Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-11-06
CHAPTER XXVI.

account of the riot at the iron works
in the newspapers the following
morning; rather more sensational
than the facts known to the report
ers justified, though less startling
than it would have been if the Griffin
episode had been given its due share
in the recountal.
Margery Grierson read the report
ers' version of the affair over her cup
of coffee, brought, la Francois, to
her bedside, and was moved thereby
to bestir herself rather earlier than
usual. One of Miss Grierson's re-
venges for an unlovely past was
certain Iizard-like basking in the sun
shine of affiuence, and she was wont
to deride the early morning habit of
Wahaska, and to let her own morning
begin in the middle of the Wahaskan
forenoon.
But on this occasion she broke her
rule, surprising her father by trip
ping airily into his private Office a
few minutes after the bank had been
opened. At that hour, the president
was alone and disengaged; an incl
dental happening which was favor
able to Margery's purpose; and to
make sure of uninterruption, she
snapped the catch of the night latch
as she closed the door behind her.
There was a great straight backed
chair at the end of the presidents
desk: chair with high arms and un-
comfortable angles designed to seize
and hold a suppliant visitor to the
end that he might be i'll at ease, and
so more easily amenable to rea-
son - Jasper Grierson's reason.
Margery was far enough above
such purely adventitious hindrances,
but this morning she avoided the
chair, going to perch in one of the
deep-bayed window seats.
Jasper Grferson swung slowly in
his big piyot-chair, famed a rift in
the nimbus of cigar smoke with
which he had surrounded himself,
looked at his daughter with half
closed eyes and said: "WelI?"
- came to tell you it is time to
quit" she said, slowly, meeting his
gaze with level eyes.
Time to quit what?"
"Gou know well enough. You have
made all the trouble you need to for
Mr.. Raymer."
Jasper Grierson tilted his chair to
a more comfortable angle and
laughed a slow, gurgling laugh, that
spread from lip to eye and thence
abroad through his great frame till
he shook like a giant in mirth.
Good Lord, Madge, have you just
got around to that?' he said, chuck
ling again. "Why, I'd clean forgot
all about your share o. stock in that
deal, long ago; been buying it in on
my own account for l don't know
how long
I'm sorry you forgot. It's time to
remember, now"
What am | to remember?"
THAT you were to turn around and
help him when l gave the word"
"Oh, no; l guess not. It's business
now, and no social tea-fght of
yours"
She was tapping the toe of her
boot with her riding whip, and she
looked up suddenly.
Does that mean tnat you intend
going on till you have ruined him?"
she asked.
I'm going to break him, and that
other fool friend of yours, if that's
what you want to know"
For a swift instant there was a
flash of sullen lightning in her eyes,
but it went out suddenly as if at the
bidding of a will stronger than any
up-tiash Of passion.
"Please!" She said, beseechingly.
please what?"
"Piease ruin somebody else, and let
Mr.-let these two GO"
so you're caught at last, are you,
my lady? / wondered if YOU would.
mt come out of that pool with the
hook in your mouth. But you may as
well pull loose, even if il hurts lit
tie. These two fellows nave got To
come under. They've declared war,
and by they shall have war"
She looked across at him steadily,
and the glow Of rising passion came
and went in ucr eyes. And yet she
spoke softly.
"ihut Is your last word. Is it?"
"Aol. can call it. anything YOU like.
I'm not ON the quitting hand just