, intended to employ a method not uncommon, that of forming a strong combination and of "freez ing out " those who are unwelcome. He was confident that the Van Alstyne mill would not be run at a loss, and even if it were, for a time, and Miss Pitcairn lost fifty or a hundred thou- sand dollars, he could make it all right with her when she had given it up and surrendered her- self entirely to him. Even in the midst of his planning to wreck her business and dash her hopes, he gave indulgence to love dreams ; the resistance that he met with, of late, tending in no way to diminish his passion. When the day appointed came, and with it a goodly gathering of those interested, Mr. Armi- *A FREEZE OUT.* 145 tage appeared at his best, and laid down a line of procedure, that, after considerable discussion, was unanimously adopted. Thus it was that a " trust " as strong as any in the country was formed, and the Van Alstyne mill left out in the cold. A well-known feature of such combinations is the crushing of compe- tition, by means fair or foul, and in this case to the Hebrew Moses was delegated the task of driving the Van Alstyne Manufacturing Company out of the market. " Would it not be more in accordance with commercial courtesy, to offer first to purchase their place, thus giving them a chance to get out without loss ? " inquired one of those present, when this matter was up for discussion. " Perhaps so, but this factory is operated on a different plan from ours. It is controlled by the help, and for the help, and, if it is not made a signal failure, it will, in my judgment, bring about a dissatisfaction among our employes, that will cost us many thousands of dollars. This new doctrine, that capital must take a back seat, and allow labor to come to the front and enjoy all the fruits of enterprise and thrift, is a dan- gerous menace to our interests, and I am in favor of stamping out this new heresy so harshly that it shall be a lasting lesson." 146 HER OPPORTUNITY, To this statement of the case, there was no reply, and the Van Alstyne Co.npany was doomed, as far as the combination was concerned. Moses, his face aglow with anticipation at the thought of "getting even with the vooman box-maker," went back to his factory and instructed his salesman to offer goods to all of the Van Alstyne cus- tomers at five per cent, below the prices then ruling, and to continue this " cutting," no mat- ter how low prices dropped. In the mean time the other mills kept up their regular lines of goods, and Moses shared in their profits through his stock in the trust, even if his own mill kept on at a loss. The first intimation that Miss Pitcairn had that the new combination was in any manner to injure her business, was in the gradual diminu- tion of orders. Night after night Miss Murdock came back to the office with smaller orders, and sometimes with none at all, and with the con- stant complaint that somebody was underselling them. Of course this necessitated a "drop in price " to get the work, an expedient that availed for a short time, but was met by the hidden enemy, who quoted a still lower price, and thus was able to secure the contracts. One morning, during this time of trouble, Miss Pitcairn was opening the morning mail, "A FREEZE OUT." 147 a small one compared with what it had been, when looking out of the window she saw a young man sauntering leisurely by, eyeing the factory with a keenness that ill comported with his lazy air. In a misty way it came to her that she had seen this man a number of times during the past week, and always in that vicinity. As he passed the door of the shipping-room, he paused to exchange a jovial word with the ex- pressman, and to give him a cigar, while with a swift, comprehensive glance he read the address of a huge crate of boxes. Then he passed on lazily till some distance up the street, when in fancied se- curity he drew out a note-book and wrote the name and address that he had read on the crate. " One of my best customers," remarked a pleasant voice at his elbow, and turning quickly, the spy saw Miss Pitcairn. "I I beg your pardon," he stammered, a look of shame coming into his face. " May I ask you to come into my office for a few moments' conversation ? " asked the young lady, still pleasantly. " I 'm in somewhat of a hurry " " Let us not misunderstand each other. I recognize your profession, and wish to talk with you on business. Of course I comprehend that you are not here through any feeling of malice HER OPPORTUNITY. on your part, but simply because you are well paid to be here. Now it is possible that you are ambitious to earn more." "You have said enough," said the detective, his self-possession returning, and a smile break- ing over his face. " I will gladly hear your proposition in your office." Returning to the factory, the lady ushered her caller in, now perfectly at his case, and feeling that he was in a fair way to make some money. When seated, Miss Pitcairn took out a check book, and said with a sweet smile, " I do not expect you to serve me in any way, even to talk, without pay, and I will now draw you a check for one hundred dollars, your name, please?" The young man hesitated, glanced around the room, and then, emboldened by the fact that there were no witnesses, told the truth, when he said, "Arthur E. Williams." " Now," said Miss Pitcairn, " it is necessary that I know exactly how matters stand, that I may circumvent my enemies. By whom are you employed?" "By Moses Cohen & Co., for the Box Trust," was the bold reply. " What are your duties with reference to my mill?" "A FREEZE OUT." 1 49 "To secure the names of all customers who call, to get the addresses on all packages, and to disaffect your help as much as possible." "How long have you been doing this?" " About three weeks." " How far along are you now ? " was the next question, after a pause. "The names of all your customers are secured, with one or two exceptions. My next job will be to tackle the help, and I was planning to begin at that, next Monday." " One thing in your replies makes me a trifle suspicious of your sincerity. You are very frank and very explicit. Why is it ? " asked Belle pointedly. The young man flushed, and then answered, " I have two reasons : The first is, you have given me quite a substantial retainer, and I hope for more ; the second is, there are no witnesses, and you would' find it difficult to prove any thing against me." " One thing more, I wish to ascertain," said Miss Pitcairn. " How much are you paid for this system of spying ? " "Two hundred dollars a month," said the young fellow, with a look of annoyance at the word so obnoxious to detectives. While the last question was being answered, 15 HER OPPORTUNITY. Miss Pitcairn had pushed an electric button, and in obedience to the signal the burly engineer came in and stood quietly, waiting as if to ask a question. Without noticing him, Miss Pitcairn rose, stepped to a curtain that hung but a few feet away, and drawing it aside disclosed her stenographer, who was quietly gathering up a half dozen sheets of paper. "You have this gentleman's statement in full, Clara?" she inquired, with dignity. "Yes, Miss." " Read it over, please ; perhaps " "I shall not allow the lady to retain those papers," said the young man, determinedly step- ping toward the amanuensis. "You can't say 'shall' or 'will' in this 'ere office," said the engineer, coming forward. "I am an officer of the law. Stand aside!" roared the other. The big engineer, without another word, picked the refractory detective up in his arms, carried him to the door, and gently dropped him on the sidewalk, where he stood for a moment, almost bursting with rage, and then, realizing the com- pleteness of his defeat, hurried off out of sight. The next day a circular, headed "The Box Con- spiracy," and containing a verbatim report of the interview, was sent to all of the former custom- "A FREEZE OUT. n ers, and to their credit be it said, many began again to buy of the Van Alstyne Manufacturing Company. The good turn that things had taken was but temporary, for the* trust, in secret session, reprimanded Moses Cohen for divulging its secrets, and elected another mill to carry on the warfare with the Harlem company, and to do it "decently and discreetly." The result was as before, that orders were hard to get and that there was but little profit in manufacturing th* staple goods. About this time Miss Pitcairn, determination stamped on every feature, called on a box-mak- ing house, the very one, it happened, that Armitage had secured control of, and requested an interview with the manager. She was ushered into a handsome office, where sat a benevolent- looking gentleman of some fifty years of age, the same who had dined with the railroad king when the details of the combination were formed, " Happy to see you, Miss. Pray, be seated. How can we serve you to-day ? " " 1 called to see if some arrangement could be made that would allow me to manufacture goods at a small profit, instead of a constant loss," said she, coming directly to the point. "But I do not understand. What has our firm to do with this ? " he replied, with apparent surprise. I $2 HER OPPORTUNITY. " Have you not the ear of the trust, so that my business could be let alone, in case I agree not to cut prices ? " The indulgent smile that greeted this speech was calculated to make the caller feel exceed- ingly small, but it did not succeed, and after a pause he said, " The newspapers have a great deal to say about trusts, and I believe they have given the public to understand that there is a box-trust. Now, it may be so ; but if it is, I should be glad to know it, and join it myself. There is need enough of it, for there is no money in the business at present." "Do you deny that there is such a combina- tion?" asked Miss Pitcairn. "Not at all; not at all. There may be two or three of them ; but, you see, our line differs a little from the rest, for we cater to trade that want goods of special kinds, that have originated with us. Wish we could help you, but really I am inclined to think that it is the hard times that are troubling you, more than any real or imaginary trust. Really, my young friend, if you will pardon my saying it, I doubt if you have the peculiar traits that are so necessary in ' '*e successful manufacturer." "You refer to the faculty for spying on other "A FREEZE OUT." 153 firms ? " asked Belle, so innocently and pleasantly that the man did not know he was hit till af- ter she was gone, when the shot began to rankle, and he was angry and ashamed by turns. 154 HER OPPORTUNITY. X. le. f all patience, declared he could spend no more time on so unprofit- able a customer, and that he might thereafter look up his own chances. Determined at length to take any place that offered, he began to read the advertisements in the daily papers, with but little relish, however, until the need of a " strong, active man, well AN EVENING AT THE BATTERY. 243 acquainted with box machinery," caught his eye. Naturally ingenious, and a machinist by trade,- the old longing came over him to be among the whirling wheels again, and he decided to apply for the place. It was in Harlem, he found, but that made no difference to him, and in the course of an hour he stood in the office of the Van Alstyne Manufacturing Co., answering the questions of the foreman of the machine-room, with a half-defiant air that was in no way helpful to him. " Your name is ," began the foreman, and waited for the other to finish, but Conlon indifferently waited also, with an expression on his face that said plainly : " If you wish to know, ask." " What is your name ? " said the questioner, sharply. "John Conlon." " Where are you now employed ? " " Nowhere." " What were you doing when you quit work ? " said the foreman, a trifle impatiently. " Ruianing one of the toughest bar-rooms in New York," was the cool answer. " If that is where you learned your trade as a machinist, we do not want you," said the foreman. 244 HER OPPORTUNITY. " Hold on a bit, young man. I never said that was where I learned my trade, and while I know you won't hire me 'cause I ain't hum- ble enough, I want you to understand that when I say I understand machine-work, it 's true. Jest you go down to Liebert's Machine Shop, and ask who was the only person that drew two men's pay for two years, and they '11 tell you it was John Conlon. Understand machinery? Why, I could build all you 've got here out of raw material while you were smoothing a casting." During this conversation Miss Pitcairn had been listening with interest, and she now came forward, saying decisively, " Mr. Smith, you had better engage this man, I think, as our machinery must have the best of care. It need not weigh against him that he owned a saloon, for he has given it up, and turning to a better business is to his credit." " I had to vacate because my lease expired," explained Conlon, sturdily, but with a softened look at the fair woman who had taken his part, even though he did not care a whit for the position. The next day he took his place, and seemed at once consumed by a feverish activity. The slow ways that the ordinary workmen indulged AN EVENING AT THE BATTERY. 24$ in, made him frantic with impatience, and his contempt for danger and weariness soon gave him a place as leader, * especially among the younger men. The foreman watched the growing popularity of the new machinist with much distrust, and kept Miss Pitcairn well informed regarding his movements ; but while she disapproved much that he did, it seemed best not to scan his actions too carefully, until the strength of his recklessness should wear itself out. It was not alone in work that he was feverish and impatient, for his bad habits seemed to keep pace with his industry, and while he was never unfit for duty, nor in any way offensive during working hours, yet it was known that he was drinking more than ever before, and chewed a plug of tobacco a day. In speech, the old, quiet way had long since departed, and he had grown loud-voiced and profane. His former friends avoided him to an extent, when they discovered how he had altered ; for, evil though they were, there was a semblance of sanity in their ill-doing, while Conlon seemed to be insane on every thing. The truth was, the man had been deeply stirred by the mis- sionary's appeal, and, do what he would, could not shake off the effect of his words. He did 246 HER OPPORTUNITY. try, every oath, every carousal, each reckless deed, each day of frantic work, was an appeal to forgetfulness ; and yet. when he retired late at night, or often early in the morning, the words of the prayer were with him, and the Spirit of God was striving with the hardness of the awakened heart. His skill and strength, even if he did drink and was profane, procured him advancement among a class of men who were opposed to doing more than they could help in the way of work. When he hurt his back by over-lifting, instead of discharging him to make room for a better man, he was made assistant engineer, and within a month, the burly engineer accepting a position in the West, he had full charge of the great engine, and the care of all the machinery in the mill. One evening, as he was passing the "Wedge," he noticed the usual crowd in the "open lot," saw a preacher in the little wooden pulpit, and out of sheer curiosity he drew near and list- ened, with a look of angry scorn in his eyes. Once or twice he started to go away, with a touch of his old impatience of movement, but for some reason remained. When at length he did leave the Common, it was not to spend the night in carousing as he had AN EVENING AT THE BATTERY. 247 planned, but to wander off away from his com- panions to a part of the city that they never frequented. Fiercer than ever burned the fever in his veins, more acute was the pain of the unrest in his heart, and half-delirious > he strode along till he reached Broadway, when he turned and hurried up-town. Here and there the bright lights of the liquor palaces called him in, but he was not in the mood for drinking, and did no more than cast an occasional glance at their alluring splendor. Where Broadway and Sixth Avenue cross each other, he halted and leaned against the stair-case that runs up to the elevated railroad. As he stood vaguely watching the uninterrupted stream of passengers, ascending and descending, he caught a bit of conversation that came into his heart like a sudden blessing. Two gentlemen were coming down the stairs, hearty, jolly, and loud-voiced. Said one, " Helping some one else is the secret of happiness." " I believe you," said his friend. Conlon started forward to hear more, but they carried that topic no further, and he was disap- pointed. Yet, had he not heard the whole story ? Helping others ? What was there diffi- cult about that ? He determined at least to 248 HER OPPORTUNITY. give the idea a trial, and see if it would ease the pain in his troublesome heart. He had not long to wait for an opportunity to be of use to one who surely stood in need of assistance ; for toward him, struggling slowly through the crowd, came a little girl, bare-headed, bare-footed, crying softly to herself, and carrying a heavy basket. " Here, sis, let me help you carry it,'" said Conlon, kindly. ', " You git away, or I '11 holler," was the sus- picious response. "Don't let him touch it, sissy, he means to steal it," cautioned a fat woman, stopping to bestow a look of horror on the astounded man. " Have him arrested. Somebody call a police- man. It 's a shame that these great, strong men should try to rob children," exclaimed an ex- citable old man, in a voice that attracted sev- eral loungers. Seeing that a crowd was forming, and that every soul in it would testify against him, Con- Ion, elbowing his way out, started down Sixth Avenue, the fat woman and the old man follow- ing him a little way, accompanied by a part of the crowd, all breathing vengeance. After this repulse, more bitter than ever, he continued his half-desperate walk, crossing into AN 1 EVENING AT THE BATTERY. 249 Broadway again, and this time going down town. The happiness that he had, for the moment, hoped to find in assisting another had not come, and too proud to try again, he moved on with his head down, his lips tightly closed, and his mind in a ferment of conflicting emotions. At length, after a walk that wearied even his toughened muscles, he found himself down at the Battery, facing the waters of the harbor. Certainly he could go no farther in that direction, and throwing himself upon a settdfe, he looked across at the twinkling lights of Staten Island. Just in front of him rose the dark mass of the Bartholdi statue, its brilliant torch all aglow, a little farther off shone bright and clear the light on Governor's Island, while far away in the Narrows, the fire and sparks from a puffing tug showed the noble outlines of a great ship slowly swinging into port. Close at hand, pass- ing and repassing, were schooners, lighters, tugs, and an occasional ferry-boat of the " Annex," that sent great waves splashing against the sea- wall at his feet. Even in the contemplation of this beautiful scene there was no enjoyment to him, nor did the cool breeze from the water abate the fever that raged within. At length he stepped to a convenient lamp, and drawing a worn piece of HER OPPORTUNITY. paper from his pocket, unfolded it and read, " He is Thy child. Bring him into Thy peace." Again and again he conned it over, and finally went back to the bench, and kneeling on the ground, prayed, " O God, for Christ's sake forgive my sins." That was all he could say, but it was enough, for he asked it, believing that it could and would be done. The struggle was over. The stubborn heaft that had been so long in rebel- lion, although knowing the way of life, was bro- ken, and a full surrender was made. And O ! the instant, abundant peace that came as a balm into the sin-torn heart, soothing, healing, sanctifying. How it cooled the brain, and calmed the throbbing pulse! How, as with a cleansing flood, it swept away the poison of sin and left the whole man free and sweet and clean ! " Are you ill, sir ? " said a hesitating voice, as a light hand touched him on the shoulder. Conlon rose, his face full of joy, and con- fronted the speaker, who was slight and girlish in figure, but whose face and head were so muffled in a shawl as to make it impossible to tell whether she was young or old. " No, Miss, I 'in all right," began Conlon, but at the sound of his voice the woman uttered a AN EVENING AT THE BATTERY. 251 smothered exclamation that was full of horror and pain, and turning, fled swiftly away. " I guess she must know me as I was. It '11 take a long time to live down my record, but with God's help I '11 try it," said he sadly, yet with a heart full of the strange, sweet peace that comes from sin forgiven. " Come, come, this is no place to loaf," said a harsh voice of an officer, who had come up unobserved. Conlon turned with such a happy, peaceful look, that the policeman was puzzled, and said, hesitatingly, " I thought you were asleep ; what are you doing down here at this time of night ? " " Well," said Conlon, simply, " I came down here a wretched rum-seller, and found the Lord Jesus." "Bless ye, my brother!" exclaimed the officer, seizing his hand. " You 've found the best friend ever a man had. Get a good grip on Him, and do n't let Him go, for He is able to keep ye, even here in this wicked city of York." The happy man walked with the sympathetic officer to the end of his beat, which was the foot of the Battery station of the Elevated, and with a warm hand-shake they parted ; the one to take the train up-town, the other to spend 252 HER OPPORTUNITY. the night in pacing the grounds of the little waterside park. Conlon was not a man to hide his light under a bushel, and it was but natural, although a great surprise to his mates when he appeared at the next meeting on the Gospel Common, and told just how he had found the Saviour. When first he began to speak, his friends, and even the missionary, had believed that there was to be some reckless harangue that would inaugurate disorder, but his earnest bearing and words soon undeceived them, while his simple faith and happiness brought tears to many eyes. At the factory the next morning the men made excuses to run into the fire-room or the engine-room many times, just to get a look at the new convert, but the fact that he was still as muscular as of yore kept them from troubling him with scornful questions, for they did not feel at all sure that he was not as ready to defend his new faith by a " shoulder blow,'* as he had been to stand up for his various errors in times past. For several days all went well. C}nlon at- tended to his work as faithfully as ever, but in a quiet peaceful way that amazed the lookers on. Instinctively the convert felt that for the present the most powerful sermon he could AN EVENING AT THE BATTERY. 253 preach to the boys, would be a silent one, a sermon full of deeds, rather than words. So he worked on, and neither chewed, drank, nor swore. A state of affairs, however, when he was to have no outside temptation brought to bear upon him, that could not long continue. The turbulent element, and it existed even in the Harlem mill, soon found that he was not subject to the old-time temper fits ; and once assured of this, the fear that he might resent any interference with his new belief by a resort to violence left their minds, and they began to throw little temptations in his way. Nothing was easier or apparently more natural than to tell one another in his hearing of the frolics that they were enjoying, doing their best to lay special stress on the parts that they knew appealed to his weakest points, and doing all this when the foreman's back was turned. Very closely was he watched as these tales were told, and it was with wicked glee that several noted the fact that he had, on one or two oc- casions, turned pale and shut his lips with an expression that denoted pain. " He can't hold out much longer," said one of his tormentors. "I know by his looks that he is just burning up for need of a good drink, and a chaw of terbacker would be ez sweet e 254 HER OPPORTUNITY honey to him. I bet five dollars I can fetch him within the week ! " The wager was accepted, and the man made his preparations to carry out his plan. He chose the time when Conlon was " working " the engine, just before starting up. As it was situated some little distance from the boiler, there was considerable " condensation " formed, much of which by awkward piping was run through the cylinder. This made it incumbent on the engineer to work it out carefully before the great machine was fully under way, lest, a sufficient amount of water getting between the piston-head and the cylinder-head, the latter be blown out. Conlon knew the danger of this well enough, and had always been especially careful, allowing nothing to interrupt him when starting up. He was in the midst of this work when the tempter came up behind him, and thrust a plug of tobacco which had been soaked in whiskey in his face, almost resting it on his lips, as he said, " Have a chaw of a new kind, old boy ; it 's the best I ever struck. Bite off a crumb." The smell of the weed, of which he had been so passionately fond, coupled with the fumes of the liquor, almost unnerved Conlon ; but with ical grit, and an agonized prayer for help, he AN EVENING AT THE BATTERY. 255 shut his teeth hard together and kept at his work. How gladly would he have given ten years of his life for one " chew " of the weed ! But he had heartily prayed for help, and help came, as it always has, and always will, and even with the plug held close against his lips, and its tempting fumes in his nostrils, he re- ceived strength to hold out. Then the hand was removed, and the man stepped round so that he almost faced Conlon, saying, " Won't you try it, old fellow ? " " No," was the steady reply. " Do you want me tell you why you won't take it ? " continued his tormentor, assuming a most insulting attitude, and raising his voice so that the men who had gathered from the fire- room could hear every word. There was no reply. " I '11 tell you why. You are a coward ; you do n't dare take a chaw of terbacker for fear Miss ' Pitcairn will smell it in ycr breath. She talks about us fellows being the slaves of rum, an' terbacker, an' the like, but I say you are her slave, and the more fool are you." Conlon had by this time got his engine run- ning, so that there was no longer need of work- ing it, and he stood up straight and looked over the crowd that had gathered. 256 HER OPPORTUNITY. "Boys," said he, "Joe calls me a coward, a slave Have any of you ever known me to take a dare, or to be in any way afraid of any- thing?" "No." " Well, now, I will tell you of one thing that I am afraid of. Joe is right. I am afraid of taking a chaw of terbacker. I am afraid of doing any thing that will lead me back to the old life. I am happy now, boys, and I used to be wretched. I believe my sins, and the Lord only knows how black they were, have been forgiven. The blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed me from sin, and now I am his ser- vant. O, boys," the speaker's voice broke, and there was an answering sob in at least one brawny throat. "Why can't we all stop killing ourselves and doing wrong, and turn round and do what is right ? I 've tried both ways, and I declare to you that I never knew what happiness was until this week. I 've dipped into rll sorts of sin, God forgive me, and tried every thing that is called fun, and to-day, if I had all of Vanderbilt's money offered me to go again into the old life, I would say no. Boys, don't shut yer he-arts to such a chance for happiness as this, without trying it. Jesus Christ died to swe is all. He knows that we AN EVENING AT THE BATTERY. are sick of ourselves, that even when in drink and trying our best to have a good time, we are not satisfied. O, boys, let Him have a chance." The crowd dispersed slowly, and Joe, after a hard struggle with himself, came up and said huskily, "Con, I'm just in need of what you de- scribe. I did n't honestly think it could be found in this world. I know you well enough, old man, to be sure that you would n't have any make-believe about this, and although I 'm an ignorant feller about pious things, I 'm willing to learn about them if you '11 teach me, and I should n't wonder if some of the rest of the gang would come in on the same deal if it pans out well." There was no mistaking the earnestness of the speaker, and Conlon thanked the Lord that the worst one among his tormentors had been vanquished and brought to the foot of the cross. With more than brotherly love he wel- comed him, and though but a novice himself, was able to point him to the Saviour, and ere long Joe Sayles was rejoicing in hope, and eager to tell the ghd news of salvation. News of the movement among the men in her factory was soon brought to Miss Pitcairn, 25 3 HER OPPORTUNITY. and although they were but few in number, as compared with the girls, she felt that her prayers were answered by their conversion, and that even if the Van Alstyne Manufacturing Co. proved a financial failure, the saving of souls like Conlon's and Sayles', was positive success. A NEGLECTED CORNER. XVII. e/i Jr;cqlecfc HER OPPORTUNITY. as she had formerly been when she had dined on a crust. Very proud was she of the fact that she had improved since she came under the tuition of her governess, and was so punc- tilious about what minor points of etiquette she knew, her actions filled the genial master of the house with constant food for mirth. The ruling passion of this queer bit of hu- manity was to be exactly like Miss Belle, and child-like, her impatience to reach this climax at once, was always manifest. Of the many callers at the home of her guardian, she saw but few; as yet those who did notice the child thought her a relative, greatly to her delight. Even Stanley Armitage, on the occasion of one of his calls, had met her in the hall and stopped with his fascinating smile to win her friendship. In this, however, he was unsuccessful, for the child suddenly grew very dignified and backed off, her large eyes full of reserve. " Do n't you like Mr. Armitage, Lucy ? " in- quired Belle, afterward recalling, the scene. " I do n't think I do. He is so sure. It is n't a proper thing for a gentleman to be so sure that young ladies will like him," was the wise response. This dignity on the part of the child was a A NEGLECTED CORNER. 26 1 source of much enjoyment to the Governor, but sometimes led the little one into acts she had better have put off -until her years equalled her aspirations. Aside from Belle the usual sharer of her con- fidences was Mr. Chick, who, as a relative, was often present and always welcome at the guber- natorial mansion. It was to this good-humored little man that Lucy developed a plan that she had for mission work, that should rival Miss Pitcairn's. The objective point was the "Wedge," and the class of persons with whom she meant to labor, were some whom she believed had been sadly neglected. She had broached her plan in this manner. Mr. Chick had been relating for the hundredth time his adventure in "Pie Alley," and the child had been listening eagerly, calling the various newsboys by name, and explaining how many times she had been to the same place for food, when she suddenly broke in with the astounding proposition, " Say, Mr. Hen, I beg pardon, I mean Mr. Chick, why can't you and I start a mission among the newsboys ? " " O, but they would n't come into any mission. Mr. Thomas has tried it, and they just would n't," said he, in dismay. 262 HER OPPORTUNITY. "They would come for me," replied Lucy, stoutly. " Do n't you s'pose if I told Teddy Timmins to go any where he would go ? Ain't I give him I mean haven't I give him I mean haven't I given him cold beans when he was starving ? And there 's Bobby Ames, and Franz Dinkelspeil and his sister, and lots more that I know better than I do you, come ? I guess they would be absolutely enchanted to come." " Well, what can we do when we get them into a mission ? " was the dubious query. "In the first place we will give them a good nice 'spread.' Plenty of oyster stew, and pie, and milk, I guess " " Where is the money coming from for this feast ? " asked Mr. Chick. " From our pocket-books. What we own is only held in trust to be used for the good of others. We are only Stewarts," was the pious reply. " O, I did n't know but that we were Vander- bilts," said her companion. "No, we are only Stewarts, the minister said so last Sunday, and it is our privilege to assist in this in this " "Infelicitous pandemonium," supplied Mr. Chick. " Is that what it is ? " asked Lucy, suspiciously. " That 's what I should name it." A NEGLECTED CORNER. 263 " All right, to assist in this infelicitous pan- demonium," continued the little girl. "Now I have got twenty dollars saved up, and you ought to have some money, so do n't you see we could get Mrs. Thomas to let us have the front room right over the Mission ? It is empty now, and we could borrow some tables and chairs from down stairs, and have things fine for the boys." " How are you going to invite them ? " " I guess the best way would be to call Teddy Timmins up here, and get him to tell the rest, or stop, I '11 write a note to each of them." Thus it happened that Mr. Chick was in- veigled into a plan that was, to his mind, of doubtful propriety ; and yet as he had given his word not to tell of it to any one, it was im- possible for him to get help, either from Belle or her parents. He had argued with Lucy as to the advisability of admitting Miss Pitcairn to this plan, but on this point the child was firm. "No, indeed," she said, "she feels perfectly capable of persecuting her religious endeavors, and so do I. When I am really successful I will march up before the Governor and the rest, with a lot of poor little boys and girls, and say, ' Here am I, and the children that thou hast given me.' ' Such argument was more than Mr. Chick could 264 HER OPPORTUNITY. stand, so he submitted with what grace he could muster. At the command of this preco- cious juvenile, he enticed Teddy Timmins up to the back gate, where he recognized Lucy in great amaze, and heard the story of her new home. When he knew that she was to furnish him and his companions with a " pie spread," his delight manifested itself in a sudden hand- spring that the little girl watched with great complacency. He promised to come the next day and get the notes that had been more than the young missionary could get ready at such short notice, even with Mr. Chick's help. One part of this strange project that did not displease Mr. Chick, was the manner in which Mrs. Thomas received the news. He had a pro- found respect for the opinions of this lady, who was doing such a good work among the people at the "Wedge," and he knew her to be thorough]}' practical in all that she did or said. Her ap- proval of Lucy's idea was emphatic, and as she promised to be near by to see that every thing was ready, as well as to engage a cook to make the oyster stew, he felt there was a chance for the supper to be a success. The lady's eyes twinkled, as she had been told that it was Lucy's own idea, and that she was so particu- lar that Miss Pitcairn should not be told of it. A NEGLECTED CORNER. 26$ " I am not $;ure that I blame her," she ex- claimed. " No one asks her advice about the management of affairs clown here, and the little one feels that having lived here she knows some of the needs of the place. Perhaps she can teach the rest of us a lesson. Let her go ahead.- I would say God bless the effort of a child, just as soon as I would of a grown person." The preparations went on, the day came round, and, obedient to request, Mrs. Thomas called at the Governor's and received permission to take Lucy to a meeting. At first it was not deemed advisable by Mrs. Pitcairn, Belle being away for the evening; but she was so eager to go, and the missionary pleaded so earnestly, that consent was finally ob- tained. The ride to the " Wedge " was without event, and on their arrival they found a motley crowd of boys and girls about the door, who drew back abashed as the nicely dressed child, ac- companied by the missionary, appeared among them. But she did not give them time to be frightened, for she said, cheerily, " Hullo, Teddy, hullo, Sally, why, here 's Jimmy Gluts. Throw away that stub, you silly boy, hullo, Franz, how is the paper trade ? 266 HER OPPORTUNITY. Remember when I gave you some to start with ? " This off-hand and eminently natural way of greeting her former companions was what was needed to make them at ease, and was re- sponded to by a chorus of hullos and reminis- cent sentences that came in a perfect jumble of words and phrases. Admission to the room was secured by invi- tation notes instead of tickets, yet this rule was by no means arbitrary, for there were many wistful faces outside the door that were familiar to Lucy, and all were admitted until there was room for no more. Once seated before the steaming stews, how the little fists carried great spoonfuls to the ready mouths ! When before had any of these youngsters enjoyed a feast like this? a genuine oyster stew with crackers by the half-bushel. After the keen edge of their appetite was taken off, came a piece of pie for each, and a glass of milk. What a royal good time the little people had, and how the look of content- ment that should always accompany the hearty meal of childhood, spread over the sharp, rest- less faces ! Lucy sat down and ate with the rest, and more than one by stealthy sidewise look saw A NEGLEC7'ED CORNER. 26/ how she crumbled her crackers into the stew, noticed that she did not gulp or smack, and in a half-awkward manner imitated her. When it came to the pie, however, she was the only one who found use for a fork. The rest were perfectly satisfied with the ancient way in vogue before forks were made. During the meal there were a few accidents, some slopping, and an embryo fight between two boys who had a little falling out ; but the fat cook wiped up the little pools of stew that stood on the table, and Mrs. Thomas in her smiling way settled the dispute before the boys actually came to blows. After all had been satisfied and the dishes were removed, they had a sing. The tunes were not all of a religious character, although " Hold the Fort " went well, and " America " was known to a few. Then Mrs. Thomas read them a story that was at once simple and in- teresting, and Mr. Chick recited a funny poem that made them all laugh. The next thing on the programme was something that neither Mrs. Thomas nor Mr. Chick was at all sure would be wise. It was nothing more or less than Lucy's speech. " Boys and girls," she began, " you all know me, don't you?" 268 HER OPPORTUNITY. "Yes," came in a chorus, sudden and startling. " An' you all remember how I used to be hungry, and barefoot, and ragged ? " " Yes," came again with extra vim, accompa- nied by a few "you bet we do's." " An' how I used to sell papers sometimes, even if the big boys did lick me, an' how Mrs. Tarpy used to cuff me when I went by her door?" " Say, I hit old Tarpy in the jaw with a rotten tummatus," called out a black-eyed urchin, and in an instant the whole alert crowd was in a roar of laughter. Lucy stood perfectly quiet until the room was still, and then said, " Any of you boys must n't talk while I am speaking. It is n't polite. "Now, as I was saying, I was just the same as the rest of you, when Miss Pitcairn found out that this house belonged to me, and that my folks had left me some money. So I had to go -away to learn about things that I did n't know ; but I have n't forgotten you boys and girls, and I do n't want you to forget me. Next Sunday I am coming down here with some books, and want you all to meet me in this .room at three o'clock. Will you come?" " Yes," came in full chorus. A NEGLECTED CORNER. 269 "Thank you, that's all," said Lucy, stepping down from the chair on which she had been standing, and slipping up to the side of Mrs. Thomas with her first appearance of shyness. There was a tendency among the little Arabs to stand around and stare at their former play- mate, and some of the girls were greatly exer- cised about the texture of her dress, and the beauty of a little breast-pin she wore ; but the kindly cook, seeing that all was over, began to pilot them to the door, and soon all were out- side. "Was every thing recherclitl" inquired Lucy quickly, when the last guest had disappeared. " Extremely," replied Mr. Chick, venturing a wink at Mrs. Thomas, whose eyes were dancing with fun. " I do not see how any thing could be more so." " I 'm so glad ; such a work revolves great responsibilities, but I guess we shall be able to do them good," said Lucy. " Dear heart, I guess so, too," said the mis- sionary, kissing her good-night, and consigning her to the care of ubiquitous Mr. Chick. The next day after her lessons were ended, Lucy sought out Miss Pitcairn, and hung round with wistful expression, until the young lady noticing it, said,, 27O HER OPPORTUNITY. fc " Lucy, dear, if you were n't such a big girl, I should ask you to come and sit on my knee, and tell me what you have been doing." " I suppose it would be devisable to acquaint you with my new enterprise," said the child carefully, choosing the largest words in her vocabulary. Mrs. Pitcairn, sitting in the recessed window of the next room, heard the reply, and in her low, sweet voice, said, " Come in here, dears, and let me also know what the new enterprise is." So they went in, and Lucy took her place on the broad arm of the easy chair, a place of honor which she never assumed, except when expressly invited to do so, and Belle sat down on .an ottoman at her mother's feet. Then the child with great fervor told the whole of the tale of the supper for the newsboys and girls of the East Side, not neglecting her speech, nor one iota of the scenes that would be of inter- est. As she finished, Mrs. Pitcairn placed her beautiful hand over the childish fingers with a very loving touch, saying, "I am so glad that our little Lucy is not growing up selfish. Do what you can, dear, for these children, and remember that the wisest of us can net accomplish any thing without help A NEGLECTED CORNER. 271 from above. Do not forget to pray for them, as if they were your own brothers and sisters." As for Belle, she kissed the little missionary, and gave her a hearty embrace, accompanied by a look that spoke volumes of praise for the genuine, unselfish effort. An hour later Belle, in the little hexagonal room that commanded so fine a view of the avenue, was sitting, and watching, and thinking. Of late her pondering had been chiefly upon the welfare of her many protegees ; yet with all her thought she resolutely put aside all worry; nay, she determined to be happy whether or no her plans were successful. That was why she was sitting doing nothing, when she felt that letters should be written, and the work of a month done in a day. At first for one so en- thusiastic, and possessed of- so much executive ability, this self-repression had been irksome; but' she had happily hit upon the expedient of plan- ning ahead each day's work, and so systematizing it that it would move smoothly and allow time for recreation, and even for quiet, restful medita- tion. As she pondered, her eye caught a tiny dog that, down in the street among the stately horses, was barking, and jumping, and having a glorious time. He was evidently a cur of low 2/2 HER OPPORTUNITY. degree, who playing the truant: from some hum- ble back yard, determined to frolic with the best in the city. From his neck dangled a rope, its frayed end covered with mud, constantly getting under his feet, and tripping him up. A.s the carriages rolled past more than one dignified coachman cut at him with his whip, sometimes eliciting a yelp from the happy cur, but more often missing him altogether. Even vhcn hit the pain was soon forgotten, and he was as ready as ever to bark at the next car- riage, or to attempt the reckless feat of seizing the flashing wheel spokes. This last seemed such exciting fun that he could not desist frcrr. it, and many a narrow escape did he have as he thrust his snub nose so close to the whirling wheels. Among the carnages were many light vehicles drawn by pretty pairs, hitched tandem or abreast, belonging to the bachelor class. Professor Buck- ingham's was numbered among them, and his athletic figure, erect as if on dress parade, drew many an admiring look. There was another, however, on whom many looked with greater admiration, not because he was any finer look- ing, perhaps, but because of his great wealth, and that was Stanley Armitage. Mounted on a powerful black horse, of whom in spite of re- A NEGLECTED CORNER. 2?$ bellious eye and fretful step he was absolute master, he made a fine appearance, and .who shall say he was not aware of it ? The Professor was not self-conscious on this particular afternoon, for he was mentally con- versing with one who had of late been occupy- ing a considerable portion of his thought. He was not a man easily influenced by feminine charms, although in his way something of a so- ciety man; yet there had been a something in Miss Pitcairn's manner of speaking, a depth in her eyes, a strength in her manner, that had more than riveted his attention, it had made him bow in instinctive homage. His acquaintance with her was not a recent one, for the two fam- ilies had been for years on terms of intimacy; DU'" in the past, while he acknowledged the young \a>v t beauty and accomplishments, there had bcc^ Peking the broad charity that is the chief gw" o> the perfect woman. Now it had come. Ljo^iK'-nty slipping from girlhood into woman- hood, fair, talented, beloved by all, this crown had been laid on her brow, and the Professor in his clay-dream even while driving up the av- enue saw her not in the window looking down upon him, but saw her in his mind's eye, a vision of beauty. As he drove on, turning out mechanically for 274 HER OPPORTUNITY. those whom he encountered, the vagrant dog attacked first his horses, and then snapped fran- tically at the slender wheels. The spokes were flashing faster than he knew, for, poor fellow, the fore wheel caught the rope, and before he could free himself the hind wheel passed over him, leaving him writhing on the pavement, while the Professor, immersed in happy dreams, drove away ignorant of the catastrophe. The little creature lay in agony, and Belle, full of sympathy, was about to hurry out to its aid, when Armitage, who had been coming from the opposite direction, sprang from his horse and throwing the bridle over his arm, stooped over the muddy little heap. The rope had knotted itself round the fore-leg, and he knelt right in the .dust and cut it carefully away. As he did so the dog licked his hand and tried to get up, but fell back moaning. A moment later, just as two gorgeous footmen had been despatched to his assistance, by a wildly horrified dowager whose carriage had been near at the time of the accident, Armitage rose and mounting his horse, the dog in his arms, rode away. He did not n:ake a fine spectacle, with his riding-jacket smeared with mud, and the unkempt dog across his saddle, except to one pair of eyes, and it was for that pair that he did the deed. A NEGLECTED CORtfER. 2/5 Miss Pitcairn had seen it all, and the young man with his keen self-control had appeared un- conscious that he was any where near the Gov- ernor's mansion, or, indeed, that he was any where but in a country road with no one in sight ; and skillful actor that he was, the impres- sion that he desired had been produced. When he reached home he gave the dog in care of his hostler, with the charge that he have the best treatment possible. He considered him a valuable piece of property, for would he not be to Miss Pitcairn a reminder of the brutality of one ad- mirer, and the remarkable tender-heartedness of another ? The week after this episode Mrs. Armitage sat in the same room from which Belle had seen it, and both of the lovely women were looking again upon the passing carriages. As before, the Professor drove by, and Mrs. Armitage, seeing him, bent her pretty brows into an indignant frown, exclaimed, "The brute!" " Who, dear ? " said Belle, in surprise. " That cold Professor Buckingham. I always supposed that any man would feel badly over the sufferings of an animal, but he is perfectly heartless." " Why, what do you mean ? " HER OPPORTUNITY. " Last Tuesday I went over to my cousin's and found him nursing a dog that was about the most forlorn specimen I have ever seen, yet it seemed to think the world of Stan. The creature had a broken leg, and was suffering ter- ribly, and would allow no one to touch him but Stanley. I asked him how it happened, and he answered as savagely as possible that it did n't happen, that it was done purposely; and that was all he would say, but I could see that he was dreadfully angry. I supposed one of the hostlers had done it in a fit of brutality, and as he would n't talk I went home again." The lady paused and looked out of the win- dow, interested, for the moment, in a passing "tally-ho." " Go on, dear," said Belle, in a low voice. " The next day Mrs. Van Brunt called and described the whole scene to me. It seems that she was driving down the avenue and saw Pro- fessor Buckingham coming, his head in the air with that cold reserve that I fancy he prides himself on. As he came opposite her a little dog sprang at his team and snapped at the wheels, just in play, and that cold-blooded crea- ture drove calmly over him and left him with a broken leg. Stanley came along just then and took him home." A NEGLECTED CORNER. 2/7 " It was very shocking, I saw it all," said Belle. " I am sure the Professor did not intend to hurt the dog, but I do n't see how he could drive away and leave it suffering. I was so glad that Mr. Armitage came along then, and took pity on the poor little creature. It was a very manly act, and I was proud that I knew him." " His heart is as tender as a woman's," said Mrs. Armitage, with a gratified look. 278 HER OPPORTUNITY. XVIII. y IF. Biffe.rjrjojjW s IG TOM had set his fire, where, according to his belief, there could be no doubt of its destroying the hated Faith Mission, and thus affording him a measure of revenge for his many fancied wrongs. When the flames first began to curl through the pile of " bundle-wood," that comprised the stock in trade of the humble fuel merchant, it did indeed seem as if the wooden building known as the Betteredge house was the only one in danger, and yet, in God's Providence, it so happened that this was far from being the case. The single fact, overlooked by the incendiary, that changed the aspect of affairs so materially, was that in the brick wall of the brewery was a window. It was not ap- parent to the casual observer, for in papering the wall, the wood-dealer had covered it over, yet there it was, the lower sill flush with the floor, the upper sash reaching almost to the roof of the shanty. MR. DITTENHOFFER'S LEASE. 2 79 When, therefore, the pile of kindling had got fairly started, it began to topple and finally fell with a crash against the hidden window, and breaking through, precipitated a mass of fire- brands into the basement of the brewery. Thus in an instant the whole aspeci of affairs was completely changed, the most of the fire was in the brewery, for what remained in the kin- dling shop burned weaker and weaker until all that remained of - it was a few smouldering brands. The heap that had fallen through the window fared almost the same and would doubtless have burned itself out without harm, had not a por- tion of it come in contact with a small pile of hay thrown there for the team horses. This it ignited and consumed, and then began again to die out. When little was left but a heap of ashes, hiding a few glowing coals, a single slender tongue of flame reaching out caught at a wisp that lay farther along the floor, and from this to another, flashing up for an instant and then dying out, it crept nearly the length of the room to the foot of a small elevator made of dry pine sheathing, and there it paused and settled. With a soft, caressing movement it licked the smooth face of the boards, creeping from the 28O HER OPPORTUNITY. front round to the back, stealthy, cat-like, feeling for a spot where it might catch a death-hold. At length its seeking was successful, for on the far- ther side was a wide crack, and here the flame entered, and catching on the dry pine shelves, feeding on the pitchy knots, it at length, grow- ing strong and bold, climbed to the next story. Once there it spread out, and slipping under the office door, lapped the varnish off the chair- legs, consumed the straw matting, multiplied itself and climbed the shellacked partitions, spread into other rooms, reached the top story, and by the time a frightened watchman rang in an alarm it had so strong a hold on the whole building that nothing could save it. The splendid fire department responded to the alarm on the instant, and as if by magic the streets were filled with engines, hose carriages, ladder trucks, and all the paraphernalia of the modern city fire. When the ax-men sprang up to open a way for the hose, the strong gusts of wind almost swept them from the ladders, and entering the burning building flung the flames to and fro in waves that were irresistible in their fierce heat. Stream after stream was turned in the blaz- ing mass from engine and water tower, but without apparent effect until the roof fell, and MR. DITTENHOFFER' S LEASE. 28 1 then they had all they could do to keep the neighboring tenements from sharing the fate of the brewery. Among the excited spectators at this fire was a German, who waddled about the engines, whenever the police would permit, wringing his hands and offering unlimited beer if only his place might be saved. It was Dittenhoffer, the lessee of the brewery. " Great himmel ! vy do n't you been at vork," he exclaimed to the chief engineer, who was standing watching with keen eye the progress of the flames. " Mein seven tousand bushels of malt vas in dere already. It vill get burned up all. Ach, I vas ruined ! I vas ruined ! " Another in the crowd who stood apart with frightened stare, the perspiration gathering in great drops on his forehead, was " Big Tom." This was his work, but how it had miscarried ! Dittenhoffer was his friend, and had "backed" him, resisting the aggressions of the temperance faction, and now he had been the means of luining him. Was there ever such ill luck? As he glanced uneasily about, he saw the missionary standing near an engine, looking at the fire with a face so full of peace that he could not stand it, but with a curse fled the scene. 282 HER OPPORTUNITY. The news of the conflagration came to Belle in the morning paper, and it was without great sorrow that she announced it at the breakfast table. The Governor looked grave. " I am afraid it will be a serious loss to Crittenden, unless he has lately insured the building, for he told me not more than a month ago that he was canryirig but a light insurance on every thing." " O, I hope not," said Belle, at once sobered "But at all events he will not think of put- ting another brewery in its place, will he?" "Here he comes up the walk; he can best answer that question," replied the Governor, who occupied a position that in the breakfast room gave him a view of a part of Fifth Avenue, and also of the street that ran by a side of his mansion. Coming so early in the day, it was in order to sit down to breakfast, which Mr. Crittenden did, saying over a cup of coffee, "Your friend's last argument is a clincher, Miss Belle. I am ready now to treat with your manufacturer." "And you won't put up another brewery?" asked Belle, delightedly. "No, I'm afraid it would burn down," said the other, with a roguish look. MR. DITTENHOFFER'S LEASE. 283 "One moment, please," said the Governor. " What do you call the last argument ? " " Why, last night's fire ! " said the gentlemen, jovially. "I told my wife when the messenger came to me that I had been expecting a real knock-down argument from some of Thomas' crowd." At this juncture Mr. Crittenden suddenly paused, aware that he was confronted by a young iady whose flashing eyes were more terri- fying than any thing he had recently expected. "I I beg your pardon," he stammered. " But no harm has been done. The property is more than covered. No one loses any thing, and I assure you I have nothing to say." "Papa, will you excuse me," said Belle, very pale, as she swept from the room, leaving Mr. Crittenden overwhelmed with mortification. "Well, I'm sure, what have I done now?" gasped the man, appalled by visions of domes- tic storms, should there be a break with the Governor's family. " You have accused my daughter's friends of being the instigators of the brewery fire," said the Governor, with a calmness in which there was the least shade of contempt. ".But all is fair in war," said Mr. Crittenden, weakly, and at once aware of the enormity of, 284 HER OPPORTUNITY. his offense. " I am sure Miss Belle must hava known I was merely joking." " Certainly," said the Governor, with the same icy blandness. "It was but a jest, a poor one, ot course; but only a joke, for no sane man could conceive of earnest Christians in any way countenancing the crime of incendiarism." "Certainly not," assented Mr. Crittenden, wip- ing the perspiration from his brow. "And as you are evidently in a hurry, I will take it upon myself to tender your profuse apologies, that the unfortunate joke should have been attempted," continued the gentleman. " Thank you, thank you, I 'm sure I fully ap- preciate your kindness," ejaculated the other, bowing himself out, and hurrying off in a fever of conflicting emotions, the most prominent of which was that he had hopelessly "put his foot in it," when he had called simply to say that he would now let the manufacturer have any sort of building that he might need. " Papa, how could any one conceive so cruel a charge ? " said Belle, her beautiful eyes full of tears as she met the Governor in the hall after the departure of the guest. " My darling, only a man who would stoop to wrong doing himself would think of such a thing. Even he does not believe it now, I am MR. DITTENHOFFER*S LEASE. 285 assured. I am sorry he called, for he has made you unhappy." To turn again to the scene of the fire. There remained of the brewery only a steaming, smok- ing mass of timbers, vats, barrels, and machin- ery. By degrees the heat died out of the smouldering beams, the warped and twisted iron, until it was possible for any who did not fear the contamination of the blackened wood to ven- ture about in search of salvage. Many there were who availed themselves of this opportunity to get a stock of fire-wood, such as they had not possessed for many a long day. Almost all of the children in the vicinity of Bruges Street, who had homes of any kind, could be found here tearing off half-burned clapboards, and even combining their strength to secure planks and some of the smaller rafters. Their occupation during the week proclaimed itself on Sunday, for there were few in the Mission classes but had a suspicious line of grime under their eyes, or a darker-complexioned neck than cheek. In one way their industry was a general ad- vantage to the " Wedge " ; the great unsightly heap was diminishing, and the time would soon come when there would not be left enough kin- dling for an ordinary bon-fire. Mr. Dittenhoffe.r, after the fire had swept his 286 HER OPPORTUNITY. business away, appeared to be completely dis- couraged. He made no attempt either to induce his landlord to rebuild, or to transfer his inter- ests to other fields. Most of his days were spent in walking up and down Bruges Street, smoking a long, German pipe, and gloomily watching the wood gatherers as they carried off the remains of his brewery. It was during one of these walks that he en- countered Mr. Crittenden, who had slipped over there from his office to have a look at the debris, and to plan for a new building. " Good morning, Dittenhoffer ! " " Goot morning," was the gloomy response. " I suppose you are anxious to have a new building put up here, that your business may go on, as soon as the insurance is adjusted ? " " I do n't dink I vill do any more peesiness already." "What is the matter?" " I vas most blayed oudt. De oder brewers has got mine beesness, and mine gustomers vas: all gone," said the German, puffing sadly at his pipe. " Well, but you have a lease of this place." " Yes, and I vas going to give it oop to you already." This suited the other so well that he proposed MR. DITTZNHOFFER'S LEASE. 287 that they go at once to the brewer's home and have that part of the business settled without further parley. On his way back, the gcod man in a moment of enthusiasm over the thought that he might thus gain a friend, imparted to Professor Buckingham, whom he met, the fact that the place was again in his hands, adding earnestly, " My next tenant shall be one whose business is clean and respectable, one that can be under the fear of the Lord," " I think you can find such a tenant in the person of the manufacturer of whom Miss Pit- cairn spoke to you," remarked the Professor. "Very well," replied he, somewhat surprised that the other knew of the affair. " Very well, I will put up a factory that shall be a model of its kind, and it shall be pushed right along, too, as soon as the papers are drawn. " If you wish, I will bring the agent of the manufacturer down for an introduction at once, and have the affair arranged. " I should be delighted, I am sure," was the answer, as he took his leave, his face suffused with gratified smiles. That afternoon as Mr. Crittendcn returned from lunch he found waiting for him in his outer office a powerfully built man of rough ap- 288 HER OPPORTUNITY. pearancc, who introduced himself as the repre- sentative of a Liquor Dealers' Federation, whose headquarters were on Van Alstyne Street. " What can I do for you, sir ? " asked the church treasurer, in a tone of deep reproof that such a man should presume to call upon him. " Let me see you alone for ten minutes ? " was the gruff reply. Mr. Crittenden, after a moment of thought, motioned him to enter his private office, where the stranger flung himself into an easy chair, saying, directly, " I have come about Dittenhoffer's lease of your place on Bruges Street." " That lease was cancelled and destroyed this morning," was the' reply. " I know all that, but what I want is a lease of the land to erect a building that shall be pretty near what the old brewery was, only better." " What is your offer ? " inquired the other, dal- lying with temptation. The man named a sum that made Mr. Crit- tenden's eyes sparkle with longing, but he said, reluctantly, "You are too late, my word has been given that a factory shall have the place." " Well, sell us the land. We will give you MR. DITTENHOFFER''S LEASE. 289 more than it is worth, twice over, just for the sake of defeating those total-abstinence fools that are spoiling the business in that section. Hark you, old roari. It was through that Pitcairn fac- tion that 1 was beaten out of the finest piece of property in the ' Wedge,' and I 'm bound to have my revenge for it." " Is not your name Betteredge ? " was the in- terested query. "That's just my name, and I can put a hun- dred thousand dollars of good, lively rum money into the fight, so you had better get what you can ! " " I can't sell the land, it belongs to my chil- dren," acknowledged the other. " Well, grant a lease then. When that lease is signed and delivered, I will make you a pres- ent of a thousand dollars myself. Come, is it a bargain ? " I shall be forever disgraced," groaned Mr. Crittenden, looking with hungry eyes at the roll of bills that the rum-seller held in his hand. " O, hang the disgrace ! Lie out of it. Swear that you were sick, and your son drew up the papers without knowing that you were opposed to the plan. Say what you please, that we tricked you, lied to you, any thing, but sign, and sijrrt now ! " HER OPPORTUNITY. With trembling hand the tempted man took up a pen, when the office-boy announced, " Somebody to see you, sir ! " "It's Professor Buckingham and his friend!" gasped Mr. Crittenden. " You must not be seen here, wait a minute, boy. Here, Betteredge, step into this room and stay until they leave, they wont be here long. Boy, where are you ? tell the gentlemen to come in." The burly guest was hurried very unwillingly into the cramped, closet-like room, and bowing and smiling, although with white lips and tem- bl'ng knees, Mr. Critterwien received his callers. SATAN'S RECORD EXAMINED. XIX. s I\ec0pa UZZ BUZZ BUZZ went the busy throng of scholars at the Faith Mission, in that curious, undulating monotone that betokens for- getfulness of self and interest in some common topic. To many, in fact to most, who entered this place to study the Sabbath lesson, there was in it a genuine novelty. In the hands of the faithful teachers who had been secured it was fresher, and newer, and more pleasing even than the theatres that had so often absorbed their hardly-earned money. To be sure there were uneasy and restless children in the school; there were boys who would drop every thing for a fight, and swear a big oath from habit, but little by little these firebrands were placed among the less combustible material, and often- times by the side of a muscular, young Christian teacher, who did not scruple at once to stop trouble by an iron grasp, or even a kindly shake. HER OPPORTUNITY. Conlon had in due time become a teacher, and strangely enough was the meekest of the lot, and possessed of the most patience with the wayward ones. Perhaps he felt that if jus- tice had been meted out to him when he was so aggressively inclined that he would have never reached his present stage of happiness, and so thinking, had not the heart to be severe with those who were simply doing in a less de gree what he had so long indulged. Be that as it may, he was patient and long-suffering, and the boys who made up his class loved him more than they could express. This school being Miss Belle's particular pro- ject, and so carefully ministered to in a mone- tary way by her, was likely to be her objective point on many a Sunday afternoon. The teachers and scholars although not aware how much they owed this lovely young lady, one and all liked her, and it was admitted that no one who had ever been within the doors had her faculty for so gently and thoroughly subduing refractory children. On this Sabbath Miss Pitcairn, who had come down and occupied the visitor's seat until the opening exercises were over, went up the nar- row aisle toward the desk to speak with the superintendent, a young grocer, who was a re- cent convert, and a fine, honest, young fellow. SAYAN'S RECORD EXAMINED, 293 As they talked Conlon left his class, and join- ing them held out his hard hand, saying, " Miss Pitcairn, you gave me such good ad- vice when I first came to the Mission that I have come for more." The bright smile that greeted him emboldened him to continue, " Praps you do n't remember it, but when I was wild I was a leader among the men in your mill, knew them all well, and had their confidence, but since I've made this change it seems as if they avoided me. They are pleasant, to be sure, but I can't get them to come down here if I died for it, and as for making them talk on the subject of religion they won't do it, and that 's all there is about it. Now I 'm just burdened for these men. I 've prayed, many 's the night, pretty nigh till morning, and seems as the Lord meant to answer, only the matter was with me. I do n't doubt but that He is pointing out some course of action fur me, and I 'm so blind that I jest pass it by and go on my own blundering way." Conlon's eyes filled with tears, and his broad chest heaved with emotion. " Have you tried walking home after work with any one of them, and talking till he was interested ? " inquired the young lady. 294 ffER OPPORTUNITY. " That 's just what I have done. I 've laid for them in all directions, and made excuses to see then alone, and all that. I did n't want to talk on the subject before the crowd and make 'em ashamed, but it ain't no use, they dodge out of the way and do n't give me no chance at all." "Perhaps," said Belle thoughtfully, "the Lord wants you to speak to them when they are all together. Certainly we are not commanded to wait till we can find one soul alone before we speak of Christ's love. It may be more natural many times to hesitate about speaking before a company, but it may do more good in the end." " I 'm not sure but your right, Miss," replied Conlon, a look, of distress coming over his face. " But I am so awkward a speaker that I 'm afraid the boys will laugh at me. If I could talk like Mr. Thomas, now, they would listen and enjoy it, but for me to try to teach a half-dozen of 'em at once, why, it makes me shiver." With a thoughtful face the engineer went back to his class, and sitting down among the boys took up again the lesson of the day. After the session was over he went home, took the keys- of the engine-house from their hook, SATAN'S RECORD EXAMINED. 295 and started for Harlem. It had been his custom when he wished to be alone to lock himself in the engine-room, and to pray himself into a proper mood for doing his duty. Since the talk with Miss Pitcairn he was well assured what he ought to do, but the trouble was he shrank from it with an unaccountable dread. On gaining his oily sanctum he locked the door, and kneeling by the side of the engine, his forehead resting against the cool, steel cylin- der, he prayed long and earnestly. While he knelt, thus struggling for victory, there came to the window back of him a white face that gazed long and passionately at him, and then disappeared as suddenly as it came. Unconscious of the woman's face, or her strange look when she saw him keeling, Conlon had at last risen full of peace, and strength, and calm exaltation, and gone quietly home. The next day he did not haunt the solitary workers, with yearning looks that they did not comprehend, but was bright, cheery, and chatty to all, and by. his ordinary behaviour made him- self more of a companion than he had been for some time past. At noon, when most of the men took their dinners into the fire-room, instead of sitting alone in his sanctum and reading, or striving to 296 HER OPPORTUNITY. talk with his reluctant assistant, he took his dinner pail out with the rest. His old place had been on a short piece of timber that, pro- truding from the foundations of the building, afforded a good seat. This he took without a word, and it was yielded as his right. " It beats the devil how natural it seems ter have you out here, old chum," said one cordially. Conlon laughed with satisfaction. " My feelings have always been just the same toward you fellers," he said, "only it does seem kinder queer to hear Dick say, it beats the devil, for that 's what I 've been trying hard to do for a long time past." "Do you believe that there is such a man as him ? " inquired Dick, boldly, feeling a sort of security in the presence of the crowd. "Certain I do, I think he's just as much of a person as I be," said Conlon, decidedly, "of course he ain't exactly a man, but he " " Gits there jest the same ! " interrupted one of the younger men. "Yes, he does get there pretty often without any doubt, and its a mighty pity too, ain't it, now, boys ? " continued the engineer. " Praps so," said Dick, " but I 'm not sure that there is such a person at all. It seems ter me that the things a man does are jest the SATAN'S RECORD EXAMINED. 29? natural deviltry in him that is working out. It 's as the feller said, ' only the froth on the beer.' " " Well, I do n't know as there is any way but for you to prove what you say from out the Bible," " Me ? " said Dick. " I do n't own such a book, but I usted to hear my old father say, either that there was, or else there was not, a pussonal devil I disremember which, but it 's my be- lief that it 's only an idee, and when it. comes ter that, I would n't be afraid ter bet that yer Bible would back me up in it." The speaker looked triumphantly about as he went on eating his lunch, and the other men nodded in solemn acquiescence. " I do n't know as much about the Bible as I mean to some day," replied Conlon, modestly, " but I kin rec'lect one place where it says something that makes it look as if the devil was real it says he goes about like ' a roarin' lion seekin' whom he may devour.' ' " Wai, now, there ye are ! Who has seen him goin' round ? And who has heard him roar ? " asked Dick. This wakened the argumentative disposition of an old Scotchman, who said, " Roor ? I heard him roor but last neet. Did 298 HER OPPORTUNITY. ye not hear the tvva fules that were roorin' and fighting over nathing at all, back of the gas house ? Sure the deil was devouring them, and making them do his roorin' at the same time." The sentiment, odd as it was, struck the fancy of the audience, and was grimly applauded. "There's a trouble in getting at the facts," said Conlon, "when you have to hunt through a big book like the Bible, for little verses that are scattered in hither and yon without regard to order. I 've often thought if such things were all in a lump so that we fellers that do n't get much time could get right at the bed-rock at once, then we would know more about these things." "You're right, Con.," said Dick. "More than once, before I left home, I have taken the old man's Bible, but there wuz so much to it that I got discouraged and dropped it before I got fur." "There's a man, I forget his name," said Conlon, "that made a little book that kinder lumps the facts in the Bible, and helps a feller out a heap. You see his idee was to take such a word Is the devil for instance, and begin at the beginning of the Bible and hunt carefully till he found it. Then he took his little book SATAN'S RECORD EXAMINED. 299 and writ down the place where it was then he went on careful like till he found another place and noted that down. In jest that keer- ful way he went clean through the book and took jest about every name and word that you could think of. Then he hed the book printed. I seen one in a store down town the other day and I thought I 'd get it." " Now that 's what I call sensible," exclaimed Dick, mightily interested, " if we had that book here, we could tell at short notice whether or not tnere was such a thing as a devil. We could finish it up in one hour's time. Say, what did the book cost, old man ? " " About a dollar and a half, I think," was the sober reply, although it veiled a most delighted heart. " Come, boys, copper up, ten cents a piece all round will fetch it, and tomorrer noon we will have a Sunday School," said Dick. With so enthusiastic a collection the money was not long forthcoming, and when the whistle blew for one o'clock, Conlon had in his hand the price of the book, and in his heart a great prayer of thankgiving that the "the boys were already so much interested in searching the Scriptures." The next noon the book was produced, and 300 HER OPPORTUNITY. was passed from hand to hand, and admired for its "common sense." Few of them cared to call it a concordance, for it seemed better to do as did "old Murphy": label it a "kay." And the name clung, although not always spoken with the Murphy brogue. It took two noons to settle the question un- der discussion, and by that time they had learned much about the great enemy of mankind. Jury like they sat and waited until the evidence was all in, and then one and all, through their foreman, Dick, announced that Satan was a real, living power, and one that was capable of doing a vast deal of harm. The way in which the knowledge of this fact sobered the men was amazing, and the gratification with which they noted what Conlon pointed out, that the devil was to be finally overthrown, was like a pris- oner securing the news of his pardon. This question settled another was started, and ere long several Bibles belonging to the boiler- room library were in use, and every noon saw the majority of the men crowded in there with earnest air and listening ears, to hear the pas- sage.'; read and comments from the readers. A couple of weeks of this preparation being indulged, it seemed but a natural thing for Mr. Thomas to be invited in to be examined in hi.% SATAN'S RECORD EXAMINED 3 O1 knowledge of Scripture by the new students. Very gladly he came, and acquitted himself so well, and was so genial, bright, and interesting, that the men voted for him to come in again. He came, and the day being Saturday, and the discussion not being finished, he adjourned to Sunday, when he promised to have seats for them all at the Faith Mission and to finish the question. At first there was some slight demur at this, but in this democratic crowd the majority al- ways ruled, and it was decided to accept the invitation, and to march in a body and occupy the reserved seats. Thus it was that workers in the machine room were being led in the right wav, and were find- ing to their surprise that it was bright, pleasant, and peaceful. Of course the questions of temperance and morality and others came up, and were handled without gloves. Many hard hits were given and taken, for the most part in a manly way. Some could not stand the pressure long, and slipped out and away; but others staid, and among them was Dick Whitman, who surprised and alarmed his companions one day by announcing that he had found the Saviour. The shock to them was not, however, so great 3O2 HER OPPORTUNITY. as it might have been some months before, as all were more or less softened, and the Gospel truth, the sword of the Spirit, seemed to be piercing the armor of indifference that had cov- ered many hearts. As for Conlon, he was very happy in his trust in God these days, most of the time ; yet occasionally, when his face was at rest, it be- trayed a sadness that spoke of a secret heart- ache. With this hidden trouble, whatever it was, he did as with all others rested it upon the Lord, and while he did not know it, in this instance, too, li ht was to break in upon him, and his soul be filled with gladness. An episode, better spoken of as a specia. providence, that occurred in connection with the work in the stock room of the box factory, and that would have been very disastrous had it not been for the change wrought in the heart of Dick Whitman, was this : Moses Cohen, in his bitter disappointment at being removed from his office as private persecutor for the trust, had not given up all hopes of yet doing substantial damage to the enterprise he so hated. The officers of the trust, knowing his feelings, threw him a tip in the shape of a permission to enter in his mill any of the help that their agents could coax away from the Van Alstyne, Co., SATAN'S RECORD EXAMINED. 303 their wages to be largely paid from the general fund. This, however, did not satisfy him, for he wanted a sudden and sweeping revenge. To this end he had secured the reckless and dissi- pated Whitman to precipitate a series of "ac- cidents" that should strike terror into the breast of the "vooman boss." It was to arrange the details of this evil system that Cohen called at the house where the young man lived, and as- cending the stairs to his room, knocked confi- dently. "Come in," called a hearty voice. "Goot evening, mem friendt," said Moses, entering briskly. "It's you, is it?" was the quiet answer. "Of course it vas me; an' midty glad to see mein friendt, Dick," returned the caller, seizing Whitman's passive hand, shaking it warmly, and then holding it while he looked with fawning admiration into the calm face and deep-set eyesT "Just return that, when you get done with it," said the young man, finally. "Return whadt?" "Why, my hand; I have tc use it every day." "You young feller," said Cohen, archly, "I nefer know what jokes you vill say next ; but ledt us gedt to peesness. Is all ready for the first smash to-morrow ? " 304 HER OPPORTUNITY. "No." "O, I forgot; you vant the money first?" "No." "The mill aind't shut down that day, is it?" "No." "Goot goracious! why do you say dot 'No/ to me as if you shoot it oudt mit a gun? Vot was the droubles? Say somedings except no! no ! no ! " suddenly broke out Moses, unable to control himself longer. "Listen!" said Dick, suddenly. "When I agreed to your rascally proposition I was a reckless fool, that did n't know who my friends were, and didn't care, and was wishing to do any thing for money ; but now it is different. I shall have nothing to do with the plan." "Ah! you vant more money, but you don't get idt. I know anoder man, with twice your grit, what will be glad to do the jobs," re- turned the Hebrew, his face crimson with rage. "Understand me; if any tricks are played in that mill, Conlon and I will make it hot, not only for the fellow who plays them, but for you as well!" "Does dot Conlon know?" gasped Moses. "Not yet; but I shall tell nim if any thing is attempted." " You are a drator ! a turrn-goat ! Dere ish SATAfr'S KECORD EXAMINED. 30$ not a leedtle bidt of a man abouclt you ! I know joost what is der matter midt you : some- body has boudt you ; likely that vooman-boss, what will fail in tree veeks, in a month. She has boudt you, but you will be oudt of a job soon, and no box factory vill gif you vork. See, you do what I say, undt I vill gif you steady job?" "No," said Dick, firmly. " Veil, I '11 tell you aboudt dot Mees Pit- cairn ; she 's " "Stop!" thundered Dick, reaching the door in a stride, and throwing it open with a crash. " You git, lest I lay hands on you, and do n't ever show your face, here again!" 306 HER OPPORTUNITY. XX. ] s rr)aper to the commercial agency that he patronized, and when the messenger returned, it was with a complete statement of his rival's financial standing, together with many minor details that none but a customer of his stamp would be likely to secure. With this paper in his hand he sat and thought a while longer, then figured a few minutes, looked his work over, reluctantly saying half aloud, "It will cost me several hundred thousand if 320 HER OPPORTUNITY. I am not careful, but it 's too good a plan to give up." That evening he visited Mrs. Armitage, and found her alone, her husband, Jack Armitage, who was known as "one of the best-hearted fellows in the world," being off at the club, where he spent much of his time. "Ah, Bess, alone?" he inquired. "Just as I hoped, for I have a good plan for getting fur- ther ahead of my learned rival, John Bucking- ham, PH. D." "You speak plainly about your love affairs," smiled the lady. "To you, yes, but to you only." "Such flattery is very sweet to a woman, even if she be a relative ; pray tell me your plan." "In the first place, Belle Pitcatrn wold never marry a poor man, even if she did a hard- hearted one?" he interrogated, with a subtle smile. "I should say decidedly not, although she has a large fortune in her own right, and the Gov- ernor is immensely wealthy. My belief is, that even if she cared for a poor man, her parents would interfere, as they are possessed of excep- tional good sense," was the lady's reply. "Very well; now give me your attention. I WALL-STREET WILES. 3 21 have it in my power to make Buckingham a poor man," said the financier. " Another scheme ? " laughed the lady. " If I am not mistaken, you were going to close up the box-factor}' by means of the trust before three months, but it is still in existence, and then, too, the dilapidated dog that accompanies you everywhere was to be a constant advertise- ment of your worth, and Buckingham's unwor- thiness " "The Van Alstyne Manufacturing Company barely exists. The other mills have secured the best help, and are doing the work that the money is in. The Harlem mill is alive, but so near death's door that any day it may be num- bered among the city's defunct firms. My scheme is working exactly as I planned, and as for the cur, he has his influence," returned Stanley, with a shade of annoyance. " Possibly, but I have a feeling that in at- tempting to defeat or hoodwink Belle Pitcairn you are meeting one who has as much clever- ness as almost any one I could name. The end has not yet come " "Well, let it come when it will, my plans will not miscarry," said the young man. "But about this one that is to put the Professor en- tirely out of the race. It can be done!" 322 HER OPPORTUNITY. " In an honorable manner ? " "In a way perfectly commercial," was the half cynical reply. " Explain, please, if it is any thing that I can understand," said the beautiful woman, leaning back in her chair and fanning herself languidly. "It is easy of comprehension, in fact quite simple, yet it took time to perfect the plan so that there could be no miscarriage," returned the other. "The case stands something like this: the Professor is a large holder of a certain stock that is at present sold at a good round figure. He purchased it, not as a speculation, but an investment, and means to retain it, for it is constantly increasing in value and paying excel- lent dividends. I also hold large blocks of this same stock, bought at about the same price that he paid. My plan is to give to the papers for some time rumors that it will take long to dis- credit about certain parties who manage the affairs of this company, which will at once lower the market price of the stock. When all is ready, I will throw the whole of my holding upon the market, which will run it down to its lowest peg. If it does not, my partner has a large quantity to unload, and that certainly will knock the price down where it would mean a WALL-STREET WILES. $23 dead loss for any one to sell. Then I mean to 'squeeze' my doughty rival." " But can he not hold his stock until it goes up again ? " " There is just the point," replied the gentle man with quiet enthusiasm. "Buckingham bor rowed a large sum of money not long since, to secure an estate on the Hudson that formerly belonged to his grandfather. This loan, which was negotiated by one who, unknown to him, is in agent of mine, will be suddenly called in, when the stock reaches its lowest point." "And then?" " Then he will be obliged to sell his stock at a dead loss to raise cash enough to pay that loan, and it will about eat up his little fortune. What do you think of the scheme ? " inquired Stanley, leaning back with an air of satisfaction. " I do not like it hi the least ! " replied the lady, boldly. " I would much rather you would win in a fair fight." " Bless you, dear, is n't this a fair fight ? Listen until I tell you the rest of my plan. As soon as the Professor unloads I shall buy up the whole of his stock, and shall also, through agents, have much of our original holding. Then soon after it is known that he is ruined, I shall press my suit, and when successful I will put 324 HER OPPORTUNITY. Buckingham in the way of getting back his money, if he wishes it." "I very much doubt if he would accept as- sistance from you in any case," returned the lady. " However, you must do as you see fit. I suppose it is considered all right in business, but it does seem cruel, and I wish you had not told me about it." "Not even for the sake of securing so lovely a cousin as Belle Pitcairn ? " "Indeed, I hope you will win her, but do it by fair means," was the reply. "All means t are fair in love and Wall Street," murmured her cousin, sauntering out to have a quiet smqke. Bent upon crushing his rival financially by one master stroke, the financier could think of little else, and even allowed his business to get some- what behind as he watched this certain stock, keeping careful note of all who held it, and getting ready for the final moves. His partner held a seat in the Stock Exchange, and during the time previous to putting the deal into exe- cution had purchased all of the stock offered, and had even looked for some among the yell- ing crowd of well-dressed men who occupy the pit of this famous enclosure. Ordinarily cool, this keen man of business WALL-STREET WILES, 32$ was so wrought up by the combination of love and jealousy that his own employes noted it, and wondered what had happened in the railroad world that could make Mr. Armitage so restless and irritable. It had been his intention to stay away from the Governor's until after the Profes- sor was fully disposed of, but such a resolution was more than he could keep, and the follow- ing day found him there, as ever a welcome guest. "We feared that you had gone on another of those long 'inspection tours,' Mr. Armitage," said Mrs. Pitcairn, graciously, for the good lady was justly pleased with the attentions that this desirable young man paid her daughter, and, in- deed, half suspected that his regard was re- turned. "Business has been pressing of late, or I should not let it interfere with the most valued pleasure I have my calls here," returned he, with a graceful bow. " Mamma and I were feeling almost neglected," said Belle politely, "and are you aware that Bessie has not been near us for two long weeks ? " "She is the sufferer, then, for there is no family in New York with whom she feels so much in sympathy, and whose social converse 326 HER OPPORTUNITY, she enjoys, as she does yours. She frequently tells me so, and Bess is not one given to flat- tering statements," replied Stanley. " I am so glad," replied Belle earnestly. " She is so sweet and lovable, and comprehends one with such quickness, that she has seemed like a sister to me. Do you know, Mr. Armitage, I have a new heresy, which is to secure Mrs. Armitage, and papa and mamma, and slip out of society and enjoy country life, not for a short summer, but for both summer and winter. There are so many new phases of life coming up before me, that I want time to think." "Extremely bad for a lady to think, Miss Pitcairn," said Armitage, in a tone of gentle but delightful irony ; " none of the elite do it. My cousin is, I believe, an exception, and her brood- ing over domestic problems has brought a wrinkle between her pretty brows. Do n't do it, let me beg of you ; on the contrary, enjoy constantly, but never question. The fact that you have a pleasure should be a patent of ownership to it." Mr. Armitage had begun to banter, but had ended in earnest. In a word he had expressed his idea of the life of a woman, one of graceful enjoyment of the present, with no thought of the future, no regret for the past, and he con tinued, WALL-STREET WILES. 3 2 7 "I think oftentimes that the American girl is possessed of an impatience to do something that is entirely unnecessary, and that it may be un- wise to attempt. The impulse comes from the best of motives, but is none the less out of place. Perhaps one is religiously inclined, she is all aglow to do something, perhaps to spend a lifetime among the destitute. It would be a beautiful sacrifice, but is it the best she can do ? I should say no, and prove it by an illus- tration, if you will pardon it, from my own life. I am full of energy to do something in the business world. Now to have my affairs at- tended to, many letters must be written, books kept, calls made, and even tickets punched, brakes set, and engines fired. There are none of those things but what I could do, and doubt- less do well. But is it practical for me to undertake this drudgery, in person, when I can hire so many idle hands to attend to it ? Fur- ther than that, have I a right to withdraw my- self from my associates, where I am a power, and bring down a broad influence to the nar- row one of a clerk or an engineer ? " The caller paused, feeling that he had said almost too much, but so full had his mind been of an energetic protest against the con- stancy with which the object of his affection 328 HER OPPORTUNITY. clung to her new ventures, that it took the form of words before he knew it. Belle smiled mischievously at the gentleman's earnestness, and said, " Are these American girls whom you depict, works of the imagination, or do you know some such self-sacrificing maidens ? " Mr. Armitage flushed a little, and then said with his rare smile, " To be honest, it is a protest against your robbing us of your society to go among the people at Harlem, and the East Side. If you only will consent to come among us again, as in the times of yore, we will employ a half-dozen able- bodied missionaries to evangelize all of your in- teresting heathen." What a picture came up before her vision, as this fascinating friend spoke with eloquent emphasis of the "times of yore"! How the quiet dinner parties, the enjoyable evenings, and the host of minor recollections crowded about, summoned by the simple phrase ! The mischief had left her mobile face, and for a moment her eyes took on a soft, dreamy look that sent the blood bounding through the caller's veins as he noted every change of expression. He felt that his star was still in the ascendant, and that as soon as his " deal in stocks " was finished, he WALL-STREET WILES. could indeed speak boldly and successfully to this peerless woman. " I am not quite prepared to defend the rest- less American girl to-day, but shall be very soon," said Belle, awakening from her reverie. " Her friends would be amazed did they know how practical this same visionary personage has become. She will examine what has been done by results, and if her general usefulness has been impaired, or her influence in any manner narrowed, the experiment will not be considered a success." " Perhaps my cousin, and may I add, I my- self, are more than usually selfish, but we have felt that we were being partially robbed of a most helpful friend, and if we transgress in try- ing to hold fast her friendship, it certainly will not be through evil intent," rejoined Mr. Armi- tage. " Indeed your friendship is greatly valued," returned Belle, earnestly, as he took his leave. "You will come again, and soon?" " Gladly," was the reply, and he was gone with the quick, vigorous step and erect carriage that stamped him the gentleman of business. Belle watched him as he passed down the avenue and out of sight, then turned with an inscrutable air to a tiny desk, and unlocking it, 33 HER OPPORTUNITY. began to look over the last report of her busi- ness in Harlem. As she read a crowd of thoughts surged over her, and she paused to ponder. Was she injuring her influence ? Should she drop this work or delegate it to hired ser- vants ? It had thus far meant self-denial of a kind that ladies in the world of fashion most dislike. The magnificent diamonds that had been selected by the Governor for her birthday gift were still at Tiffany's, although the day was long past when they were to be given, while their price had gone into new machinery. Was the investment foolish ? Was well-bred Stanley Armitage, with his knowledge of the world, after all, in the right ? WON WITHOUT WOOING. 331 XXII. o0ir)q. -vj [HERE was a mystery at the Harlem mill, and Miss Pitcairn was the only one to note its presence. Exactly when it was that she began to feel that Miss Jessie, one of the box makers, was the possessor of some impor- tant secret, she could not tell; but at last the conviction had become so strong that she had determined if possible to fathom it. Right in the line of her suspicions came an item in the report of the superintendent of repairs, to the effect that this young lady had been observed following Conlon to the Faith Mission on sev- eral occasions, and then remaining outside with bowed head, as if silently weeping. Now Miss Jessie was the last person who would be suspected of a sickly sentimentality, for she was quiet, self-poised, and a genuine lady in manner and in speech. She was, to be sure, but a box-maker, but a good one, and as free from petty affectation or ill-breeding as if 33 2 HER OPPORTUNITY. she had been brought up in the most cultured society. With her steady self-possession, it seemed strange that she should flee in sudden panic whenever Conlon came through the " making-up " room on his way to the office ; or that under plea of too strong a light, she should place a rampart of boxes so that they partly hid her from view. Another incident deepened the mystery. Mr. Thomas bustled into the Harlem mill one after- noon, and seeing her at her table, said, "You are always ready to help in a good cause, are you not ? " I think so," was the quiet reply. "Very well, come down to the Mission next Sunday, and take a class of boys." " I do n't know about my talent lying in that direction," began she, but the missionary cut it short by saying briskly, as he went out of the door, "Then you will come? Very well, I will be on hand to introduce you to the scholars and to the other teachers. You will find yourself at once among friends." " That is the way he captures many an un- willing worker," said Miss Pitcairn, smilingly. "And his energy is so infectious! You had WON WITHOUT WOOING. 333 better go, and if you get over-tired get another assistant for your pattern work." Thus it happened that before she fairly knew it, Miss Jessie was made a teacher at the Faith Mission, and on the following Sabbath was on hand in good season, with the lesson well learned, and the same quiet determination in her eyes that made her so successful in box- making. " I knew you would come," said Mr. Thomas, taking her hand. "Now for the introduction. Here is Miss Rutgers, one of our best teachers; this gentleman is Mr. Follansbee, our first as- sistant superintendent, and O, yes, you must know Mr. Conlon ; excuse me for a moment, and I will fetch him." Hurrying up to the desk Mr. Thomas took the arm of the engineer, and started back to where he had left the new teacher, but to his amazement she had gone. "Almost ran out of the door," reported Miss Rutgers. "Probably she had forgotten something impor- tant and had no time to explain," said the mis- sionary. " No doubt she will be here next Sabbath, and possibly will return in time for this session." In spite of this kindly interpretation of her 334 HER OPPORTUNITY. strange flight, the lady did not return to the Mission school that day, nor the following week, nor would she vouchsafe any good reason for her singular conduct. Mr. Thomas called again at the mill, but this time his quick intuition told him that a brisk assumption that the young lady would come down to the Faith Mission would not do, and a bit puzzled, he left her for the present, to do as she saw fit. To Miss Pitcairn this action was a curious outbreak, in one who heretofore in every thing good had been eager to lend a helping hand. The lady argued that there must be some strong reason for so positive a stand, and more and more did she connect Mr. Conlon with it. There was the possibility that the quiet box- maker might be in love with the sturdy disci- ple, but why should that lead her to flee from him ? A circumstance that strengthened Belle's be- lief that it was Mr. Conlon whom she dreaded to meet, was her manner at a certain evening meeting where both happened to be. The ser- vice occurred a little out of the usual line, and was held in one of the lower rooms of the old warehouse. It had not been expected that Mr. Conlon would be present, but when the meeting was about half-over he entered, and be- WOX WITHOUT WOOING. 335 fore long rose and gave an earnest testimony to the helpful influences of Christianity in the daily life. That it came from a heart full of love, and was supplemented by a life devoted to the Master's work, none could doubt. As he spoke Miss Jessie shook with sobs, so that it was impossible to conceal it from those near her. The speaker even noted her agitation, and spoke more earnestly of the Saviour's love, and of His readiness to accept those who put their trust in Him. At the close of the service Mr. Conlon started down the aisle toward the seat where the young lady sat, but she slipped out of the door and away, leaving her companions to think what they pleased. The next morning Miss Pitcairn, entering the mill at an unusualy early hour, found her sob- bing as if her heart would break. " Why, my dear," said that warm-hearted young lady, " what is the matter ; are you ill ? " " Oh, no, no ! " was the reply, with but a feeble flutter of resistance, as she felt a loving arm slipped round her. " I suppose I am ner- vous and foolish." "Do you think it right to keep from your best friends a secret that will do no harm to tell, and may do great good?" 336 HER OPPORTUNITY. " A secret ? " gasped the other. " Yes, about Mr. Conlon. I could not but note your interest in him, and did not think it wrong to watch, as it was only with the idea of being helpful to you." The girl rocked herself to and fro in hopeless agony, wailing, " O, if I only knew that he loved me ; if I only knew ! " " Poor child," thought Belle ; " I am afraid he hardly knows of your existence, and that you are cherishing only a hopeless affection." Then aloud she said, " I am so sorry for you ! Mr. Conlon is a good, earnest Christian, and I am sure is worthy of your love, but we women can only live on and suffer when we bestow our af- fection on those who do not return it." The words ended in a sigh, and the beautiful face was for the moment shadowed by a look of pain. " There is one refuge, I sometimes think the only one prayer. Have you prayed the Lord to guide you in this matter ? " "Yes," was the faint response. " Well, if you have placed it in the Lord's hands you can not do better. It is sure to be for the best in the r.nd. There, the whistle is blowing ; good-bye, and may God bless you and help you. I shall pray for you." Among those who had interested themselves in WON WITHOUT WOOING. 337 the meetings at the Mission, was Mr. McFad- den, who had also more than once sent to the Young Women's Christian association some little voken of his appreciation. The fact is, he had taken quite a fancy to Miss Jessie, although he scarcely knew her. The matron of the associa- tion, who was a wide-awake, practical lady, en- couraged the friends of the girls to call on them in the large common parlor, and many did so. McFadden had been able, further, to join a Bible class, the very one to which the young lady belonged, and when he could do so he, with great courtesy, showed her the places for the evening reading, and neglected no opportunity to make himself agreeable. What she thought of him it would be difficult to say, but at all events she smiled gratefully when he paid her little attentions, and appeared not to distrust him as she did most of the masculine gender. Her smiles finally completed the conquest that her quiet demeanor had made, and McFadden, bursting with the important secret that he was in love, resolved to speak with his bosom friend, O'Toole, about it. "Jock," he said, impressively, "I canna sleep neets." **Ye ate too much," was the reply. HER OPPORTUNITY. "Na, it's na that. I n.auna as weel tal ye, I 'm aboot to marry." " Phat is there extraordinary about that ? " in- quired O'Toole, slightly disgusted. "Much," was the dignified answer. "This young person is a leddy, an' how I can adorn mysel' so as to luke well in her eyes and win her consent ? " " Oho, ye hain't axed her yet ? " " Na, it would be premature, but I ken this weel, that she smiles on me and dinna luke at another mon," was the satisfied answer. "Thin you are all right," said O'Toole, with conviction. " Without doubt, she is a deal more anxious than ye are yerself, but what have ye done to fix yerself up ? " The Scotchman produced a paper collar and a large blue necktie, and carefully put them on before the glass. " Noo, hoo do I look ? " he inquired. " Splindid, splindid ! " ejaculated his friend. " Ye see, it 's na verra expensive to dress up," said McFadden ; "a collar o' this kind lasts a long time. When it gets soiled it can be rubbed in chalk, and when that does na good it can be turned." " It makes ye ' x>k splindid," returned his friend. WON WITHOUT WOOItfG. 339 " Awcel, I 'm going doon and try her as soon as I think it weel to do so, an' gin I hae gude luck will come back an' tell ye aboot it," said McFadden, after another long look in the glass and a fresh adjustment of the tie. Like a wise man, he allowed the news of his change of base on the temperance question to go over to Faith Mission, and also to the asso- ciation, before he attempted to do any thing about the matter that was so near his heart. When a week had elapsed, he called, and being shown into the large parlor which was used for a sewing-room during the day, he asked to see the matron. That excellent lady came in at that moment with Mr. Conlon, who, being an engineer, had been invited in to locate the trouble in the kitchen-boiler, which, in spite of "new water- back " and hot fire, refused to furnish the house with hot water. As the lady turned to speak with McFadden-, she asked Conlon to seat him- self, which he did on the sofa partly behind the great hall door. The Scotchman made known his wish, and, as it happened, the one he wanted to see just then entered the parlor, and the matron turning to her, said, "Mr. McFadden wishes to speak with you.'' The lady looked surprised, but walked across 34 HER OPPORTUNITY. the room to where he sat and said, pleasantly, "Good evening," and waited for him to announce his errand. But the ardent wooer had none of the courage that he possessed when with O'Toote, and all he could do was to stammer out, "Gude evening." When she had entered, Mr. Conlon was deep in his thoughts, and not aware that any addition had been made to the party, but he was immediately awakened from his reverie by the sound of the new voice, and at once an eager, startled look swept over his countenance. Her back was toward him, but he leaned forward, a hungry light in his eyes, and surmise deepening into certainty as he scanned the lines of the trim, shapely figure and the graceful, well-poised head. At last he could stand it no longer, and breaking into the conversation that McFadden had at last with difficulty started, he said, in a low, impas- sioned voice, "Jessie." Like a flash she turned, and seeing Conlon, with face full of joy, his arms outstretched, ran straight into them, and lay sobbing and quiver- ing, overpowered by sudden gladness. McFadden, who had just begun a long pero- ration on the fact that "it wasna gude for mon to be alone," felt its truth more than ever be- fore, and was about to stalk off bursting with WON WITHOUT WOOING. 34 1 outraged dignity, when Conlon stopped him, and addressing the few that the parlor contained, said, *' Friends, this must seem a very strange scene to you, but I believe it is the Lord's doings. To explain, I must go back into my life a thing that I do n't like to do, because it shows me little else but folly and sin. When I was a youngster I lived in a small village in Maine, and next door to me lived the minister of the place. I was a wild, strong, bad boy, and cared not a bit for any thing good, with one excep- tion. Little Jessie, the minister's daughter, was the one person in the world that I cared for. As I grew older I liked her better, and al- though every one in the village recited my bad deeds and predicted my evil end, she never disliked or distrusted me." The fair head pillowed on the deep chest was raised an instant, and the look of trust and confidence in the large eyes was beautiful to see. "When I came home from a wandering trip and married her, in spite of the talk of the village gossips, and even despite her parents' wishes, I had no doubt but that I should make her perfectly happy. Rum, however, soon began to make me forget my good resolutions. While 34 2 HER OPPORTUNITY. I drank and abused her she stuck by me, until I announced that I had bought an interest with 'Big Tom' in the saloon where the Mission now stands ; then she stood up and told me that she would not live with a rum-seller. "I was enraged, and, although I did not strike her thank God, I never did that I talked as ugly as I knew how, and finally went off down to the saloon. When I came back at night she was gone. O, how I missed her! Bad though I was, I would have given all that I had to get her back. I sent to her village home, but no one had seen her. I employed detectives here in the city, but it was of no use. Finally word came that she had gone to an aunt's in the West and had died. Then I went deeper than ever into drink. You all know the story of my reformation how the Lord was willing to save such a man as I was, but it grieved me sore that I could not have been a Christian while my wife was with me. And now she is here. The -Lord has given her back as from the dead. It seems as if my heart would burst with happiness." " How very, very glad I am that you are so happy," said Belle when Mrs. Conlon came to her with the joyful news. " If my mill never pays any dividends but such as these, it will be a WON WITHOUT WOOING. 343 most successful venture. I presume you will leave me now, dear?" "Not unless you discharge me," was the bright reply. " My husband," with a charming blush, "and I talked it over last night and decided to stand by you as long as you needed us. We shall board for the present, and maybe when every thing is prosperous again we will go to keeping house." " You can not imagine how I am helped by your faith in me. The times will be better, and we shall prosper," said Belle, her eyes full of tears. 344 HER OPPORTUNITY. XXIII. fe<0ulne the less in earnest. So strong was his faith since he had seen what the Lord could do,' and was willing to do, in a place like the " Wedge," that nothing seemed impossible. It would be a great blow to him to lose his property just when he was fairly started in life. There were many enterprises that he wished to further by its aid ; many a good cause that he planned to assist, and he did not believe that it was the Lord's will that a hidden enemy should despoil him of his patrimony, which had been won in honest busi- ness by a line of godly, industrious ancestors. He felt, indeed, that he had a powerful Friend, and hurrying home he shut himself in his library, and kneeling, asked fervently for the help that must come before the morrow at ten. When he arose it was with a feeling of vic- tory and peace such as he never before had enjoyed. It was as if a promise had been spoken. So sure, so definite, that he could no longer doubt, and thrilled with thanksgiving and happiness, he broke into song, his rich baritone filling the apartment with the melody of the hymn, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." As he finished 364 HER OPPORTUNITY. the verse the door opened, and Governor Pit- cairn came in with face radiant and eyes full of tears. "Bless your heart, my boy," he said, "I could n't stop to knock, for your song filled me with such great gladness. It seemed as if the Lord was present with you, and I wanted my share of His blessing." " He is here and has blessed me," replied the young man. "That's grand; I came over to see you to gratify a whim. This afternoon I was thinking, and some way my thoughts centering on you, I began to feel that you were in trouble. Now, I 'm not a bit superstitious, but do what I would I could n't shake the idea off, so I sat at the window and watched for you to come from down town. As soon as I saw you I knew I was right : your face, your walk, your whole bearing showed it. So, as soon as I could, I came over here, and behold, I find you glowing with hap- piness and singing with such joy in your tones that it made a Gospel-hardened old soldier like myself weep. Has the trouble vanished?" " It will come all right, of that I am assured," replied the Professor. " Tell me all about it. How do you know but what I was sent to help you out?" said the Gov-s ON DEMAND. ernor, settling himself into a large easy chair, and completely filling it with his portly form. Thus adjured, the other told the whole story simply and in a straightforward manner, and the Governor listened attentively, now and then put- ting a question. When he had finished, he said, with an air of paternal kindness, " Now, my lad, listen to me. The loan that you negotiated is to be the instrument that will do the damage. I will assume the loan if you wish, and you can hold your stock until it goes up again, which it is sure to do." " It will be the salvation of my fortune if you will do so," said the Professor, with feeling. "All right; to-morrow .when the loan is called come down to the bank, and the money will be ready for you. Be sure your receipts are all right," said the Governor, rising and going as far as the door, then turning about and coming back, put his hands on the young man's shoulders, and said, " Buckingham, we Christians are a queer set. We find it very difficult to believe that God is leading us and directing our steps, and yet He keeps right on showing us the path. I believe that He sent me over here this afternoon to help you out of this scrape. And I am going to keep on believing it, and if, by -and bye, I get a bit 366 HER OPPORTUNITY. cold and worldly, and begin to think it is all luck, I want you to come ard remind me of what I am saying now." True to the words of the friendly warning came the money-lender on the following day, and asked for the payment of the loan. "But is this not a very sudden demand, Mr. Ashcroft ? " was the inquiry. "Possibly, but when I let you have the mone} it was to be payable on demand, and the time has come when I must have it." Unconsciously the man adopted an aggressive tone, that showed he expected to find his victim off his guard, yet one who would not yield without a struggle. "You mean that your house is in need of this money at once ? " said the Professor, with a piercing look. " I mean," replied the other, doggedly, " that we shall collect this money, or force a sale of your stock held by our bank as collateral, as soon as the necessary steps can be taken." "Do you realize that such a step would in- volve me in great pecuniary loss ? " The man gathered up his papers, saying coldly and impatiently, " I am to understand, then, that payment is refused?" ON DEMA.VD. 3$? " One moment, if you please. My grandfather, my father, and I myself have had large deal- ings with your firm. If I am not mistaken, during the panic of '57 my grandfather loaned your father a sum of money that enabled your house to stand while many others went down. It was but last week I came across your father's letter of gratitude. Perhaps it may not be in the best of taste for me to remind you of these facts, but now might be the time to repay that trifling favor." The banker flushed, either with shame or an- ger, but set his lips only the tighter, until he had swallowed his feelings, when he replied harshly, " Mr. Buckingham, there were many things done in the past that I, as a business man, do not approve. At present, our house is run as a commercial enterprise, not as a charitable institu- tion." The Professor rose calmly, with a look of such lofty dignity that the money lender fairly quailed beneath it, saying in measured tones, "If you will meet me at the National Bank in one hour, with the necessary papers, your demand will be paid in full. Shall my servant call a carriage for you, sir ? " Mr. Ashcroft, bewildered by this promise, which 368 HER OPPORTUNITY he was assured could not be bombastic, took his leave and was rapidly driven away. When well down the avenue he turned, and looking through the window in the rear of the carriage, saw the handsome bays belonging to the Buck- ingham stable following, with arching necks and stately step. At the bank the Professor was on hand, ex- actly at the time named, where with a bow to the money-lender he at once proceeded to busi- ness. The latter, however, seemed to be strangely agitated, so much so, that he found it almost impossible to examine the securities that repre- senting large sums were passed over to cancel the loan. At last he pushed them from him and said, " It 's no use, I can not and will not go on with this. I do n't want this money to-day nor until you are perfectly ready to pay it." " Be kind enough to examine the securities, and sign this release as soon as convenient, sir. I am pressed for time," was the only reply, and for a few moments the work went on in silence. Then the man broke out afresh, meekly and penitently now, " Professor Buckingham, will you listen to me for a moment ? " ON DEMAND. " If it is a communication of a business na- ture," was the dignified reply. " Well, sir, I wish to say that in all this in- fernal meanness, our house are simply agents. The telling of it will, perhaps, wreck us, but I can not have you believe that I willingly injure the grandson of the man who saved my father from financial ruin." " This explanation comes rather late to be effective," was the quiet comment. "I know it; I tried to make you angry at your house' that my task might be more agree- able, but I failed, as I hope I may always fail where such deeds are to be done. Can you for- give me? Will you keep this loan?" "What would you advise, Governor?" inquired the Professor, for that gentleman had come in from the directors' room and was listening to the conversation. After a moment's thought he said, "Do this: cancel the loan and accept mine; and you, Ashcroft, get some trusty broker to go into the market and buy up all of the stock that this hidden enemy unloads. If you can get two good men who will buy with apparent re- luctance, perhaps it will be better. Understand me distinctly I say all you can get. I shall be here at the bank all day. Now let me see if you can be trusted in this matter." 370 HER OPPORTUNITY. XXV. Sorr)J2)ir)0;li0r) (|) ui vv'iff eel . ELLE PITCAIRN sat in the almost de- serted store-room of the Harlem factory wait- ing for her trusty helper, Sarah. Little by lit- tle the Box Trust had secured her customers, coaxed away her best help, and placed obsta- cles in the way of the purchase of materials, until the business was practically dead. Only the Governor's credit, and his fair daughter's pluck, kept the concern from a sudden and in- glorious wind-up. " If my daughter chooses to put a half million into the Harlem project, it is her busi- ness and mine," he was accustomed to remark smilingly to advising friends. " Granting that this a folly, it is no more expensive than are many others that New York encourages. This has lost perhaps a thousand dollars a week dur- ing the year past, about what a good yacht would cost, and this is far more entertaining." There was more than braggadocio in this, for THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED. 37 l the Governor was exceedingly pleased with the progress that his daughter had made in reaching the hearts of the people, both at the mill and at the " Wedge," and he argued that even if this were a failure, in a monetary sense, the savings of a score or more of souls might be reckoned in with the assets. In all of this time of trouble Belle seemed buoyed up by a steadfast faith that was delight- ful. " I do not believe we shall be suffered to meet with utter failure, papa." she had said earnestly. " This enterprise was started that I might help the poor, and lead them to the Saviour, while I gave them easier work and better pay, and I claim the promise, ' I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' " " The Lord is with your efforts I am con- vinced, and if he wants me to open my purse wider, I am willing," replied the Governor, with a look of affection, and his daughter felt strength- ened and gladdened by his sturdy support. At this somewhat critical period in the for- tunes of our heroine, came a new burden, which was the completion of the great factory on the site of the old brewery. With all of his talent for " pushing " matters, Mr. Crittenden, once started in the right way, had hurried this 37 2 HER OPPORTUNITY, along, until at length it was finished, and now awaited a tenant. Belle had in a measure directed the arrangement of the rooms, and the huge empty structure that she had leased and that seemed even to the Governor more than she could possibly use, now awaited -her action. " In case you wish to let the building until you need it yourself, I think I can find a tenant," Mr. Crittenden had remarked, with a keen eye for business, and in his narrow, faith- less little heart, sure that the Governor's daughter was " stuck." "Thank you," Belle had said vaguely, an I he had departed more than ever certain that she did n't know her own mind, or else was too proud to own up that she was fairly beaten. And so the great building stood empty for several weeks, and the Harlem mill was almost " shut down," and about all the life there was to any of Miss Pitcairn's enterprises was the daily meetings at the Gospel Common, and the changes that were quietly taking place in the old warehouse. Miss Pitcairn waiting in the store-room of the mill, which we mentioned in the first paragraph of this chapter, was rewarded by the appearance of Sarah in due season, and soon after by one after another of the old hands. Finally, when THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED. 373 the number was complete, the doors were shut, and all with one accord knelt for a moment in silent prayer, and then rising were seated fac- ing a tiny desk that had been moved in from the office. Belle was the first to break the silence, " It is three months now," she said, in a quiet, cultivated voice, " since we have met here twice a week to pray that if it is God's will we may have the victory over this wicked combina- tion, and our prayers do not appear to be answered. Yet my faith has never been stronger. Indeed, I am sure God will hear and will help Sarah will you read us His promise ? " " 'Again I say unto you, if two of you shall agree as touching any thing on earth, it shall be done,'" read the young woman, and the faces of the listeners assumed a fresh look of assur- ance. " Are we not agreed ? " asked Belle. "Yes, yes," came the low, earnest responses. "Then the victory is ours. There can be no doubt about it. What is it, Jessie?" Slender, fair haired Mrs. Conlon had risen, and stood waiting to speak. "You remarked at the last meeting that even while we prayed we should try and do all we could?" 374 HER OPPORTUNITY. "Yes." "Well, last night as I prayed that your efforts to help the girls might not be frustrate^ by any thing, and that the work might start up, I kept thinking of the big piles of paper boxes that stood in the packing-room. At first it seemed wrong for me to let my thoughts stray, and I fought against it, and tried my best to keep my mind right on my prayer, but the more I tried the worse off I was, and finally I gave right up, and on my knees by the bed let my mind do as it pleased. And my thoughts stayed right in the packing-room with the big crates of boxes. It seemed so needless to have a few hundred boxes take up so much room. There they were empty, and yet taking up as much room as if they had been full. Then, too, I could see how it must trouble store men who had only a little space, and it seemed as if they were like square- egg shells all ready to smash." "They are," said one of the old hands. "Lots of 'em git broken and thrown away." " So I began studying how I could make a box that when it was empty would not take up so much room, nor break so easily, and I couldn't fetch out any thing at all, till finally I just prayed God that if He pleased I 'd like THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED. 3 75 to know whether the thing could be done. Then I got a box and cut it to pieces and put it together, and pretty soon I brought out this." Every eye was on her as she drew out what seemed to be a small square of card-board, and turning up one side gave it a smart rap in the centre, and behold a complete box. " A folding box," exclaimed the girls. " Yes, all you have to do is to let the sides down and it takes only about one-fifth as much room, and is much stronger," replied the little lady. " I believe our prayers are answered," said Belle, reverently. " This certainly will take the place in a host of cases of the ordinary box. If we can secure the invention before the trust know about it, we can fill the new mill with hands at good wages, and defy any combination." That very evening the whole party, full of this secret, repaired to the Governor's residence and took him into their counsels. He was less enthusiastic until he knew there was nothing of the kind in the market, and then he allowed that it was of great value. At his suggestion patent papers were drawn giving the Van Als- tyne Manufacturing Company the right to make it, and allowing Mrs. Conlon a good royalty. By the time the papers were drawn all was HER OPPORTUNITY. ready to move the machinery of the Harlem mill down to the "Wedge," and set it up with sev- eral new machines designed to partly make the folding boxes. When the first-named mill prepared to close its doors, there was great rejoicing among the other box manufacturers, and Moses Cohen, in the fullness of his joy, called all of the help he had stolen from Belle into his office, and made this characteristic speech, "Say, maybe you dinks I vos goin' to bay you doze big wages now anymore. Veil, you vas mistakened ! I do n't got any use for you at all. You kan get oudt, und ven you see dot Governor's daughter, you may tell her dot a voomans aindt no goot at peesness." " We were going to leave to-night, anyhow," spoke up one of the most independent of the girls. " Hey ! what 's dot ? " " Miss Pitcairn has already hired us for a better job," reiterated the girl. "What job?" "Well, you see when she advised us to come here-; " "Advise you to come! She didn't do dot. It vos our detective dot coaxed you here. She vas craazy mad when you left her blace!" screamed Moses, excitedly. THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED 377 "O, no, she told us that the summer time was sure to be dull, and that to spite her you would pay us good wages, and she said she was much obliged to the trust for being willing to pay her help " "It vos a lie!" "And we all signed a paper promising to come back and work for her when she wanted us, and now we are going." "What kinds of work?" demanded the Hebrew, curbing his wrath to give his curiosity a chance. " Boxes, of course. I think there is a new trust formed, but I do n't know. At any rate, the new mill on Burges Street is fitted up, and we are all going down there, and shall take the best of your help with us." In the meantime as the reports, of the success of the box trust were brought to Stanley Arm- itage, he felt a masterful sense of victory, and as the weeks passed and the detective brought in the names of fewer and fewer Harlem cus- tomers, he concluded that the end was near, and despite his apparent obduracy, decided as soon as the crash came, to help settle mat- ters as satisfactorily as possible, and to console Belle as best he could. In pursuance of this plan, when news came that the Van Alstyne Company were doing al HER OPPORTUNITY. most nothing, he prepared to put his plan in execution, and to that end called at the Harlem mill, timing his visit so that it should fall on the morning hour, when he was sure Belle would be there. It was with a feeling of affectionate condescension that he stood in the doorway of her sanctum, and waited for recognition. " This is an unexpected pleasure, Mr. Armi- tage," said Belle, with surprise. " I felt that, being in Harlem, I could not deny myself the treat of seeing you," he replied, beamingly. " Lie clown, Calamity, lie down, sir. If you can not behave better I shall not allow you to come with me." "Did you wish to see me or my methods of doing business ? " asked Belle, with a smile, pat- ting the dog pityingly as he limped up to her, his bright eyes full of friendliness. "Both," he answered with a charmingly frank manner. "You know that I have been jealous of your being thus absorbed, from the first, be- cause it has in a measure kept you from us, and when a friend told me that you had con- cluded to retire, I was selfishly glad." " But did you consider that if this mill stops it throws more than a hundred girls out of employment ? " queried Miss Pitcairn, gravely. " Hard-hearted as I am, even that occurred to THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED. 379 me, and I came prepared to offer them all good places among different manufacturing concerns with whom I have dealings. One house in Cin- cinnati will take fifty, and pay them wages while learning, while I will send them over the road for nothing." " You are very kind," she said, turning to Mr. Armitage, "the more so as you think I am wrong in running this factory, but you are mis- taken ; I do not contemplate shutting down." " Surely you do not intend to go on at a positive loss ? " "Mr. Armitage," replied Belle, "there is a conspiracy among the manufacturers to crush this enterprise, and to drive me out of the business. I entered into this work that, with God's help, I might lift the girls and women who were little better than slaves up to a higher, nobler womanhood, and am at once opposed by a trust. Every known means have been brought to bear to insure my defeat, but all have failed. My trust is in the Lord, and I shall be successful. At this moment 1 would not exchange my bus- iness for the whole of the holdings of the trust." " I am pleased that you are so courageous, and only regret that I can be of no use," said Armitage, taking his leave with a look of chagrin 380 HER OPPORTUNITY. and disappointment that he tried in vain to hide, followed by the limping "Calamity," who, like his aristocratic master, looked very much cast down. On his way home, baffled at the turn of af- fairs, he could not help wondering what it was that the future held in reserve that could over- come the combination. He did not discover what it was until a week later, when Moses burst into his office, his face aflame with rage, and throwing a neat folding paper box down on his desk, said, " Look ! See vot that voomans has got oop ! The ceety is flooded with them. The gustomers must have notings else ! Dey say dey can put a hoondred of them anyvheres under the coun- ter, in the drawers, anyvheres ; but ours, dey say, tooks oop all the room." "Very likely. It does not interest me," was the cold reply. " But you vas manufacturing, like the rest of us?" " I have sold my interest." " Sold oudt, hey ? unloaded ? Veil, I pelieve you vas knowing this all the dimes," was the angry response, and Moses rushed off to find somebody who would answer wrathfully when he railed, that he might enjoy a quarrel. THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED. As Mr. Armitage had stated, he had disposed of his trust certificates. A feature of this sud- den sale, which he would not readily acknowl- edge even to himself, was that he had been led to this action by a strong presentiment that the Van Alstyne factory had, in some mysterious way, not only escaped the clutches of the com- bination, but would be its most dangerous and incorruptible rival. In addition to this, he was far from anxious to have his name in any way brought into prominence in connection with this matter, as he naturally felt that it would be liable to injure him in Miss Pitcairn's estima- tion. As had been foreseen, the box was an unpre- cedented success, and the new mill could not fill the orders. To satisfy the customers the old mill at Harlem was refitted and crowded with help, and turning out goods by the thousand dozen, and even then the books were filled with lists of orders, dated months in advance. The trust was wholly taken by surprise by this sudden turn of affairs, and after a hurried consultation, made a feeble attempt to infringe on the patent that controlled the folding box, but was met by swift and sudden punish- ment that effectually frightened others from fol- lowing their exa'mple. HER OPPORTUNITY. With this success came the culmination of another plan, the changing of the warehouse into a model home for the employes, and in fact any reputable girls who wanted good food, clean lodgings, and home comforts for a small sum. The plans had long been matured, but the partial failure of the Harlem project had seri- ously interfered with their consummation. At one time Belle had gone so far as to order all of the merchandise moved out, which had been done, and off and on had made some alterations. Now, however, as soon as her factory was going well enough to spare her for a brief time, she visited the old warehouse with her father and mother, the Professor, and Sarah. "This is to be the girls' home," she had said, by way of introduction, as old Jefferson let them in. " A free home ? " inquired the Professor. " I think not, rather a home that will furnish a neat, clean room and substantial board for the sums they now pay for poor attics and baker's bread," was the reply. "In mercy to the girls do not call it a home," suddenly spoke Miss Murdock. " Every infirmary, hospital, or charitable institution in the city is a 'home.' If the girls are to be independent and self-supporting they want the THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED. 383 name of it, and not even an implication that they are objects of charity." " Human nature," murmured the Governor. " Then we will not call it a ' home,' whatever else it is named, but when we know just what it is to be and to do, we will try and name it accordingly," said Belle. Leaving this decision for some future date, the plans were brought forward and carefully gone over, each floor receiving its proper at- tention, and provoking much discussion. When the building had been " done " on paper from attic to basement, old Jefferson showed them the place that now looked desolate enough, all of the merchandise having been removed. " I have shown you this that, when you next .ook it over the constrast may startle you," said Miss Pitcairn. The very next day a large force of men were put at work upon the building, tearing down old partitions, rebuilding the weakened wall, sheathing, relaying floors, and doing a score of things that were necessary before the place could be made attractive and useful to the working girls of the East Side. When after a time the work was finished, and the building ready for occupancy, before even the matron, who was also superintendent, 384 HER OPPORTUNITY. had taken possession of her room, the Professor, Miss Murdock, Governor Pitcairn and wife, by special invitation from Belle, again came down and were shown over the edifice from basement to attic by the enthusiastic lady. And what a beautiful house they saw ! Light, airy, cheerful, furnished substantially, and yet simply, and of so inviting an appearance that the Governor de- clared his intention of selling his Fifth Avenue property, and taking a suite of rooms in it. " How much did you run over the apppropria- tion, dear ? " he said in an aside. " Not one penny, papa. I have nearly a thousand dollars left," was the complacent reply. "Good, my little financier. Make it pay. It will if it is managed right, and will do all the more good for being self-supporting." The problem of filling the home with the girls, for whom it was built, came next, those of the working girls who were struggling to get a living, and yet were daily running behind, was at first not so easy of solution ; but the practical Mrs. Thomas being appealed to was at once able to furnish a dozen names, and by suggesting an amendment to the plan for con- ducting the dining-room, tc bring the manage- ment in contact with many more. Her plan was to offer a free dinner to all women or THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED. 385 girls who could not pay for it. In a city like New York, of course it was not wise to adver- tise this, and the capable little lady took it upon herself in her calls to inform the neigh- bors of the advantages that this place offered. To appreciate the hopes and fears that an announcement of such a nature produces upon a half-starved sewing-girl or box-maker, it was only necessary to see one of this thin, over- worked sisterhood hurrying up Burges Street, at dinner time, on the occasion of her first visit to the place. With timid knock she gains ad- mittance to the waiting-room, just off of the side entrance, and meets a comfortable, kindly looking woman, who says, " Dinner is all ready in the next room." " How much ? " falters the hungry girl. " Not a cent, dear. There, there, never mine the thanks go in and enjoy your dinner. When you are through come into the office a minute and see me." This free dinner eaten, the ice was broken, and the overburdened girl found it natural to tell the nature of her struggles and disappoint- ments, and the usual result was that a com- fortless attic was abandoned, and one of the rooms in the new institution found a most thankful and industrious tenant. Small sums HER OPPORTUNITY. were paid for rent, and for breakfasts and sup. pers, which were as simple as they well could be. In three weeks' time every room was full, and still applications came in. All of the box-makers who lived in that vicinity had gladly taken rooms there. As the new lodgers gained in health and spirits, as they almost invariably did, almost without exception they were able and preferred to pay for their dinners, and it so happened that at the end of ten months there were none in the house who were not paying their ex- penses, and were proud and happy so to do. Professor Buckingham had watched Miss Pit- cairn's enterprise with keen interest, and had been very glad that it was signally successful. "One thing has occurred to me," he said, meet- ing the lady as she was coming out of church one Sabbath morning. " How do you prevent. gossip in a place where so many persons of limited resources are gathered together?" "We were sadly troubled by it at first," she answered ; " but we made a rule, that no one should speak against another. Then we have somebody reading aloud in the general sitting- room evenings, while the others are working, and it gives them subjects to think of other than their own petty jealousies.' THE COMBINATION OUTWITTED. " Miss Pitcairn," said the gentleman, " I have vainly tried to suggest something that would .be of value in your good enterprises, but you have forestalled me on every occasion. It is rather hard for me to feel that my wit is slow, and my inventions so trite. Is there not something that I can do?" Belle smiled at the sadness of the tone, and looking into the handsome face with a glance of especial favor, replied, "You have helped me wonderfully already in vour suggestions, your work, and your moral support, and as a token of my appreciation 1 ask you to name the institution." N " Has it not yet a name ? " "They call it* the 'Corner House' now, but we want something more dignified than that. I confess my own brain has been ransacked till I am weary, but without avail, for the proper appellation." "Suppose it be called the 'Industrial League,'" said he, after a moment of thought. "Capital! Indeed, that is just what is wanted to give it dignity, and to make the young ladies feel that they are workers together with us. How can I thank you ? " The young man had no chance to state in what form the lady's gratitude would be most 3 38 HER OPPORTUNITY. acceptable, for Mrs. Armitage rustled up at that moment and carried the Governor's daughter away, after a keen, questioning glance at the Professor, who looked extremely happy. Man- like, it did not occur to him that there was a covert opposition in this glance, and that, while in not the least danger of being defamed by this lovely woman, her faint praise might do him injury. Possibly he would not take it much to heart were he appraised of this hostility, for he was a busy man, and loftily ignored the petty strifes of modern society. A COWARD'S BLOW. XXVI. e/i v^0w