Evening star., 1901-12-14

presumed upon 1t. But Ned was too eX-
shouted back: 'If we want 1t. how badly
do we want it? The O. and V. people are
reaching off the earth after It,"
Let 'em reach" DAVIS voice was thin
and high. Keep your tongue between
your teeth over it-but I sent a man yes
terday to offer old G. w. a 15 per cent re-
bate
The @. and V. will give him 49," Ned
broke In. He heard Daw whistle, but was
gu, quite prepared for the answer. Stop CIV
ing me pipe dreams; telephone communfca-
tlon seems to have gone to your head"
something worse has gone to your
, mead, Ned retorted. "Idsten: Here's
Waat tsa they say-never mind how I know it
the letters right here in my hand, and
signed by Masters himself"
Read it!' Daw shouted-with a rumble
OF profanity after the order. Ned did read
i-iow. clearly and In full volume, though
more than once as he read he caught dis
turDed sounds from the other end of the
line He was not half way through when
Daw howled to him: stop! You say Mas
ters stands for that? Well! Do you 60 to
y. Wakefield. first thing Monday-get there a
that freight-get 1t II you have to take it
for nothing, and throw in an annual family
pass over all our lines. Masters Is SO
mighty smart. want to show him that for
once he's been quite too smart
TN do 1t or freeze; good-byew Ned
shouted. AS he hung up the earpiece his
heart leaped. Bessie Monroe had been his
sweetheart back in the happy days before
me governor went to smash. He had not
been to Wakefield since, but somehow he
had no doubt he would find himself vel
come there as Of old. Irresolutely he rang
on again. and got a Wakefield connection
No-thus the voice at the other end-Mr.
Monroe was away-if it was ANYTHING I'M
portant better talk with Mr. NortonSwhat
was that?-Miss Bessie? Why, of course !
She often talked over the phone. Fetch
her quickf What was the hurry? She d
come when she was ready
Through the longest minute Of his wbo,e
life Ned held the receiver against his ear.
noting the while how the fubbub outsida
swelled and sank. He had chuckled over
IN tae success success OF his ruse-now he was full
of breathless apprehension. lest the fight
Of his devising might end before he was
ready. But apprehension took flight when
Bessie said In her soft, mischievous voice.
i ought not to speak to you. Ned Lester
as badly as you have treated me!-but now
that am here, what have you got to SAW,
Il love you! I am coming Monday morn
ing to ask you to marry me-" Ned said
audaciously. BE sure you are ready to
say yes"
why not say It nowT' Bessie asked
saucily. Neds head swan. but somehow
he managed to answer: You can say it
now-and then"
else should not have come" Bessie called
back to him. and in fancy he could see
her pout and the dear toss of her head
Laughing at himself he said in his dryest
tone: 1T was-important business. Tell a
W. If he wants to hear something to his ad-
vantage not to sign freight contract until
he sees me-"
"I'n tell him, but doubt II he will accent
any OF your proposals." Bessie said loftiiy.
and rung on before Ned could reply. It
was Just as well-Ned was too idiotically
happy for sensible conversation
Sounds OF strife still accented the mur-
hob k-lI
the back door and s1irted around the raz-
ing crowd. The Prophet had bloody nose
and one eye nearly shut, but was still linn
Der and lusty-in no way scant of breath.
Bunch, unscarred, unmarried, limped the
least bit, and also favored his left when IL
came to hooks and punches. Notwith
standing he put up q game fght-eyerybody
agreed that from start to finish this was
the finest Christmas scrap in the le at
twenty years. Oddly enough belIigerency
showed no signs Of spreading No backer
OF either warrior had lost his temper over
the chance Of losing something else SIN.
as he watched his two bantams, Ned's
heart mtsgave him-he broke into the ring
and caught shoulder Of EACH
You're the finest fighters In the country
you two" He said: 'Id back you against
fellows twice your size But I can't stand
what would happen il I didn't stop Won,
Now I'll give each of you a big silver dol
lar to shake hands and call 1t a draw
Cheers from the crowd drowned his fur
ther speech. The fighters stared at him
in blank amaze, their jaws dropping. 81
multaneously they held out their hands
As their fingers closed over the coins tfes,