Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-12-09
CHAPTER XII.

aHsne ~ Others blinded the workmen.
AExrz@ Of w0rkmen were stirring the
&hDaAs Of the puddling furnaces. Work
nnE7 here and there mopped their faces,
Bzze arms and shoulders.
The great rolls, glistening in the light
81 tie furnaces, revolved continuously as
ds& Gniahers tossed the hot bars between
NlhezE, to be snapped up and whiried
wzsfhing through them ike enormous rep
esAes in their death agony. The ciaDg OF
KEEN falling on the cooling plates, the
H&zssfs Of the workmen, and the roar OF
ne btan-hke machinery filed the air as
CHE mall took in pig metal, weighed, broke
aEd melted it, boiled it in the furnaces,
wwzlited the metal out in huge balls,
which were caught in the jaws OF the
Sqseezers," squeezed into billets, which
were reheated, and passed through great
and small rolls, and tossed out and
Strengthened on the cooling plates.
Mr. Meeker had just driven into the
zill yard and fastened his horse, when
che new manager approached him.
What is it, Gummitt?"
II want to speak to you
Come into the Office"
He led the way into his private room,
RnS awaited the managers coInmunIca-
8ion in silence. Gummitt cleared his
Ghroat.
It's about Atherton His furnace"
Sam" said the mill owner dryly, If
q is about Atherton-nothing else-make
n as short as possible"
But Gummitt was a thick-headed and
hnIi headed man. He had conceived the
A6ez since they had made him manager
ahzt he was q very valuable man, In
decd, and one the owners could not easily
dsxpense with, and he presumed upon this
Ga express an opinion when he ought TO
have remained silent.
u must speak. Unless | do, he'll think
3se can do as he pleases. he is cross this
Warning, and refused to repair-that IS,
Ae wont shut his furnace down to-day
aid let me have 1t fixed"
why not wait till tomorrow
Because l want to put my best foot
bzEemost and get things in shape as soon
@x possible The furnace ought to be
asserhauled, but Atherton wants to run
zhe geek out. and let the bricklayers do
IA Saturday. It's sheer stubbornness, Mr.
xXeeker, and bad example to permit"
% L wouldn't notice Anterior. l have
q reason of my own, Sam. Anything
sszeY'
Yes, but I'll wait until this gentleman
speaks to you"
This gentleman proved to be Mr.. Gripp.
Mr. Grips manner was always defer
xnaIaI to his superiors and his equals.
No his interiors he was overbearing,
asx1, bEnsque, and often brutal. Now he
suza rs smooth as oil. He stepped for
avzrd, rubbing his hands, as the manager
aEmDcd to Mayberry, who looked curl
sxsIy at Grip.
Are you prepared to take that lot or
sSd rails spoke Of, Mr.. Meeker|
II am not sure"
That's a fine lot of tenants you have
tEswn there in the bottom, said one of
SA<- AeelKer's partners suddenly. The
szr1ner was sitting in corner reading
ssaorniRg paper.
Why's" demanded Meeker, turning
asIf round.
when they have nothing else to do,
ss<y murder each other. Here's half
aslzr1a in the paper about it. very
@sys1eri0us affair it seems to be-"
Mayberrys eyes were fixed on Grips
Ga1e Gripp was as unconcerned appar-
srnfly as though the news related wholly
n the affairs of another planet.
~. That was never my property. 1t
sseSOuxess to one of my brothers years
xx1. Who was murdered-and where
was the crime committedT
Again Mayberry's gaze was riveted on
ssripp's face.
--In house crowded with rough lot
HG peopIe-old offenders, some of them.
Ktr7ck-stands alone-three-story. A
wOuaAn either shielded or was murdered
case little mixed. The coroner's jury
zgiL determine it"
II may conclude il settled. then, sup
pose. Mr. Meeker?' said Grip in his oili-
sS1 foae.
~One minute, Grip. How is that? A
unaman murdered. Who is she 2"
why, that's the most mysterious part
nj IL She seems to have had two or
ahree names-fne material for dime
NSveI in the account published"
ANY grounds for believing a murder
~sas oommittedY'
Rather vague, | should say. You can
Setermine for yourself. Simply chain
AZ differences"
Well" said Mr.. Meeker, with a sigh
NJ relief. I'm glad it's only Inference.
Z never can read-or hear-of the murder
~ woman. Grip, without wishing
1Szid lay my hands on her murderer and
8elp Co hang him on the spot"
"A very natural feeling quite nat
GFal." said Grip.
@'Yes-I guess you may send the lot
aver Mayberry, make out a check for
aAe amount. and give it to Mr.. Gripp."
Aud then the mill owner turned to the
@saagec.
~-yVbattS n Cummittpp
I'm see you later in the day. l must
90 into the mill now the manager re-
~Iled.
His face was very pale; his voice sound
I'd strahSe to Mayherry and the mill own
81 Mayberry wondered at the extra
ssr5-sary change that had come over the
sew asans ger Ii il had been manifested
nv Grip. he could have understood it.
Bur why the min manager should betray
m<itzti0n was strange indeed.
MsSberry turned to his desk again.
shade out a Sseck for the amount due
SsrSpp. and was N tSe act OF handing the
check 10 Tim wien Grip said:
Il had hette- receipt for it first"
Maybsarry was so preoccupied that he
&ad departed from his usual practice and
sAe naivtrsal cusson. But the manner
An which Gripp reminded him Of the unin-
ArEfieasl oversight angered him. he wss
81 the point Of replying. when he recon
ss5sreSi. returned Grinp's look with enc
eAAt gentleman altogether misunderstood,
and passeS him the receipt book.
As Gripp leaned over the desk to sign
Ais name. Mayberry's glance fell upon the
SscS OF Grips neck. In the act of bend
Sng. Csripp's neck was revealed far be-
zawr rhe. line his coat collSr covered. There
Uere eve distinct marks on his neck, such
xsSx&s as human nsiTs S,ight make.
As Aayberry looked at these red marks
A.e ShHdaered. He felt that he was with
IN arms reaca OF murderer.
Thanks said Grip. in MS oily man
n~r. as Mayberry handed him the check
T'hcn something in Mayherry's manner
<zznzesi him 60 start; he looked around