The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-02


MINNEAPOLIS !. |. n T JOURl
He was an internal liar said
holly. land so YOU sent I
that scamna over there TO make a row.
/ didn't think you would play me a
trick like that" He was betrayed out
of his usual calm control and his
mouth tWitched.
Now, Jim, Margrave continued
magnanimously. 7 don't care a damn
about your family connections. You
are all right. You're good enough for
me, you understand, and you're good
enough for the Porters. NV father
was butcher and i began life sweep
Ing out the shop, and CUES every
body knows it: and if they don't like
1t, they know what they can do
Wheaton's hand rested again on the |
packet before him; he had flushed ito
the temples, but the color slowly died
out OF his face. 1t was very still in
the room, and the Watchman could be
heard walking acros .sthe tiled lobby
outside. AapatroI wagon ratified in
the street.eWith great clang Of it's
gong. wheaton had moved the brown
parcel little nearer5to the edge of
the table; Margrayes noticed this and
for. the first time tooksa serious inter
est in the packet. He was not built
( Tor quick evolutions, but he made
what was for man OF his bulk, a
sudden movement around the table
, toWarq wheaton. who was between
him and the door.
What you got in that paper limp,
ne asked, putting. from his exertion.
Still Wheaton did not speak. but he
picked up the parcel and took az step
toward the door Margrave advancing
upon him: II
{, Wheaton reached the door, holding
the package under his arm.
Don't touch%me don't touch me-"
he said, hoarsely Margraye. sttll
came toward him. .5Wheaton.s unen-
gagged hand Went nervously to- his
throat, and he fumbled at his. tie,
The sweat came out on his forehead.
leW IS 3, i curiousascene,.the tall. dark
mis- agitation,% with his back against
the door, hugging the bundle Under
one arm; and sMargrave, in his rough
business suit, walking slowly toward
wheaton, who retreated before him.
uc'Ae lAoL package,
60 away! go away!" The sweat
shone on Wheaton,s forehead i'm great
drops. can't, can't-you know I
can't!'
You damned coward!'' said Mar
grave, laughing suddenly. II, want,
mat bundle: He made q gesture and
Wheaton lodged and shrank away.
Margrave laughed again; malicious
mirth possessed him But he. grew
suddenly fierce and his fat fingers
closed about Wheaton's neck. Whea-
ton huddled against the door, holding
the brown packet with both hands.
Drop 1T! Drop it!' blurted Mar
grave, He was breathing hard,
| A sharp knock at the door against
which they, struggled caused Mar
grave to spring away. He walked
| doWn the room several PAGES with an
assumption OF carelessness, : and
| wheaton, with the bundle still under
Hello, Wheaton, called Fenton.
blinking in the glare of the lights.
Good evening" said Wheaton.
| How're you, Fenton," said Mar
grave, carelessly, but hopping his
forehead with his handkerchief.
Here are your papers," said
Wheaton almost thrusting his par
eel into the lawyers hands
All right" said Fenton, looking
curiously from one to the other. And
then he glanced at the package, as if
absent-mindedly, and saw that the
seal was unbroken. ~
Good night, gentlemen" he said
Sorry to have disturbed you.''
Hope you're not going to work to-
night" said ,Margrave, solicitously. .
ooh, not very long," said the law
yer. =: Es1f- 80.
/ Hard on honest 1nen when law
I yers work at ght''tseontini1ed Mar
grave, AS the lawyer walked; across
the lobby: sJiIaalssefti slsa ,Eawasftl
Eyes, you .railroadtpeople can, say
that" Fenton flung back at him.. i: i
How much Traction was>in that
package ?" asked Margraye, closing
the door. sh ~ =, ,s,a.5..I
81: don't I: know said Wheaton,
smoothing his tie The Waterman
COULD be llearda.closing the outside
door on Fenton.3:ts2t :2- ~, 20.
mo, I don't. think you do,''s .:re-
turned Margravest ou'd fixed it
pretty we'll with Fenton. If he'd only
been a. minute later I'D have got that
you had there, Jim, until you. kept
lingering it so desperately"
Now" he said aimably, as If the
real business of the evening had just
been reached, there are those shares
YOU own, JIM hope we won't be
4 interrupted while you're getting them
for me.,' Il; - t:s'p, - s.E.k a. Ill
i Wheaton hesitateds at-s t.,tE,
"You get them: for me- said: Mar
grave with a change Of manner
"quick!"5 y a,,.s
Wheaton still hesitated. s4, j.
Margrave picked up his hat. /;
I'm going from here to the Gazette
Office You know they do what tell
EN- over, there. They'd like a little
story about the aristocratic Wheaton
family of Ohio. Porter's girl would
like that for breakfast tomorrow
morning"
i Wheaton hung between two inc1ina-
~ TONS, one to make. terms. with, Mar
i grave and assure his friendship at
+ any hazard, the other to break with
I him, let the consequences be what
they might. It is one of the impress
sive facts Of human destiny that the
i frail banks among us are those which
are sent into the least-known seas
4 Great mariners have made charts and
set warning lights, but the hidden
reefs change hourly, and the great
4 chartographer, Experience, cannot
4 keep pace with them.
II Hurry up" said Margrave impa-
81 tiently; this is my busy night and ]
\ can't wait on you. Dig it. up
4 Wheaton's hand went slowly to his
l AS 1,o n +, ic