Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-10-11

ENactlN, SdlQ ne. IleuCe "c hiuS'
get at them before that aspect of the
case strikes them. They are literally
starving. and for ten dollars man they
would make Satan himself President.
Have you got any money, Martini"
Yes" said |, "a little"
How much?"
Ten thousand" l replied; Il was
keeping it for the interest"
"Ah. you won't want it now"
Indeed l shall-for the second loan,
you know"
Look here, Martin give me that ten
thousand for the troops. Stand in with
us, and the day l become President I'll
give you back your 100000. Just look
where you stand now. l don't want to be
rude, but isn't it case Off,
Some emergency" said l, thoughtful
ly. Yes, it is. But where do you sup
pose you're going to get 100000, TO say
nothing of your own shares
He drew his chair closer to mine, and.
leaning forward, said:
He's never spent the money. He's got
it somewhere; much the greater part, at
least"
)ld Carr tell you tnat!
He didn't know for certain; but he
told me enough TO make it almost certain.
Besides" he added, I'VE have other rea-
sons for suspecting it, Give me the ten
thousand. You shall have your loan back,
and. if you like, you shall be minister OF
finance. We practically know the moneys
there, don't We, Signorina"
She nodded assent.
IF we fail?' said l.
He drew a neat little revolver from his
pocket. placed it for a moment against
his ear and repocketed it.
Most lucdly explained. Colonel, said
|. will you give me half an hour to
think it over?"
Yes" he said. You'll excuse me II
stay in the outer office? Of course
trust you. Martin, but in this sort of
thing"
"All right, l see," said I. And you,
III wait, too" she said
They both rose and went out, and l
heard them in conversation with Jones.
| sat still, thinking hard. But scarcely
a moment had passed, when | heard the
door behind me open. 1t was the Sig
norma. She came in. stood behind my
chair, and, leaning over, put her arms
round my neck. l looked up, and saw her
face full of mischief
-, hat about the rose, Jack?' she
asked.
Bewldered with delight, and believing
I had won her, l said:
Bother death - said she. saucily. NO
body's going to die. We shall win, and
them
And then" said 1, eagerly, you'll
marry me, SWEET
She quietly stopped down and kissed my
lips. Then, stroking my hair she said
You're nice boy, Jack"
christina, you won't marry him?
Him"
"McGregor,' said l.
Jack" said she, whispering now, II
hate him."
so do l." answered promptly. And
if It's to win you, I'll upset dozen pres-
dents"
Then you'll do it for me? I like to
think you'll do it for me, and not for the
money
Il don't mind the money coming In" l
began.
"Mercenary wretch :" she cried. Il
didn't kiss you, did I!'
No" | replied. You said you would
in a minute, when l consented"
VERY neat, Jack" she said. But she
went and opened the door and called to
McGregor, Mr.. Martin sees no objection
to the arrangement, and he will come to
dinner tonight, as you suggest, and talk
over the details. We're all going to make
our fortunes. Mr.. JONES' she went on.
without waiting for any acceptance of her
implied invitation, 'and when we've made
ours, We'll think about you and Mrs.
Jones"
heard Jones make some noise inco-
herently suggestive of qualification, for
he was as bad as any of us about the Sig
norma, and then | was left to my refec-
tions These were less somber than the
reader would, perhaps, anticipate. True,
| was putting my head into a moose ; and
ii the Presidents hands ever found their
way to the end of the rope, fancied he
would pull 1t pretty tight. But, again, |
was immensely in love, and equally in
debt. To a young man, life without love
isn't worth much; to a man of any age,
in my opinion, life without money isn't
worth much; 1t becomes worth still less
when he is held to account for money he
ought to have. SO | cheerfully entered
upon my biggest gamble, holding the stake
of life well risked. Ny pleasure In the
affair was only marred by the enforced
partnership Of McGregor. There was no
help for this, but | knew he wasn't much
fonder of me than l of him, and found
myself gently meditating on the friction
likely to arise between the new President
and MS minister of finance, in case our
plans succeeded. Still the Signorina hat
ed him, and by all signs she loved me. So
l lay back in my chair. and recalled my
charmer's presence by whistling the hymn
of liberty until it was time to go to lunch
CHAPTER X.
The morning meeting had been devoted
to principles and 10 the awakening oil
enthusiasm; in the evening the conspira
tors condescended upon details, and we
held a prolonged and anxious conference
az the Signorina's. Mrs Darlington was
commanded to have a headache after din
ner, and retired with 1t to bed and from
ten till one we sat and conspired. Th'
result Of our deliberations was a prett,
| plan, of which the main outlines were a.
follows:
This was Tuesday. On Friday night
| CnlopaI tuopsv datorrnjued mi