The Irish standard., 1902-10-18


80 I think" said Griffin, coo1ly.
Griswold looked at his companion
cnriously. II thought you were
newcomer" he said.
81 am; but I was here before the
strike began, and I've looked into it
a litt1e-just for idle curiosity's sake,
you know. There's a good-sized Mig
ger i'm the woodpi1e, and I've been
wondering if you and Raymer knew
about it,
GriswoId glanced around to make
sure that no one else was within
hearing. "The men were stirred up
to it, you mean2"
Griffin nodded.
"Rayn,er said as much, but
couldn't believe it,"
Its a fact" said the detective,
with the same air of assurance; "a
fact susceptible of proof"
Griswold came awake to the possi-
bilities in a flash.
''Could you prove it?' he asked.
''Perhapsi if l wanted to.
The defender of the rights of man
pulled thoughtfully at the good ci-
gar for a moment. Then he said:
"Who are you, anyway, Mr. Grit1in:"
than grimace. "Perhaps I am the
walking delegate of the Amalgamat-
ed lronworkers," he suggested.
"Pcrhaps you are, but l don't be-
Iieve it," Griswold reioincd. And
then he apologizcd. 81 had no right
to ask the question, and beg your
pardon. But I'd give good bit to
be at the botte in of this strike BUSH
ness"
"You are at 1T already, if you will
take your partners word and mine.
The whole thing is a put-up job to
break you"
but the proof" insisted Griswold.
at can be had, as | said; but it
is immatcral. just go on the sup
position that a certain capitalist is
trying to slna III you and act accord
ngly."
"But if your supposition is the true
one we should be only postponing
the evil day by giving in to the men.
If this man whom you and Rnymer
suspect has stirred up trouble once
he can do it again"
This time Gril1in's smile was child
like.
"rhcre is one sure way to tie his
hands, and l wonder that it hasn't
occurred to YOU" he said.
"Griswold laughed. owe are not
big enough to buy him Off"
| cit doesn't ask for money; it asks
for Il little tincsse. The man we are
talking about is a law unto himself,
but there is a power behind the
throne" ...
His daughter, you mean?"
yes"
Griswold puzzled over it for mo-
ment, and then said: 81 don't see
the application"
Don't you? Well, I'll tell you. II
this young lady knew what is going
on she'd stop it,"
"Why should she?
"I'm not going into particulars
laughed Griffin. IF you can be Nee
Raymer's partner without knowing
what the whole town is talking
about stranger couldn't give you {
pointer"
"By Jove!" said Griswold, as on.
incredulous; but a little later, whel
he got up to take his leave HI
thanked the observant one.
Don't mention it," said Griffin
IT may have to do you an i'll turf
some day, and this will serve to shov
that I'm not malicious. Arc w
square on the score of the uncom
Portable night might have had?"
Rather more than square," Girls
void acknowledged, and he went hi
way with many new STRINGS of tn
conscience-pool.
The detective stood at the hote
: entrance and watched his late res
cuer out of sight. After which h
went in and had speech with tn
clerk.
"Griswold stopped awhile with 70
when he first came here, didn't he?
: he asked.
eyes; he was here sick for awhile.
| "When was that?"
''It was some time last spring"
"Could you give me the date?"
, The clerk could and did, c
5 thought he did. But it was surel
3 the very irony of chance that som
Y one should distract his attention &
e the critical moment of date-ixin!
r making him miscall the month an
. so give Griswold 30 days more of re-
l idence in Wahaska than he had rea
= ly had. Griffin's eyes narrowed an
: grew hard; and then a slow smi
y took the hardness out of them. H
e turned away to climb the stair to til
: dining-room, and the smile outlaste
the ascent.
"l'm ID if I'm not glad of it!
n he contided to the hatrack when /
y was going in to his dinner. "But
knocks me silly just when | W;
y sure l had my man. wonder whe
Il I can get train out of this dea'