The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-03-18
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4 mo. And that isn't the worst of
III" he replied. "Archer has sent up
ktp Mrs. Stewards" Bunn's boarding
place, "and IT seems that he wasn't
There last night"
Good heayensv'sI exclaimed. "Can
he have gone out on one Of those long
sevening walks Of his and fallen dead
sin an out OF the way place? l don't
mean to be heartless, Donaldson, but
you know! what this means to u.s."
= 'Tt means ns&destruction," said he.
.sThats the ename of ito
"Do you remember" said 7, 'that
when Don was talking to Jim Bum
Sthe other day he seemed to get an i'm
preston that this vote would be
hundred shares short? Can that have
been a vague hint that something was
going to happen to Bunn?"
sssI tried t.. get the boy by telephone
Sanswered Donaldson. dorothy doesn't
know where he is. Nobody knows"
II wish we had him here" said 1.
Upon a chance l went to u public
telephone and called up the Office, but
l got no word of any one, Archer, Bum
nor Donald. had a curious expert
ence with crossed wires, however, in
the course of which heard Kelyin's
voice for n few minutes and made out
that he was trying to get communica-
tion with Gillespie. 1t came to me
then to wonder whether that rascal
had spirited Bum away. 1t was
trick that I did not believe Kelvin
would stick at. s..
Donaldson and were entirely help
less. We had to rely upon Archer, for
we could not get to Tunbridge and
back before the time set for the meet
Ing, and so, as there was nothing bet
ter to do, we had a morsel Of dinner.
Shortly before 2 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 were lost, and l can
get no trace of the Elan. I've got all
Tunbridge hunting for him. We must
hold up the meeting as long as we
can" &C.
There were about a dozen Of the
stockholders in the room when we
three entered. Thorndyke was there,
and / Immediately perceived that he
was very restless. l could not get him
into conversation. He sat in corner
Of window seat in the attitude OF a
man with the stomach ache and drum
med upon the floor with one foot, a
habit that especially distresscs me.
Presently the meeting was called to
order by little dummy who acts as
president of the company because more
important men do not want the office.
Some reports were read, and then, rin-
der the rules, 1t became necessary to
proceed to the election OF board of
directors. I had little scheme for
holding back the vote, but 1T was not
necessary 20 spring it Immediately.
Meanwhile the proxies were passed
upon I'm the usual way, and tellers were
appointed, one from each party. They
were Donaldson and n man named Al
vim Green, q small stockholder who had
gone entirely over to the Kelvin party.
although he owed lis stock and every
thing else which he had in the world
to me.
There were two tickets-that is. two
hots VI ultH Hulneu lof ulTectOfS. Inc
lists were printed and were entitled
Ticket No, and Ticket No. 2. Ours
was No. I.
was about to begin my tactics for
delay when there was loud knocking
at the door, which was locked. We all
jumped up from our places around the
long table except Thorndyke, who had
maintained his seat in the window
throughout the proceedings and did not
stir at the noise.
The door was opened. and Jim Bum
stalked into the room. with the air Of
crazy mun. / cast one look at him
and then turned toward Kelvin. My
enemy had seized upon Archer, who
happened TO be nearest to him, and had
dragged him into corner. Judged