Stella Rosevelt — page 318: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

312 “I PROMISE.” gradually led him to talk business, and asked him to tell him just what his trouble was. This changed everything, and he became at once the anxious, care-worn man again. ‘IT do not like to trouble you, Uncle Jacob,” he said, un- easily. ‘‘ You have had your day of business, with all its cares and perplexities, without bothering your brain with those of other people. Im in a terrible muddle, it is true; but—lI guess there will be some way out of it;” and there came into his eyes that same wild, desperate look which Star had noticed in the morning, and which made her shudder with a terrible fear. But Mr. Rosevelt insisted, and finally drew from him a true statement of facts. | ‘‘T am sorry you are having such a hard time of it, George,” he said, thoughtfully, when he had concluded. ‘‘ How much wou'd it take to relieve you of your embarrassment?” | Mr. Richards cast a startled look at the old gentleman at this question; then, while a deep flush mounted to his brow, he said : ‘‘I can raise enough to meet all my present liabilities with ten thousand dollars. I have tried to borrow it everywhere, but everybody seems to have become suddenly shy of me for some reason, and I might as well be without a dollar in the world as without the whole amount. If I coudd raise it, it wculd set me on my legs again, for my credit would be good, and, with care and patience, I believe I could retrieve my position. ” Star almost held her breath while she waited for Mr. Rose- velt’s reply to this. To her infinite surprise, he turned to her. ‘* My dear,” he said, gently, ‘‘you shall return some of the kindness of which you told me this morning. I think you ‘understand what I want you to do.” p/h ged “cComicbooks