Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-07-19

and ne spoke with perfect freedom,
as never before in Harriman's pres
ence.
Robbins is not the man for the
place" he said. "He doesn't know
what heis there for
Hartman slapped the desk gently
with his fat right hand.
Precisely" said he, ''ahd that Is
why ] am going to put you III his
shoes
The sweat. started out suddenly in
the palms of Georges hands, and he
felt at the same time the sensation of
a cold grip on the back of his neck
To be put at the head of even the
| smallest of the company's agencies
post one-tenth the importance of
that at Johnstown-was all he would
have asked of Heaven. And to think
how he had lost it! He had a sud-
| den vision of Williams at work on
| those accounts.
"You will leave for Johnstown to-
night" said Hartman. Here is the
order superceding Robbins. You will
draw the same salary and get the same
commissions that he does. No man
gets such chance as this twice in his
]
worthy, and do it in a hurry
He leaned over the desk and looked
earnestly at George who. in that mo-
ment would have given his right hand
| to be an honest man.
81 expect you to crush competition
out there" continued Hartman.
''That fellow Wellbrook,, who is run
ming an independent. racket, must be
done up. I don't care how you do it.,
i or what it costs. Lay him out. We
want ALL the business wherever we
go. That is what we are on earth for. "
81 don't think I shall have any
trouble" replied George, speaking
like one in a dream, for he knew that
! his ruin would come before he could
start upon this mission. Robbins
says that WellbF6ok is. d prominent
fhah whose father and grandfather
! We're IN the business before him; that
! he has the. whole city's confidence, and
| is so popular, that merely underseIl-
ing him won't do the trick; but
IF he's popular, you will have to
make him less So" said Hartman.
Every mans reputation can be- un-
dermined. If he has never done any
thing, put up job on him. Only re-
member that if you're caught in it, you
can't look for any support from US.
We have NO use for men who get
caught
81 understand that" replied George,
with shudder for his own situation.
eff you could buy up one or two
trusted men in his employee" said Har-
riman, 'you might throw him down
that way. Find out whom he owes
money to, and buy UP the claims; but
don't make a martyr of him in the eyes
of the whole community. Fix ii so that
he'll seem to ruin himself, if you ca II.
| You know what we want; now let's
see results. Here is IN order on the
cashier for few hundred dollars. I
suppose you'll need some clothes, and
! that sort of thing, as well as your tra3-
cling expenses. Good luck to you. I
rarely make. a mistake in a man, and I
believe You'll have that fellow Welt
brook in the poorhouse in six months"
He laughed pleasantly, and George
tried to join him, but the thought Of
Williams restrained his mirth. 1t was
/ dreadful to think that at the moment
! when he was about to be trusted with
so important a mission, the stigma
of dishonesty should be placed upon
him He could fancy the look of dis
gust in Harriman's eyes when he
should learn that for once he had been
mistaken and that the man in whom
he had reposed such Hattering conf
dence was in reality thief. Surely
to no such man would be confded the
Weighty and confidential work at
:Jobnstown: rather the prisoher's
dock and the jail for him.
''Mr.. Williams wishes to see you,
SIR, said Old Ben, appearing suddenly
in the middle of the room.
Hartman nodded to George, who
was moving toward the door. and then
said to the messenger: "A1l right; I'll
see him"
| George was rooted to the spot. He
knew well enough what Williams
wanted Fate had overtaken him.
Williams entered hurriedIy, and
started with surprise at sight of
George. The latter nodded coldly.
"Bv the way, Williams" he said,
there's $25 in an envelope in my desk
that I forgot TO turn over to you. I'll
lay it on your table,
He passed out, leaving Williams
! standing with MS mouth open, ana MS
eyes like two glass marbles.
To draw the money from the cash
Ter to arrange the amount for Will
! Iiams, and to escape from the Office, re-
quired less time for George than
Williams needed to square himself
with Hartman for disturbing him
about matter that had proven to be
not what it seemed.
George hurried home, his heart
light, his mind full of plans for the
ruin of Wellbrook.
''How pleased father will be-" he
said again and again. 'Thank Heaven
that I can go home to him this day an
! honest mani"
It's more to them than mines of wealth
| H00-TaVt