Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-12-16
CHAPTER XIV.

! Mr.. Mead was in his private office when
visitor was announced. He was seated
in front of handsome writing desk,
made of native varied woods, whose beau
| ty was preserved and heightened With
oil and polish, and was in the act of
opening letter when his visitor entered.
'Ah! | see you are prompt, Mr.. Gripp."
| "Punctuality is the soul-you know the
rest. Mr. Mead. l have brought papers
with me which will enable you TO under
stand at a glance what | have to offer
you
Mr. Mead waved his hand. and con-
tinued opening his letters, as he said:
by and by-when we are ready for
that. Let us understand what is propos-
ed first"
Eighty per cent of labor is saved, to
begin with, and more than that much in
time is saved by the process l spoke OF.
and the result is an iron equaling If lot
superior to, the article you are now sell
ing"
| you seem confident. For a sure-foot-
ed man, Mr.. Grip, you are almost en-
thusastic."
If | am, have an excuse-or. rather,
the facts warrant the positive statements
l L nave COIie 10 OlleT you Sutn
inducements as will justify you in assum-
ing the direction Of q new mill for the
new process"
AS Mr.. Grip carefully removed the
wrapper from thick roll, clerk stood
in the doorway
"A lady, Mr.. Mead wishes to see you"
Il will see her soon"
Mr.. Grip had almost removed the
wrapping paper. He now turned to Mr.
Mead again.
These drawings are so clear, the ex-
plantations so simple, that a single glance
must suffice to demonstrate to a man Ike
you the extraordinary iue of the pro-
cess
Mr.. Mead rose, bent over the roll as
Mr.. Gripp laid the paper aside, and both
looked at the drawings as they were I'M
rolled, expectantly.
Suddenly Mr.. Grips nose and lips
curled: the sneer in his face was intensi-
fed as he crushed the drawings ruthless
ly in a mass, and twisted the paper ever
them.
"Confound it'll beg your pardon An
absurd-a ridiculous-mistake. These, rs
you perceived, are flowers, vases, what
not--everything but the right thing
80 | see"
II see now how the mistake was made"
Again the clerk entered
"A gentleman to you, who cannot
wait, Mr. Mead"
''Show him in"
The door opened, and a quiet parsonage
entered. He looked like man who
would submit to anything for peace.
well, Mr.. -"
The visitor interrupted him hastily.
Il have called to speak to you concern
ing a workman-a puddler-a man named
Atherton."
He never worked for me, sir"
Il am aware of that, Mr.. Mead. but l
am informing myself concerning his rep
utation-his antecedents."
why, now, there was nothing at all
in Atherton's record that prevented us
from giving him work. 1t was another
matter-well, to be frank with you, so
far as that affair is any guide. l think
Atherton acted as l would have done
as | or you might do tomorrow"
The visitor-he was a detective-looked
disappointed
Whoever sent you to me don't under
stand the matter at ALL Anterior has
the reputation of a good workman, but
he is a fellow with crotchets-is impuls-
i've. high-strung-bu not man for you
to lose time looking after"
II am glad to hear you say so, Mr.
Mead l have a train to make. and must
ask you to excuse me for coming in on
you"
''Oh, that's all right"
ITO be continued)