Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-04-01
CuAPTER XVI.
rnE rNrE or A rRA1ron,

CTS over there 10 Wnom we wished to
say u final word, though, In our opin-
ion, the election was as good as over.
experienced a great relief and, as
sometimes happens, was the better
able to realize how great would have
been my bitterness Of spirit II Kelvin
had won the fight.
had various errands here and there
in the junction and was separated
from Donaldson for some hours. We
met about noon in front OF the bust
ness block In which thr office of the
branch is located. My first glimpse
of Donaldson showed me that some.
thing was wrong.
eve just had telephone message
from Archer" he said. HE tells me
that he can't find Bum"
Cant find him?" echoed. Hasn't
he been at the officer
mo. And that isn't the worst Of
it," he replied. Archer has sent up
to Mrs. Stewards" Bunns boarding
place. 'and it seems that he wasn't
there last night
Good heavensw exclaimed. "Can
he have gone out on one Of those long
evening walks of his and fallen dead
in an out of the way place? don't
mean to be l:eartless, Donaldson, but
you know what this means to U.S."
ut means destruction" said he.
THAT'S the name of it"
do you remember" said l, "that
8 when Don was talking to Jim Bum
the other day he seemed to get an i'm
preston that this vote would be a
hundred shares short? Can that have
been vague hint that something was
going to happen to Bunn?"
Il tried to get the boy by telephone"
answered Donaldson. dorothy doesn't
know where he is. Nobody knows"
II wish we had him here" said l.
Upon a chance l went to public
telephone and called up the office, but
got no word of any one. Archer, Bum
nor Donald. had curious expert
ence with crossed wires, however, In
the course of which heard Kelvin's
voice for few minutes and made out
that he was trying to get communica-
ton with Gillespie. 1t came to me
then to wonder whether that rascal
had spirited Bum away. 1t was a
trick that did not believe Kelvin
would stick at.
Donaldson and l were entirely help
less. We had 10 rely upon ..slei. ~
we could not get to TunEridge and
back before the time set for the meet
ing, and SO, us there was nothing bet.
ter to do, we had morsel of dinner.
Shortly before O'clock Archer ar
rived in pitiable state of excitement.
What shall we do?" he cried as soon
.-as he was within speaking distance.
without Bum we're lost. and can
get no trace OF the man. I've got all
Tunbridge hunting for him. We must
hold up the meeting as long as we
can"
There We're about dozen of the
stockholders in the room when we
three entered. Thorndyke was there
and Immediately perceived that he
was very restless. could not get him
into conversation. He sat in corner
of a window seat in the attitude of q
man with the stomach ache and drum
med upon the floor with one foot, q
habit that especially distresses me.
Presently the meeting was called tc
order by little dummy who acts as
president of the company because more
important men do not want the office
Some reports We're read, and then, un
der the rules. 1t became necessary te
proceed to the election of a board OF
directors. | had little scheme fol
holding back the vote, but it was moi
necessary to spring it Immediately
Meanwhile the proxies We're passed
upon in the usual way, and tellers were
appointed, one from each party. They
We're Donaldson and man named AL
gone entirely over to the Kelvin party
although he owed his stock and every
thing else which he had in the world
to me.
There We're two tickets-that is, two
lists of men named for directors. The
lists were printed and were entitled
Ticket No. 1 and Ticket No. 2. Our,
was No. 1.
] was about to begin my tactics fol
delay when there was loud knocking
at the door, which was locked. We nj
jumped up from our places around tn,
long table except Thorndyke, who hat
maintained his seat in the window
throughout the proceedings and did no
stir at the noise.
The door was opened, and Jim Bum
stalked into the room, with the air O.
crazy man. cast one look ut hin
and then turned toward Kelvin. M,
enemy had seized upon Archer, VIII,
happened to be nearest to him, and hat
dragged him into corner. Judge,
that Kelvin was protesting upon on
ground or another against the admis
sion of Bunn's vote, but l could no
hear what was said. So turned Il
Bum.
'Well, jim" said l, where have 70,
BEEN"
wait" said he, speaking like maj
in a trance. "Wait. I'm here to vote"
"Thats what we're all here for"
responded, land the sooner the better
Quiet was restored. and the votin
began, the ballots being dropped into
hat. When all had been collected, tn
tellers took them to little table in tn
corner and proceeded to make til
count. glanced across at Donaldsol
and saw instantly that he had encoun
tered most unpleasant surprise. Il
great uneasiness l turned to Carl. 81
was gnawing his fingers. Bum 50
rigid in chair. his head thrust fol
ward. his eyes staring.
began to feel dire isolation. Thes
men seemed to know something o
which l was ignorant. The perspira
ton started from my face. l woul
have given much for gift of prophec
to anticipate the events Of the mex
few minutes, and this wish natural
suggested Donald. took from m
pocket the envelope which containe
his prediction and turned 1t nervousl
In my fingers. Curiosity overcame mt
broke the seal and read, with grea
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