Middletown transcript., 1903-02-21
can reach a judgment.

SSh iSesSA V iu0S AOh y.
! They've certainly tried not tt
do it, answered Northup uncer
tainly.
! I haven't any more reason fol
following one course than the
other. It'sjust a toss-up. Shall
we close with them or let this goi
It's just as you say, NorthuI
answered sullenly.
What's the matter? cried Eek,
ert. I've never seen you like
this before. Generally you've 9
mind of your own and something
to spare.
You say what is to be done, in,
sisted Mortheys desperately.
Somebody's got t,' say some
thing, Eckert retorted as he
glanced at the telephone. And
pretty quick, too. I'd better cal
them up and tell them we're com.
ing. If I can tell them what
We are going to do at the same
time so much the better. There
aren't many minutes left.
Ican't tsay, "Northup answered;
leave it entirely to you. Do
what you think best.
You mean you won't, said Eek
ert angrily.
Yes, said Northup firmly. I
mean that I won't if you'll have
it that way.
Eckert turned away from the
telephone.
What shall I say? he demanded
Northup was silent.
Have you lost your mind or
your nerve? Eckert asked.
Do what you please, Northup
called, moving toward the door
as if to escape.
I've got to, said Eckert in dis
may as he took up the receiver.
Give me Huron 1882. He turned
toward Northup, who stood by
the door. Can't you speak?
No, said Northup with short
laugh; that's just what I can't do.
Yes! called Eckert through the
telephone. Is that you9 Is that
you, Mr.. Beesley? I'm going to
come to see you. What are we
going to do? I'll tell you when I
come, he fairly shouted. Ill be
there for the final arrangements.
AS Eckert turned away from
the instrument the door closed
and he found that he was alone.
Late that night Northup sat in
the office like library of his BACH
elor apartment. During almost
the entire evening he had walked
the floor and it was with real
WEAKNESS that he had thrown
himself into a chair. The hour
was so advanced that little was
moving in the street and the
house was absolutely still. He
was surprised, therefore, to hear
sudden step in the hall and a
hasty knock at his door. AS he
called out, Eckert burst into the
room. He was in evening dress
and in his impetuousity flower
fell from the buttonhole of his
coat. That he was too excited
for utterance was manifest and
he stood for moment silent be-
fore Northup, struggling with
his feelings.
What did you mean? he gasp
ed at length. Know the whole
thing and let me do what did
know that they we're going to
put the plant on the river and
let me take the land at Rocky
Point. What do you mean, I
say?
You have evidently heard
something, observed Northup,
who had regained his compos-
ure.
I have--in a queer way, Eek
ert responded, but I've heard it.
I've just come from calling on
Miss Brown.
Oh. exclaimed Northup with
meaning.
On Miss Brown, repeated Eek
ert with apparently increased
anger. She told me what Miss
Burnham had told her-how old
Burnham has been spending his
mornings. 1t also came out that
Miss Burnham was much inn
pressed by your interest and
spoke to her friend about it.
Now you must have known
must have seen that after that
there was no more chance of the
company's going to Rocky Point
than to the moon. And yet
you've let us take this land that's
only good to raise potatoes.
How do you explain it?
Simply / didn't like to use
couldn't use. in fact-informa-
ton obtained in that way.