Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-28
pointment came from the advisory

ganized Western Pacific was bolting Shis meals and clipping the nights at both ends in strenuous endeavor to clear the decks. for a possible battle royal at the capital, events of nina tory nature were shaping themselves elsewhere.
 To bring these events down to their focusing point in the period of transi- tion, 1t is needful to go back a little: to a term of the circuit court held in the third year of Gaston the pros- porous.
 Who Mrs. Melissa Varnum was; how she came to be travelling from Midland City to the end of the track on scalper's ticket; and in what manner she was given her choice of paying fare to the conductor or leav- ing the train at Gaston-these are de- tails with which We need not concern ourselves. Suffice 1t to say that Kent, then local attorney for the company, mastered them; and when Mrs. Var mum, through Hawk, her counsel, sued for $5,000 damages, he was able to get continuance, knowing from long experience that the jury would cer- tainly find for the plaintiff if the case were then allowed to go to trial.
 And at the succeeding term of court, which was the one that adjourned on the day of Rents transfer to the capi- tai, two of the company's best wit nesses had disappeared; and the one bit of company business Kent had been successful in doing that day was to postpone for second time the coming trial of the Varnum case.
 It was while Rents head was deep- est in the flood of reorganization that a letter came from one Blashfleld Hunnicott, his successor in the local attorneyship at Gaston, asking for in- structions in the Varnum matter. Judge MacFarlane's court would con. vene in week. Was he, Hunnicott, to let the case come to trial? Or should he-the witnesses still being unpro- ducible-move for further continu- ance?
 Kent took his head out of the cross- seas long enough to answer. By all means Hunnicott was to obtain an- other continuance, if possible. And if, before the case were called, there should be any new developments, he was to wire at once to the general office, and further instructions would issue.
 It was about this time, or, to be strictly accurate, on the day preceding the convening of Judge MacFarlane's court in Gaston, that Governor Bucks took a short vacation-his first since the adjournment of the assembly.
 Late that same night, Stephen Hawk was keeping . rather discomforting vigil with visitor in the best suite of rooms the Mid-C Continent Hotel in Gaston afforded. The guest of honor was brother lawyer-though he might have refused to acknowledge the rela- tionship with the ex-district attorney a keen-syed, business-like gentleman, whose name as an organizer of vast ventures had travelled far, and whose present attitude was one of and angry contempt for Gaston and all things Gastonian.
 How much longer have we to wait?" he demanded n oimpatiently, ,o when, the hands of hfs watch pointed to the quar- ter-hour after ten. You've made me travel two thousand miles to see this thing through: why didn't you make sure of having your man here?"
 Hawk wriggled uneasily in his chair. He was used to being bullied, not only by the good and great, but by the little and evil as well. Yet there was ! rasp to the great mans impatience that irritated him.
 Eve been trying to tell you all even- Ing that I'm only the hired man in this business, MT. Falkland. I can't com pei the attendance of the other par .ies."
 Well, it's damned badly managed, IS far as we've gone," was the un- gracious comment. You say the judge 'efuses to confer with mel"
 Absolutely"
 And the train-the last train the other man can come on; is that in yet?"
 Hawk consulted his watch.
 "A good half-hour ago"
 You had your clerk at the station O meet it?"
 'I did"
 And he hasn't reported?"
 Not yet"
 Falkland took a cigar from his .ase. bit the end of it like man with l ] grudge 10 satisfy. and began again.
 There is a very unbusinesslike mys- cry about all this, Mir. Hawk, and I nay as we'll tell you shortly that my l ime is too valuable to make me tole- ant of half-confdences. Get to the , 'ottom of it. Has your man weak ned?"
 No; he is not of the weakening lind. And. besides. the scheme is his , Iwn from start to finish, as you know"
 Well, what is the matter. then7"
 Hawk rose.
 If you will be patient little while onger, I'll go to the wire and try to ind out. I am as much in the dark as ou are"
 This last was not strictly true Hawk Iad a telegram in his pocket which Fas causing him more uneasiness than II the rasping criticisms of the New fork attorney. and he was re-reading [ by the light of the corridor bracket then a young man sprang from the