Jewels Story Book | Page 4

that time until they reached New York they
chatted about her pony Star, and other less important horses, and of the
child's anticipation of showing her mother the joys of Bel-Air Park.
Chapter II
THE BROKER'S OFFICE
It was the first time Jewel had visited her grandfather's office and she
was impressed anew with his importance as she entered the stone
building and ascended in the elevator to mysterious heights.
Arrived in an electric-lighted anteroom, Zeke's request to see Mr.
Evringham was met by a sharp-eyed young man who denied it with a
cold, inquiring stare. Then the glance of this factotum fell to Jewel's
uplifted, rose-tinted face and her trustful gaze fixed on his own.
Zeke twirled his hat slowly between his hands.
"You just step into Mr. Evringham's office," he said quietly, "and tell
him the young lady he invited has arrived."
Jewel wondered how this person, who had the privilege of being near
her grandfather all day, could look so forbidding; but in her happy
excitement she could not refrain from smiling at him under the nodding
hat brim.
"I'm going to dinner with him," she said softly, "and I think we're going
to have Nesselrode pudding."
The young man's eyes stared and then began to twinkle. "Oh," he
returned, "in that case"--then he turned and left the visitors.
When he entered the sanctum of his employer he was smiling. Mr.
Evringham did not look up at once. When he did, it was with a brief,
"Well?"

"A young lady insists upon seeing you, sir."
"Kindly stop grinning, Masterson, and tell her she must state her
business."
"She has done so, sir," but Masterson did not stop grinning. "She looks
like a summer girl, and I guess she is one."
Mr. Evringham frowned at this unprecedented levity. "What is her
business, briefly?" he asked curtly.
"To eat Nesselrode pudding, sir."
The broker started. "Ah!" he exclaimed, and though he still frowned, he
reflected his junior's smile. "Is there some one with her?"
"A young man."
"Send them in, please."
Masterson obeyed and managed to linger until his curiosity was both
appeased and heightened by seeing Jewel run across the Turkish rug
and completely submerge the stately gray head beneath the brim of her
hat.
"Well, I'll--be--everlastingly"--thought Masterson, as he softly passed
out and closed the door behind him. "Even Achilles could get it in the
heel, but I'll swear I didn't believe the old man had a joint in his armor."
Zeke stood twisting his hat, and when his employer was allowed to
come to the surface, he spoke respectfully:--
"Mother said I was to bring word if you would like a late supper, sir."
"Tell Mrs. Forbes that it will be only something light, if anything. She
need not prepare."
Jewel danced to the door with her escort as he went. "Good-by, Zeke,"
she said gayly. "Thank you for bringing me."

"Good-by, Jewel," he returned in subdued accents, and stumbling on
the threshold, passed out with a furtive wave of his hat.
The child returned and jumped into a chair by the desk, reserved for the
selected visitors who succeeded in invading this precinct. "I suppose
you aren't quite through," she said, fixing her host with a blissful gaze
as he worked among a scattered pile of papers.
"Very nearly," he returned. He saw that she was near to bubbling over
with ideas ready to pour out to him. He knew, too, that she would wait
his time. It entertained him to watch her furtively as she gave herself to
inspecting the furnishings of the room and the pictures on the wall, then
looked down at the patent leather tips of her best shoes as they swung
to and fro. At last she began to look at him more and more wistfully,
and to view the furnishings of the large desk. It had a broad shelf at the
top.
Suddenly Jewel caught sight of a picture standing there in a square
frame, and an irrepressible "Oh!" escaped from her lips.
She pressed her hands together and Mr. Evringham saw a deeper rose
in her cheeks. He followed her eyes, and silently taking the picture
from the desk placed it in her lap. She clasped it eagerly. It was a fine
photograph of Essex Maid, her grandfather's mare.
In a minute he spoke:--
"Now I think I'm about through, Jewel," he said, leaning back in his
chair.
"Oh, grandpa, do these cost very much?"
"Why? Do you want to have Star sit for his picture?"
"Yes, it would be nice to have a picture of Star, wouldn't it! I never
thought of that. I mean to ask mother if I can."
The broker winced.

"What I was thinking of was, could I have a picture of Essex Maid to
take