The Pit | Page 7

city were
enormous; Landry Court had told her about him. Jadwin, unlike Mr.
Cressler, was not opposed to speculation. Though not a member of the
Board of Trade, he nevertheless at very long intervals took part in a
"deal" in wheat, or corn, or provisions. He believed that all corners
were doomed to failure, however, and had predicted Helmick's collapse
six months ago. He had influence, was well known to all Chicago
people, what he said carried weight, financiers consulted him,
promoters sought his friendship, his name on the board of directors of a
company was an all-sufficing endorsement; in a word, a "strong" man.
"I can't understand," exclaimed Laura distrait, referring to the delay on
the part of the Cresslers. "This was the night, and this was the place,
and it is long past the time. We could telephone to the house, you
know," she said, struck with an idea, "and see if they've started, or what
has happened."
"I don't know--I don't know," murmured Mrs. Wessels vaguely. No one
seemed ready to act upon Laura's suggestion, and again the minutes
passed.
"I'm going," declared Laura again, looking at the other two, as if to
demand what they had to say against the idea.
"I just couldn't," declared Page flatly.
"Well," continued Laura, "I'll wait just three minutes more, and then if
the Cresslers are not here I will speak to him. It seems to me to be
perfectly natural, and not at all bold."
She waited three minutes, and the Cresslers still failing to appear,
temporised yet further, for the twentieth time repeating:
"I don't see--I can't understand."

Then, abruptly drawing her cape about her, she crossed the vestibule
and came up to Jadwin.
As she approached she saw him catch her eye. Then, as he appeared to
understand that this young woman was about to speak to him, she
noticed an expression of suspicion, almost of distrust, come into his
face. No doubt he knew nothing of this other party who were to join the
Cresslers in the vestibule. Why should this girl speak to him?
Something had gone wrong, and the instinct of the man, no longer very
young, to keep out of strange young women's troubles betrayed itself in
the uneasy glance that he shot at her from under his heavy eyebrows.
But the look faded as quickly as it had come. Laura guessed that he had
decided that in such a place as this he need have no suspicions. He took
the cigar from his mouth, and she, immensely relieved, realised that she
had to do with a man who was a gentleman. Full of trepidation as she
had been in crossing the vestibule, she was quite mistress of herself
when the instant came for her to speak, and it was in a steady voice and
without embarrassment that she said:
"I beg your pardon, but I believe this is Mr. Jadwin."
He took off his hat, evidently a little nonplussed that she should know
his name, and by now she was ready even to browbeat him a little
should it be necessary.
"Yes, yes," he answered, now much more confused than she, "my name
is Jadwin."
"I believe," continued Laura steadily, "we were all to be in the same
party to-night with the Cresslers. But they don't seem to come, and
we--my sister and my aunt and I--don't know what to do."
She saw that he was embarrassed, convinced, and the knowledge that
she controlled the little situation, that she could command him, restored
her all her equanimity.
"My name is Miss Dearborn," she continued. "I believe you know my
sister Page."
By some trick of manner she managed to convey to him the impression
that if he did not know her sister Page, that if for one instant he should
deem her to be bold, he would offer a mortal affront. She had not yet
forgiven him that stare of suspicion when first their eyes had met; he
should pay her for that yet.
"Miss Page,--your sister,--Miss Page Dearborn? Certainly I know her,"

he answered. "And you have been waiting, too? What a pity!" And he
permitted himself the awkwardness of adding: "I did not know that you
were to be of our party."
"No," returned Laura upon the instant, "I did not know you were to be
one of us to-night--until Page told me." She accented the pronouns a
little, but it was enough for him to know that he had been rebuked.
How, he could not just say; and for what it was impossible for him at
the moment to determine; and she could see that he began to experience
a certain distress, was beating a retreat, was ceding place to her. Who
was she, then, this tall and pretty young woman,