Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-11-12

1900 ~~~~O>~~S~A~s
$50 I Think" said Griffin, coolly.
Griswold looked at his companion
curiously. II thought you were
newcomer" he said.
II am; but I was here before the
strike began, and I've looked into it
little-just for idle curiosity's sake,
you know. There's a good-sized Mig
ger in the woodpile, and I've been
wondering if you and Raymer knew
about it."
Griswold glanced around to make
sure that no one else was within
hearing. 'The men were stirred up
to it, you mean?"
Griffin nodded.
"Raymer said as much, but I
couldn't believe it,"
cts 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.
Perhaps; if I wanted to.
The defender of the rights of man
pulled thoughtfully at the good ci-
gar for moment. Then he said:
'Who are you, anyway, Mr.. Griffin ?"
The detectives smile was no more
than grimace. "Perhaps I am tho
walking delegate of the Amalgamat-
ed 1ronworkers," he suggested.
perhaps you are, but I don't be-
lieve it, Griswold rejoined. And
then he apologized. II had no right
to ask the question, and I beg your
pardon. But I'd give good bit to
be at the bottom of this strike BUSH
ness"
''You are at it 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.
ut can be had, as I said; but it
is immaterial. just go on the sup
position that a certain capitalist is
trying to smash you and act accord
ingly."
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 Raymcr
suspect has stirred up trouble once
he can do it again.
This time GrifRn's smile was child.
like.
'There is one sure way to tie his
hands, and wonder that it hasn't
occurred to you," he said.
"Griswold laughed. eve are not
big enough to buy him off,"
ut doesn't ask for money; it asks
for a little finesse. The man we are
talking about is a law unto himself,
but there is a power behind the
throne"
His daughter, you mean?'
EYES,"
Griswold puzzled over it for a mo-
ment, and then said: II 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 Ned
Raymer's partner without knowing
what the whole town is talking
about stranger couldn't give you q
pointer" =
by Jove!" said Griswold, as ono
incredulous; but little later, when
he got up to take his leave he
thanked the observant one.
Don't mention it," said Griffin.
Il may have to do you an ill turn
some day, and this will serve to show
that I'm not malicious. Arc We
square on the score Of the uncom-
Portable night might have had?"
Rather more than square," Girls
void acknowledged, and he went his
way with many new STRINGS of tho
conscience-pool.
The detective stood at the hotel
entrance and watched his late res
cuer out of sight. After which he
| went in and had speech with the
clerk.
"Griswold stopped awhile with you
when he first came here, didn't he?''
he asked. ,-:-
Eyes; he was here sick for awhile. ~
when was that?'
1T was some time last spring."
"Could you give me the date?"
The clerk could and did, or
thought he did. But it was surely
the very irony of chance that some
one should distract his attention at
the critical moment of date-hxing,
making him miscall the month and
so give Griswold 80 days more of res
idence in Wahaska than he had real
~ had. Griffin's eyes narrowed and
! grew hard; and then slow smile
took the hardness out Of them. He
turned away to climb the stair to the
dining-room, and the smile outlasted
the ascent. ..-z !:
I'm id If I'm not glad of 1t!''
he confided to. the, hatrack when he
was going in to his dinner. But ii
knocks me silly just when. I was
suro I had my man. I wonder when
I can get . train out Of this dad
alive town? ~ s53
gzs.S -. = =