The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-08-13
(Continued.)
CHAPTER NV.

rrs~ 5IIF summer ended, the autumn
ras,pd and Christmas APP
l--@-s uroachcd Nothing Of much
lse-osI Importance had taken place
@1~-1r The characters Of this little his
,.r The Southern Land and Timber
,....oanr. and Wilson in particular, had
5.sarnotnted Miller aud Alan by their
r.rfraara in rp@ard to the progress Of
,.a railroad scheme. At every meeting
with Wilson they found him either
really or prptrudedly Indifferent about
the matter. His concern, he told them.
MAS busy in other quarters, and he
really did not know what they would
finally do about it.
lie can't pull the wool over my
eyes" Miller told his friend after one
NJ these Interviews He simply thinks
L. can freeze YOU out by holding off
til YOU have to raise money
HE may have inquired into my
..,lyr's financial condition." suggested
Alan. with a long face.
Most likely" replied the lawyer.
And discovered exactly where we
re.i."
". r,aps hut we must not believe
that c.l we know it. I'm going to try
10 cl,clmate him. | don't know how,
.ar III think Of something He feels
that he has the upper hand now, but
III interest him some of these days"
Alan's love affair had also been drag
gng. lie had had numerous assur-
mccS Of UOlly'S constancy, but her
yes had been opened to the serious
9S> of offending Colonel Barclay. She
WT knew that her marriage against
LIS will would cause her immediate
-A14ertauce, and she was too Sensi-
he girl to want to 90 to Alan with
olt dollar and with the doors of her
nome closed against her. Besides. she
believed in Alan's future. She some
-oW had more faith in the railroad
Lan any other Interested person. She
knew too. that she was now more
closely watched than formerly. She
Aad with firm fnality, refused Frank
h-I1ouSe 5 offer OF marriage, and that
-ld not helped her case In the eyes of
-1T rAaSperated parent. Her mother
occupied neutral ground She had a
vague liking for Alan Bishop and, if
NE Whole truth must be told, was
'~,-eF enjoying the situation.
vi christmas eve Adele was expect
nome from Atlanta. and Alan had
7'~7 IN town to meet her. AS it hap
I'1rl an accident delayed her train
Uat It would not reach barley I'M
VI " o'clock at night instead of 6 in
'' evening 50 there was nothing for
o,0J4er 10 do but arrange for their
,''AS that night at the Johnston
">e Somewhat to Alan's surprise,
-' -2d never discovered the close
''-'alp ana constant correspond
5 existing between Miller and his
' The former announced that he
S gong to spend the night at the
''' and drive out to the farm with
Tie next morning. OF course it
: S agreeable. Alan reflected, but it
"S strange thing for Miller to pro-
-. 'eh tie long veranda of the hotel
r g., supper that evening the two
t' 1I-S Witnessed the crude display OF
r-,.."E fireworks in the street below.
49,, dozen big bonfires made Of dry
~S boxes, kerosene and tar barrels
- Tel ISe of all kinds were blazing
-. ~e the main street. Directly oppo-
'g Inc hotel the only confectionery
= 80 10y store in the place was crowded
" o'erhowing by eager customers
8 .N IN front of it the purchasers OF
-, orAS were letting them off for the
-De"t Of the bystanders. Firecrack'
.S were exploded by the package, and
e'S now and then a clerk in some
9 '0'e would come to the front door and
Oh a gun or a revolver.
-rI This noise and illumination was
1lS height when Adele's train drew
~ IN the car shed. The bonfires neal
- nd made it as light as day, and
Had no trouble recognizing the two
friends.
oA' what an awful racket she ex
i-neu as she released herself from