When the two ladies were gone Fred muttered to himself:
"They made me do an unbusinesslike thing--because they are women. She
brought Eva along to make sure I would not refuse her. True, Eva
indorsed the note, but she is a minor, and so the indorsement is not
worth a cent. I don't believe she has a tip. There's nothing doing in
the Street now that I know anything about. I think it was for the
benefit of her husband, and no one else. Sorry I didn't ask what the tip
was since I have to take all the risks. Ah, here comes Callie!"
Callie came into the little private office unannounced.
"Mr. Bryant is in Bowles' power for $10,000, and a warrant is out for
him. Mrs. Bryant came to the bank to fix it up, and Eva Gaines was with
her. They could not do anything with Mr. Barron and I heard Eva whisper
to Mrs. Bryant: 'Let's go and see Fred Halsey.' I got away as quick as I
could so you may know what to do when they come."
"You came too late, Callie," he said, shaking his head.
"Have they been here?"
"Yes,"
"What did they do?"
"They got $10,000 out of me."
"You goose, you! You need a guardian, Fred Halsey!"
"I guess you are right, and I believe I'll apply for one this very day."
"What was Mr. Allison about?"
"He doesn't know a thing about it. I couldn't refuse 'em, they came at
me in such a way. If I had a wife, I think I would be safer in such
matters."
"So do I. You need one badly, young as you are," and she laughed saucily
at him.
"Well, let's call a carriage and drive to the mayor's office. He'll tie
us up hard and fast."
Her big brown eyes opened wide and stared at him.
"Do you mean you want to marry me?" she asked.
"Yes. You have more sense than any girl I know of."
"Fred, if you love me and want me for that reason alone, I'll marry you.
But if you want me simply for business reasons, I won't."
"Callie, you sweet little goose, I've been dead in love with you for six
months, and have asked myself a thousand times, 'Will she have me if I
ask her?' and now I ask you--will you be my wife?"
"Yes, Fred."
"Do you love me?" he asked her impulsively.
"Yes, yes. Oh, Fred, I am so happy now that I know you love me! I was so
afraid you did not."
Fred caught her in his arms and kissed her, saying:
"Let's drive to the mayor's office at once, and---."
"No, that won't do. We both have mothers who love us. They will be glad
to know that we love each other. Let's wait a little while and have a
quiet wedding at my mother's home."
"How long do you want me to wait?"
"Will a month be too long?"
"Hang it, yes. Make it two weeks and it's a go."
"Well, say two weeks, then."
He kissed her again.
"Hello! Spooning!" cried Bob, coming in at that moment.
"Yes," replied Fred. "We got it bad," and he kissed her again.
"Yum-yum!" said Bob. "Wish my girl was here," and he wiped his mouth and
laughed.
"Say, pard," said Fred, "we are going to hitch in two weeks."
"Great Scott! Why such haste?"
"Old age is coming on and we want all there is in life for us, eh,
Callie?"
"You are doing all the talking, Fred," Callie replied.
Bob and Fred laughed, and Callie joined in finally. She was a very happy
girl.
"How about my position at Barron's, Fred?" she asked.
"Give it up, of course. Do you know a poor girl who wants the place?"
"I do," said Bob.
"Who is she?"
"A friend of Gertie's. She's a good one, too."
"Well, let's see her before Callie steps down and out."
"I'll tell Gertie about it to-night."
"Yes."
"Oh, I must see Gertie myself. Let me tell her all about it," said
Callie.
Bob was with Gertie in her home that evening when Callie and Fred
called. The two girls were soon planning for a double wedding, and ere
they parted it was arranged that both should marry on the same evening.
The young inventor of the gas-saving machine was now a frequent caller
at the Halsey residence, for Adah was a beautiful girl, who was fast
developing into a splendid woman. She was the magnet that drew him to
the house. As he was studious, industrious, and withal a genius, Fred
was glad to see an attachment growing up between them. Callie resigned
her place as stenographer and typewriter for Banker Barron, and
succeeded in getting Gertie's friend employed in her place. She and
Gertie then proceeded to make preparations to marry the young bankers
and speculators.
In the meantime Fred was busy in the Stock Exchange, trying to find out
what Broker Bryant was doing. He kept his eyes wide open all the time to
see if he was working on any particular stock. But the burly broker
seemed to have nothing at all to do. Fred noticed that he and old Bowles
no longer spoke as they passed by.
By that he knew Callie had got the story right, and that Bryant had
escaped the old man's clutches only by paying up the last penny he owed
him. He went to the old man and said he wanted to buy futures on P. & K.
"How much and how long?" the old man asked.
"Five thousand shares for ten days."
The trade was made, and Fred then went quietly to work buying up the
7,000 shares that were on the market. He bought at 67, in a few days he
met Bryant on the street and said to him:
"I want to see you privately if you feel like doing any business with
me."
Bryant was quite astonished, and asked:
"Is there any money in it?"
"I think there is."
"Then I am at your service."
Fred had a confidential talk with him, during which the broker admitted
that Bowles had ruined him financially by getting a technical grip on
him.
"Well, I have got a grip on him, I think," Fred explained, "and if you
want your revenge, you can have it."