Five Little Peppers Grown Up

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  MR. KING ATTENDS TO MATTERS.

  Old Mr. King kept on turning the books with a careless hand.

  "Father," begged Jasper in a low voice, and putting his hand on the oldgentleman's arm, such a world of entreaty in his face, that his fatherturned in spite of himself.

  "After all I much better have it over with now, I really think," saidMr. King; "yes, Jasper, we will go back," with a marked emphasis on theword "back."

  "I can't thank you enough, father," exclaimed Jasper gratefully.

  "Well, well, say no more," said old Mr. King abruptly, as they reachedthe private office.

  Mr. Marlowe's hands were mechanically adjusting the loose papers on hisdesk, so as not to lose an instant's time as Mr. King and Jasper cameup, but he turned a face, over which a bright smile shot suddenly,lighting up the gray eyes, then quickly whirled around in his officechair. "Glad to see you," he said, putting out a cordial right hand.

  Mr. King bowed, but evidently did not see the hand; which Mr. Marlowenot appearing to notice, the old gentleman was more furious than ever.

  "Set a chair for your father, Jasper," said Mr. Marlowe quietly, "andget one for yourself." Then he leaned back in his office chair andpleasantly surveyed old Mr. King, waiting for him to speak.

  "I have come, sir," said Mr. King, as he settled his courtly old figurein the chair Jasper had put for him beside the desk, "to see you aboutmy son; I am not satisfied with his appearance, nor, I am sorry to say,with his surroundings."

  "Indeed,?" said the head of the publishing house of D. Marlowe & Co.,still with a pleasant smile on his face.

  "I am very sorry," repeated Jasper's father, "to have to say it, but myattention has been called to the fact, and I cannot now ignore it."

  "Hardly by Jasper," remarked Mr. Marlowe, bringing the revolving chairso that he could see Jasper's face.

  "Indeed, no," cried Jasper involuntarily, "it is something father hasheard elsewhere, Mr. Marlowe, and I know he will feel quite differentlywhen he comes to see things as they really are."

  The grave look on Mr. Marlowe's face disappeared as he turned back toold Mr. King.

  "Well," he said at last, as the other showed no sign of continuing theconversation, and still playing with the paper cutter on his desk.

  "Permit me to say, sir," Mr. King broke out, finding to his astonishmentit was not an easy matter to talk to this imperturbable man entrenchedbehind his own desk, "that I am disappointed in the atmosphere in whichI find my son. It smells of trade, sir, too much to suit my fancy."

  "Did you suppose for an instant, Mr. King," asked Mr. Marlowe, droppingthe paper-cutter to pick up the pencil, "that our books came out readyfor libraries, without any intervening process?"

  "I certainly supposed Jasper was to be in charge of a literarydepartment of the house, when I gave my consent to his coming here--"declared Mr. King very decidedly.

  "Father!" exclaimed Jasper, unable longer to keep silent, "how could Itake charge of any department, until I had learned it all myself?"

  "You have been through Harvard," his father turned on him, "and it seemsto me are fully competent to do the literary work required here."

  "And as for the manufacturing department," continued Jasper, finding itmore difficult to keep still, "it was the only place for me; I had tobegin at the bottom, if I'm ever to be a publisher--which is what mywork is to be--"

  "Not so fast--not so fast," cried the old gentleman excitedly. "You arenot to be a publisher, I take it, if I do not wish it. You've given yourword you will not."

  "I have given my word, father," said Jasper with a long breath, "andI'll not go back on it," but his lips whitened.

  All this while Mr. Marlowe still played with the little articles on hisdesk, sitting very quietly and watching the two. He now threw them downwith an abrupt movement, whirled the revolving chair around suddenly andsent a lightning-like glance of stern inquiry toward old Mr. King.

  "Be so kind, sir, as to define exactly what your intentions are as toyour son's future. Time is very valuable here, and every fractionsquandered has to be made up in some way."

  "My intentions are," said the old gentleman, in a lofty way, "to take myson out of the business--entirely out, sir," he waved his hand in astately and comprehensive manner; then glanced to see the effect on thehead of the house.

  But there was no effect whatever, except a quick business-likeacceptance of the situation on Mr. Marlowe's implacable face. "Father!"began Jasper. But old Mr. King was beyond hearing a word.

  "I had intended," he went on condescendingly, "to have my son put in alarge interest in the business, supposing it turned out to be the properone for him. In fact, his and my financial support would have made itone of the finest publishing houses in the world."

  Mr. Marlowe bowed. "Thank you," he said politely. "James," turning tothe window opening into the book-keeping department, "make out JasperKing's account and settle at once. I believe you wish to go as soon asyou can, do you not," to Jasper, "that is, after you have given me thereport of the business you did on the trip?"

  Jasper could not speak for a moment. Then he said: "But I can't leave mywork in this way--it's," and he sprang to his feet.

  "Jasper," Mr. Marlowe stopped a moment and seemed to swallow somethingin his throat, then went on, "your father wishes it, and you will makehim happy"--Jasper started at Polly's own words--"that's enough for onelife time. I'm sorry to lose you, my boy," he suddenly grasped Jasper'shand, "but allow me to say, sir," turning to old Mr. King, "that for youand your money I have very little consideration. You don't own enough tomake it worth while for the house of David Marlowe & Co. to extend aninvitation to you to enter it. And now, if you will excuse me, I willhear Jasper's account of the business he was sent on."

  With that, seeing it was expected of him, old Mr. King got out of hischair, by the side of the desk, and passed into the long salesroom.

  "I hope you'll believe," began Jasper brokenly, feeling as if the wholeworld were going awry, "that this strange idea was never gained from me.Why, I _love_ the business." His gray eyes glowed as he spoke theword.

  "My boy," Mr. Marlowe's face was alight with feeling, "don't explain, Iunderstand it all; you've the misfortune to be born into a rich family,and your father probably never had to raise his hand to earn a penny. Heisn't to be blamed, only I did hope"--

  "That I was different," finished Jasper, his head drooping a bit withthe shame of it. "Oh, Mr. Marlowe, father is so splendid--he's just amagnificent man," he added, the head coming up, with Jasper's old habitof throwing it back, "if you only knew him and he could have shown youhis old self."

  "Don't I know it," responded Mr. Marlowe heartily, "and I also know thatyou must stick by him. Only I did hope--and now I will finish what I wasgoing to say--that you could stay and help me, for you are after my ownheart, Jasper," he added abruptly, a rare tremble in his voice.

  Jasper put out his hand instinctively. "Thank you, Mr. Marlowe," he saidas the head of the house grasped it warmly, "I shall never forget this."

  And then, as if nothing but the ordinary business had occurred, Jaspersat down and went carefully over every detail of the commission he hadbeen sent on, heard Mr. Marlowe's terse, "That's good, Jasper; you'vedone it all well," and passed out for the last time, from the privateoffice, and joined his father in silence, for the walk to the hotel.

  That night Jasper's father wanted to go to a concert, so Jasper got abox, and sat through it all, not seeing anything but Polly's face, andhearing, "I'd make him happy, any way."

  Down in the audience sprinkled here and there, or in the galleries, weresome of the D. Marlowe & Co. salesmen and workers staring often up athim, and the handsome white-haired old gentleman by his side.

  "There's that old snob," they would exclaim at first recognition, totheir companions, "look at him," and under pretense of gazing at thestage, the opera glasses would be turned on the box. "Looks as if heowned the whole town, eh?"

 
"He is awfully handsome, isn't he?" every salesman's companion wouldexclaim, looking at Jasper pale and quiet, in the most secluded part ofthe box.

  "Yes," said every one of the men, only seeing the old gentleman, "buthe's too toploftical to live"--or something to that effect--and thenthey would forget all about it till the companion's opera glassesleveled in the same direction, brought the conversation around to theold topic.

  "They had a flare-up with Mr. Marlowe this morning," confided onesalesman to his friend in the _entr'acte_, "and he's off," with anod over to Jasper's private box.

  "Oh dear me!" exclaimed the young girl, with a pang at her heart, "has heleft your business?"

  "Yes," said the salesman, and a real regret passed over his carelessface, "and it's a shame, for no one would have thought he owned a penny;he was just digging at the business all the time, like the rest of us."

  "Is he very rich?" asked the young girl.

  "Well, I should say," began the salesman, unable to find words toexpress Jasper's financial condition. Then the curtain rang up.

  The next morning, old Mr. King broke the egg into his cup thoughtfully."I suppose I might as well look about a bit, now that I'm here, Jasper.I haven't been in this town for twenty years or so."

  "Very well, father," said Jasper, trying not to be listless. "Whereshall we go to-day?"

  "Oh, I'll look around by myself," said his father quickly. "You go tobed--you look all done up," scanning his son's face anxiously.

  "Indeed, you will not go alone," said Jasper, rousing himself withshame. "We'll have a good day together."

  "Indeed we will not," retorted the old gentleman.

  "I shall have a cab and go by myself. You'll go to bed, or I'll call inthe doctor. Goodness me, Jasper, you don't look like the same boy thatstarted out in business six months ago; you're all worn out."

  Jasper said nothing, only redoubled his efforts on the breakfast beforehim that now assumed colossal proportions, and as if it could never beeaten in the world, hoping to persuade his father into allowing him togo on the tour of inspection. But it was no use. Mr. King on finishinghis morning repast, stalked out to the office, and ordered a carriage,and presently departed, with last injunctions to Jasper, "to lie downand take things easy."

  As his father closed the door, Jasper sank into a chair by the table andallowed his head to drop into his hands; but only for a minute, then hesprang to his feet, and paced the floor rapidly.

  "If Polly is only happy," he said to himself over and over. How long hewalked thus he never knew--it was only by hearing a vigorous knock onthe door that he stopped, and called, "Come in."

  "They told me," said Jack Loughead, answering the knock, "at theMarlowes,' that I should find you here, unless you had left the town.Are you sick?" he asked with concern.

  "No; sit down, do, Loughead," said Jasper, dragging forward a chair, andfalling into one himself, just beginning to be conscious of a stiff pairof legs.

  Jack Loughead set his hat on the table, and himself in the chair thatJasper proffered. Then he fell to tapping the tip of his shining bootwith his walking stick.

  "King, I came here to ask you something, that if I didn't trust you sowell I could never ask in all the world. But I feel I can trust you."

  "Oh, don't--don't," begged Jasper, putting up an unsteady hand to wardoff the dreaded subject. "Don't tell me anything, Loughead."

  "Well, I will ask you something, then," said Jack Loughead coolly. "I'ma business man, King, and I must come to the point in a business way.First, let me tell you that Uncle and I start for Australia in afortnight;" Jasper drew a long breath of relief. "Yes, I must get back;and you will see that I cannot go without," Jack Loughead paused--thenwent on abruptly. "Does Miss Pepper care for Pickering Dodge?"

  "How do I know--how can I tell?" cried Jasper desperately, and springingfrom his chair, he began to pace the floor again. "Excuse me, Loughead,I'm not myself to-day. I've left D. Marlowe & Co. and"--

  "Yes, I know," interrupted Jack, and drawing a long breath of relief onhis part at being able to speak on this subject now that the ice wasbroken; "well, I'm glad, of course, King, if you didn't care to stay,"he said.

  "But I did," cried Jasper, stopping short, to emphasize this. "Mr.Marlowe is a royal man, through and through, and I'd work for him all mylife. But my father thought best not; that's enough," he added in theabruptest fashion, beginning to walk again.

  "Yes; well, I see," said Jack. "I know a little what well-meaningrelatives can do to make a young man's life miserable. I'm sorry, King,"and he looked truly wretched over it.

  "And you must forgive anything strange about me to-day," said Jasper,walking on hurriedly, "for I am all upset."

  "Yes, I know," repeated Jack Loughead, "nothing breaks a man up likewrenching him from his work. King," he sprang to his feet and joinedJasper walking on by his side down the room, "you are Miss Pepper'sbrother, or as good as one. Can you tell me if I shall wrong PickeringDodge if I speak to her?"

  Jasper was saved from answering by old Mr. King coming in with a "Oh,how d'ye, Loughead? Well, well, Jasper, you've had a good nap, I takeit." And then all three went down to luncheon, and Jasper managed not tobe left alone with Jack Loughead until at the last when he said, "Ishall go and tell the whole story to Mrs. Fisher; of course I must speakto her first."

  * * * * *

  "Halloo, Dave!" It was such a remarkable cry that David turned at once,although he was almost on a dead run across the campus.

  "Hey, there!" shouted Percy Whitney as David turned. "Whew! How you dogo, Dave."

  "What's the matter?" cried David, running lightly back to stand in frontof Percy. "Dear me, Percy, you have lost your eyeglasses!" with a glanceat the other's flushed face; "wait, I'll find the things."

  "I yelled my lungs sore," said Percy in irritation, dropping down on hisknees to pass his hands carefully over the campus grass, "and now I'velost these. Bad luck to you, Dave, for it!"

  "Oh! go without 'em," said David, getting gingerly down on all-fours toprowl around on the greensward.

  "Go without 'em?" repeated Percy, sitting straight in indignation. "Howcould I see, pray tell? Don't be a donkey, Dave."

  David said nothing, but fell to a more diligent search, while Percybewailed his loss, watching eagerly David's nimble fingers moving in andout of the little tufts of grass.

  "Shades of the departed specs," cried David, also sitting straight andpeering with his keen blue eyes in a birdlike way along the sward. "It'sa mysteri--oh, Great Caesar!" then he fell on his back on the campus,and rolled and laughed, to bring up red and shining, only to tumble overand roll again.

  "Of all the idiots in the universe, Dave Pepper," fumed Percy. "What'sthe matter?"

  "Your trouble has gone to your head," said David faintly. "Feel and see;oh dear!"

  "HOW YOU CAN SIT THERE AND LAUGH WHEN JOE IS IN DANGER, IDON'T SEE," EXCLAIMED PERCY IRRITABLY.]

  Percy's hand flew up to his thick mane of brown hair, that not all hisdisgust and tireless training could persuade to lie smoothly, when hepicked off his beloved glasses, after an angry twitch or two.

  "How you can sit there and laugh when Joe is in danger, I don't see," heexclaimed irritably, adjusting them to his nose. "I've nearly killedmyself to catch you, and"--

  "Joe in danger!" cried David, on his feet in an instant. "Oh, Percy,what do you mean?" his cheeks whitening, and his blue eyes agleam.

  "Joel's brought it on himself," said Percy, his irritation not goingdown. "I must say, Dave, if he'd behave more like the rest of us, he'dbe"--

  Then Polly's words, "Oh, dear, beautiful Joel!" came to mind, and hecoughed violently, holding fast the eyeglasses in their place.

  "What danger?" demanded David, in his impatience shaking Percy's arm.

  "Well, you must know, after last night's performance over Joe, that theywouldn't let him alone."

  "Last night's performance over Joel?" repeated David in astonishment."What yarn are you spi
nning now, Percy?"

  "Goodness sake, you are yarning yourself," retorted Percy indignantly,"to pretend that you don't know that last night a dozen or more fellowscalled on Joe, and he handled 'em without gloves, so that Bingley andDobbs can't hardly step to-day."

  "It's the first word I've heard of it," said David slowly, butemphatically, and staggering back a step or two to look at Percy. "I wasout all the evening. Oh, magnificent old Joe!"

  "Magnificent old Joe!" repeated Percy, "you better say 'poor Joe,' whenyou know what they are intending to give him."