When the luncheon hour drew near there came a slight lull in the uproar.
Maxwell stood by his desk with his hands full of telegrams and memoranda, with a fountain pen over his right ear and his hair hanging in disorderly strings over his forehead. His window was open, for the beloved janitress Spring had turned on a little warmth through the waking registers of the earth.
And through the window came a wandering perhaps a lost odour a delicate, sweet odour of lilac that fixed the broker for a moment immovable. For this odour belonged to Miss Leslie; it was her own, and hers only.
The odour brought her vividly, almost tangibly before him. The world of finance dwindled suddenly to a speck. And she was in the next room twenty steps away.
By George, Ill do it now, said Maxwell, half aloud. Ill ask her now. I wonder I didnt do it long ago.
He dashed into the inner office with the haste of a short trying to cover. He charged upon the desk of the stenographer.
She looked up at him with a smile. A soft pink crept over her cheek, and her eyes were kind and frank. Maxwell leaned one elbow on her desk. He still clutched fluttering papers with both hands and the pen was above his ear.
Miss Leslie, he began hurriedly, I have but a moment to spare. I want to say something in that moment. Will you be my wife? I havent had time to make love to you in the ordinary way, but I really do love you. Talk quick, please those fellows are clubbing the stuffing out of Union Pacific.
Oh, what are you talking about? exclaimed the young lady. She rose to her feet and gazed upon him, round-eyed.
Dont you understand? said Maxwell, restively. I want you to marry me. I love you, Miss Leslie. I wanted to tell you, and I snatched a minute when things had slackened up a bit. Theyre calling me for the phone now. Tell em to wait a minute, Pitcher. Wont you, Miss Leslie?
The stenographer acted very queerly. At first she seemed overcome with amazement; then tears flowed from her wondering eyes; and then she smiled sunnily through them, and one of her arms slid tenderly about the brokers neck.
I know now, she said, softly. Its this old business that has driven everything else out of your head for the time. I was frightened at first. Dont you remember, Harvey? We were married last evening at 8 oclock in the Little Church Around the Corner.
After Twenty Years
The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was barely 10 oclock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had well nigh de-peopled the streets.
Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye adown the pacific thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace. The vicinity was one that kept early hours. Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch counter; but the majority of the doors belonged to business places that had long since been closed.
When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly.
Its all right, officer, he said, reassuringly. Im just waiting for a friend. Its an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesnt it? Well, Ill explain if youd like to make certain its all straight. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands Big Joe Bradys restaurant.
Until five years ago, said the policeman. It was torn down then.
The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarf-pin was a large diamond, oddly set.
Twenty years ago to-night, said the man, I dined here at Big Joe Bradys with Jimmy Wells, my best chum, and the finest chap in the world. He and I were raised here in New York, just like two brothers, together. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. You couldnt have dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on earth. Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be.
It sounds pretty interesting, said the policeman. Rather a long time between meets, though, it seems to me. Havent you heard from your friend since you left?
Well, yes, for a time we corresponded, said the other. But after a year or two we lost track of each other. You see, the West is a pretty big proposition, and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively. But I know Jimmy will meet me here if hes alive, for he always was the truest, stanchest old chap in the world. Hell never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this door to-night, and its worth it if my old partner turns up.