Within the Law | Page 9

him.
"Mighty much obliged, Sadie," he said, enthusiastically. "But I must

run. Otherwise, this wouldn't be enough for the fare!" And, so saying,
he darted out of the room.
CHAPTER III.
ONLY THREE YEARS.
When, at last, the owner of the store entered the office, his face showed
extreme irritation. He did not vouchsafe any greeting to the secretary,
who regarded him with an accurate perception of his mood. With a
diplomacy born of long experience, in her first speech Sarah afforded
an agreeable diversion to her employer's line of thought.
"Mr. Hastings, of the Empire store, called you up, Mr. Gilder, and
asked me to let him know when you returned. Shall I get him on the
wire?"
The man's face lightened instantly, and there was even the beginning of
a smile on his lips as he seated himself at the great mahogany desk.
"Yes, yes!" he exclaimed, with evident enthusiasm. The smile grew in
the short interval before the connection was made. When, finally, he
addressed his friend over the telephone, his tones were of the
cheerfulest.
"Oh, good morning. Yes, certainly. Four will suit me admirably....
Sunday? Yes, if you like. We can go out after church, and have
luncheon at the country club." After listening a moment, he laughed in
a pleased fashion that had in it a suggestion of conscious superiority.
"My dear fellow," he declared briskly, "you couldn't beat me in a
thousand years. Why, I made the eighteen holes in ninety-two only last
week." He laughed again at the answer over the wire, then hung up the
receiver and pushed the telephone aside, as he turned his attention to
the papers neatly arranged on the desk ready to his hand.
The curiosity of the secretary could not be longer delayed.
"What did they do with the Turner girl?" she inquired in an elaborately

casual manner.
Gilder did not look up from the heap of papers, but answered rather
harshly, while once again his expression grew forbidding.
"I don't know--I couldn't wait," he said. He made a petulant gesture as
he went on: "I don't see why Judge Lawlor bothered me about the
matter. He is the one to impose sentence, not I. I am hours behind with
my work now."
For a few minutes he gave himself up to the routine of business,
distributing the correspondence and other various papers for the action
of subordinates, and speaking his orders occasionally to the attentive
secretary with a quickness and precision that proclaimed the capable
executive. The observer would have realized at once that here was a
man obviously fitted to the control of large affairs. The ability that
marches inevitably to success showed unmistakably in the face and
form, and in the fashion of speech. Edward Gilder was a big man
physically, plainly the possessor of that abundant vital energy which is
a prime requisite for achievement in the ordering of modern business
concerns. Force was, indeed, the dominant quality of the man. His tall
figure was proportionately broad, and he was heavily fleshed. In fact,
the body was too ponderous. Perhaps, in that characteristic might be
found a clue to the chief fault in his nature. For he was ponderous,
spiritually and mentally, as well as materially. The fact was displayed
suggestively in the face, which was too heavy with its prominent jowls
and aggressive chin and rather bulbous nose. But there was nothing
flabby anywhere. The ample features showed no trace of weakness,
only a rude, abounding strength. There was no lighter touch anywhere.
Evidently a just man according to his own ideas, yet never one to
temper justice with mercy. He appeared, and was, a very practical and
most prosaic business man. He was not given to a humorous outlook on
life. He took it and himself with the utmost seriousness. He was almost
entirely lacking in imagination, that faculty which is essential to
sympathy.
"Take this," he directed presently, when he had disposed of the matters
before him. Forthwith, he dictated the following letter, and now his

voice took on a more unctuous note, as of one who is appreciative of
his own excellent generosity.
"THE EDITOR,
"The New York Herald.
"DEAR SIR: Inclosed please find my check for a thousand dollars for
your free-ice fund. It is going to be a very hard summer for the poor,
and I hope by thus starting the contributions for your fine charity at this
early day that you will be able to accomplish even more good than
usually. "Very truly yours."
He turned an inquiring glance toward Sarah.
"That's what I usually give, isn't it?"
The secretary nodded energetically.
"Yes," she agreed in her brisk manner, "that's what you have given
every year for the last ten years."
The statement impressed Gilder pleasantly. His voice