Page:Jackson Gregory--joyous trouble maker.djvu/94

78 But even as he began a savage dressing he gave begrudgingly of his admiration to the young woman who had cut him off. She was Ben Corliss' daughter over and over, clear thoughted, direct, capable, the driver of many a hard bargain, one who gave orders crisply and counted confidently upon their being obeyed to the letter. The details oftener than not she was content to leave in the hands of her agents; now she did not concern herself in the least with the manner of Steele's removal. What she asked at all times was results.

"I wonder what's up between Bill and her?" pondered Hurley, busy with his boots. "He's most certainly riled her up a few! And I don't know the man to do the job better than Bill Steele. I'll bet she doesn't go back for her beauty sleep this trip."

Nor did she. Beatrice Corliss was awake for the day, wide awake. That man … so she had grown into the habit of thinking of Mr. William Steele … having begun with impertinence which was in her mind close to insult, now rose to defiance. And never in all the days of her life until this morning had a man openly defied her. There had been reasons. Hers was that crushing power of massed millions which was to be considered with forethought and circumspection. If acquaintances did not like Beatrice Corliss, and she had the brains to know that there were those who did not, they were at least aware of the foolishness of antagonizing the machinery of the Corliss money. Men who came from near by or from distances to speak with her came invariably upon business and with no desire to