Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-12-11
CHAPTER XVIII.


l2J Southern Land and Timber
company many reflections passed hur-
riedly through his mind.
you are going to get the usual cold
shoulder from Wilson," he unused, "but
he'll put it up against something about
as warm as he's touched in many
day. If you don't make him squirm, it
to-"
Wilson was busy at his desk looking
over bills of lading, receipts and other
papers and now and then giving in
structions to typewriter in the corner
of the room.
"Ah, how are you, Miller?' he said
indifferently, giving the caller his hand.
without rising. down to see the city
again, ch?"
Rayburn leaned ON the top of the
desk and knocked the ashes from his
cigar with the tip of his little finger.
Partly that and partly business" he
returned carelessly.
1.-TWO birds, eh?"
| That's about it. I concluded you
were not coming up our way soon, and
! SO decided to drop in on you"
!: Eyes; glad you did" Wilson glanced
at the papers on his desk and frowned.
wish had more time at my disposal.
I'd run up to the club with you and
show you my Kentucky thoroughbreds,
but really am rushed, today particu-
larly."
"Oh, haven't bit of time to spare
myself! l take the afternoon train
home. The truth is came to see you
for my clients, the Bishops"
"Ah I see." Wilson's face clouded
over by some mechanical arrangement
known only to himself. "Well, can't
really report any progress in that mat
ter" he said. "All the company think
Bishops figures are away out of rea-
son, and the truth is right now we are
over head and ears in operations in
other quarters, and-well, you see how
it ISL"
Eyes, think do" Miller smoked a
moment. "In fact, I told my clients
last month that the matter was not alb
sorbing your attention, and SO they
gave up counting on YOU"
Wilson so far forgot his pose that he
looked up in startled sort of way and
began to study AIiller's smoke wrapped
profile.
you say they are not-have not been
counting on my company toto buy
their land?"
"Why, no." said Miller in accents
well resembling those of slow and gen.
uine surprise. Why, you have not
shown the slightest interest in the mat
ter since the day you made the loan,
and naturally they ceased to think you
wanted the land. The only reason l
called was that the note is payable to-
Gay anu
"Oh, yes, by Jove! That was care
less OF me. The interest Is due. I
knew it would be all right, and had
no idea you would bother to run down
for that Why, my boy, we could have
drawn for 1t, you know"
. Miller smiled inwardly as he looked
calmly and fixedly through his smoke
into the unsuspecting visage upturned
to him.
"But the note itself is payable to.
day." he said, closely on the alert for q
facial collapse, land, while you or
might take up a paper for 5000
through bank, old fashioned people
, like Mr.. and Mrs. Bishop would feel
safer to have it done by an agent
That's why came"
Miller in silent satisfaction saw the
face of his antagonist fall to pieces
like an artificial flower suddenly shat
tered.
"Pay the noteT gasped Wilson
'Why"-
Miller puffed at his cigar and gazed
at his victim as If slightly surprised
over the assumption that his clients
had not all along intended to avail
themselves Of that condition in theil
contract.
"You mean that the Bishops are
ready to- Wilson began again on an
other breath-''to pay US the SCOOP"
"And the interest for six months,
quietly added Miller. reaching for {
match on the desk. II reckon you'v,
got the note here. don't want to mis-
: my train"
Wilson was q good business man
. but his Puritanical training in New
England had not fitted him for vii.
diplomacy.
"Of course they can take up thei
note today if they WISH" he said, witt
alarmed frankness II was not count
ing on it, though" He rose to his feet
Miller's watchful eye detected Ger
tain trembling Of his lower lip. 81
thrust his hands into his pockets nerv
i, ously, and in a tone of open Irritation
he said to the young man at the type
writer: Brown, wish you'd let up o.
that internal clicking. Sometimes
r can stand it, and then again l CAM
You can do those letters in the mex
ROOM"
When the young man had gone out
carrying his machine, Wilson turned t
Miller. "As 1 understand it, you pei
: sonally have no interest in the Bisho
property"
"Oh, not dollary' smiled the lawyer
I'm only acting for them"
"Then"-Wilson drove his hands in
n to his pockets gain-'-perhaps yo
wouldn't mind telling me il the Bishop
: are on trade with other parties Ar
they?"
Miller smiled and shook his head
e "As their lawyer Mr.. Wilson, simpl
: couldn't answer that question"
: The blow was well directed, and
6 struck vulnerable spot.