Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-03-12
CHAPTER ri.

bare arms and shoulders.
The great rolls, glistcning in the light
of the furnaces, rcvoyed continuously as
the fuishcrs tossed the hot bars between
them, to be snapped mp ana WhifI'd
writing through them like enormous rep.
tiles in their death agony. The Gang OF
iron rnlng on the cooling plates, the
shouts Of the workmcn, aud the roar ol
tie titan-likc machinery filed the AR rs
the mill took in pig metal, weighed, broke
md melted it, boiled it in the furnaces
yomitcd the metal out in huge balls,
which were caught in the jaws of the
'sdueczcrs," squeezed into biIlcts, which
were relocated, and passed through great
and small rolls, and tossed out ana
straightencd on the cooling plates.
Mr.. Meckcr had just driven INTO the
mill yard and fastened his horse, when
the new manager approached NM
what is it, GummttT
81 want to speak to you
"Come into the Office
He led the way into his private room
and awaited the managers ruunuhi'a-
ton in silence. Gummitt cleared ms
throat.
ITS about Atherton His furnace
"Sam," said the mill owner dryIy IF
1t Is about Athcrton-nothng else-make
1t as short as possible"
But Gummitt was a thick headed and
bull-headed man. He had conceived the
idea since they had made him manager
that he was q very valuable man, in
deed. and one the owners could not easily
dispense with, and he presumed upon TINS
20 express an opinion when he ought 70
have remained silent.
~ must speak Unless do, he'll think
he can do as he pleases. He is cross this
morning. and refused to rcpair-that is,
he won't shut his furnace down to-day
and let me have it fixed"
why not wait till tomorrow"
Because | want to put my best foot
foremost, and get things in shape as soon
as possible. The furnace ought to be
oyerhauled, but Athcrton wants to run
the week out, and let the bricklayers do
1t Saturday. It's sheer stubbornness, Mr..
Meeker, and a bad example to permit"
80, | wouldn't notice Atherton | have
a reason of my own, Sam. Anything
elseT'
Eyes, but I'll wait until this gentleman
speaks to you"
This gentleman proved to be Mr.. Gr;pp
entail to his superiors and his equals.
To his interiors he was overbearinS,
tart, brusQue, and often brutal. Now he
was as smooth as oil. He stepped for
ward, rubbing his hands, as the manager
turned to Mayberry, who looked curl
ously at Grip.
Are you prepared to take that lot of
old rails l spoke Of, Mr.. Meeker?'
II am not sure"
THAT'S a fine lot of tenants you have
down there in the bottom" said one of
Mr.. Meeker's partners suddenly. The
partner was sitting in corner reading
morning paper.
"WhyY demanded Meeker, turning
half round.
when they have nothing else to do,
they murder each other. Here's half Il
column in the paper about it, A very
mysterious affair it seems to be-"
Mayberry's eyes We're fixed on Grips
face. Grip was as unconcerncd appar-
emily rs though the news related wholly
to the affairs of another planet.
They are not my tenants" said Meek
er. That was never my property. 1t
belonged to one OF my brothers years
ago. Who was murdered-and where
was the crime committedW
Again Mayberry's gaze was rivetcd on
Grips face.
I'm house crowded with a rough lot
of people-od offenders, some OF them
Brick-stands alone-three- A
woman either suicided or was murdered
case n little mixed. The coroner's Jury
will determine it,"
II may conclude ii settled, then | sup
pose, Mr.. Meeker?" said Grip in his oii-
est tone.
zone minute, Grip. How is that? A
woman murdered. Who is she?"
why that's the most mysterious part
of it. She seems to have had two or
three names-tine material for Il dime
novel in the account published"
ANY grounds for believing u murder
was committedW
Rather vague, | should say. You can
determine for yourself Simply chain
of differences"
We'll" said Mr.. Meeker, with sigh
of relief, I'm glad it's only inference
] never can read-or hear-of the murder
of n woman, Grip, without wishing
could lay my hands on her murderer an,
help to hang him on the spot"
"A very natural feeling-Quite nat
ural," said Gripp.
"Yes-l guess you may send the 10
over. Mayberry, make out a check 70
the amount, and give it to Mr.. Grip"
And then the mill owner turned to tn
manager.
What is it. Gummitt?'
I'm see you later in the day. l mus
go into the mill now" the manager +,
piled.
His face was very pale; his voice sounC
ed strange to Mayberry and the mill owl
err Mayberry wondered at the eXtrt
ordinary change that had come over ii
new manager. If it had been manifesto
by Gripp, he could have understood
But why the mill manager should betra
agitation was strange indeed
Mayberry turned to his desk aSai
made out a check for the amount dl
Gripp, and was in the act OF handing Il
check to him when Grip said
II had better receipt for it first"
Mayberry was so preoccupied that