Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-09-20

like me Il the better or respect NE
any the more for knowing of them. hCt
they will discover that that Will make
no difference where our relations are
concerned"
TO be sure. ouly meant that pub
lie opinion VIII be pretty strong
against You. 1t somehow has an il.
fuencc." rUctully,
u suppose II has" rather sadly.
DO You have to stay and face il:
1t might be easier, YOU Know !,
don't mean exactly 10 run away
L am pledged 10 put the shops and
road on 4 paying basis for General
Cornish, He'd about made mp bis
mind 10 sell to the NJ. and w, II he
does il will mean thc closing Of the
shops. and they viii never be opened
up again. That will wipe Antioch off
the map. Not so very long ago I had
a good deal Of sympathy for the people
who would be ruined. and l can't
change simply because they have,
can II" with Il look on his face which
belonged 70 his father.
The doctor stroked his beard medi-
t~atively and considered the question.
Il suppose there is such q thing as
duty, but don's you think, under the
circumstances, your responsibility is
really very Light"
Dan laughed softly.
81 didn't imagine you would be the
first 10 advise HE TO shirk it
L wouldn't ordinarily. but you don't
know Antioch. They can make il very
unpleasant for you. The town IS in 4
fever of excitement Y G what has hap
pene0 today. 1t seems the men are
not through with you YET"
Yes. l know. Ny father should have
gone back. 1t looks as if I'd yielded.
but 1 couldn't ask him to when 1 saw
how he felt about it"
You see. the town lives off the shops
and road. 1t is a personal matter to
every man, woma and child in the
place"
That's what makes NE so mad at
the stupid fools!r' said Oakley. with
some bitterness. They haven't the
brains TO see that they have a LOT more
at stake than any one else. If they
could gain anything from a fight Id
have plenty of patience with them. bu,
they are sure losers. Even if they
strike and the shops are closed for the
next six months it won't cos Cornish
a dollar-indeed, it will be money in
his pocket"
Il don't think they'll strike" said
the doctor. Il didn't mean that eSac,,
", but they'll try TO keep you on =
strain
They have done about all they can
in that direction. The worst has hap
pened. l won't say it didn't bruise me
up a bit. Why. l am actually sore in
every bone and muscle. l was never
so battered, but I'm beginning to get
back. and I'm going to live the whole
thing down right here. l can't have
skeletons that are liable to be unearth-
ed at any moment"
He took a letter from his pocket,
opened it and handed it to the doctor.
81 guess YOU can see to read this if
you will step nearer the street lamp
The letter vas an offer from one Of
the big eastern lines. While the doc
tor knew very little of railroads. he
understood that the offer was Il fnc
one and was impressed Accordingly.
I'D take it." he said. Il wo....il't
fritter away 10Y time here. Precious
little thanks you'll ever get"
Il can't honorably break with C :
oval Cornish Tn fan, 7 l,- t- :.
declined. but l wanted you to see TIC
letter"
II AN sorry for your sake that ~
did. You are sure to have NOR no
ble."
$50 much the more reason why i
should stay"
Il am quite frank with you. Oak.
Some strong influence is at w.:k. -
it hasn't to do with your fa;1& lu.
can't we'll be held accountable for III
acts"
Ryder's laughter reached the..l rs
spoke. Oakley could see him f.. /.
outlined in the moonlight. WHERE be -:
between Constance Emory AMI /:
mother. The influence was there. Ii
was probably at work at that ve.y nc
ment.
81 wouldn't be made q mariyl
through any chivalrous sense of du.y.'
continued the doctor. I'd look on f
myself"
Dan laughed again
You are preaching cowsrdicu at /.
great rate"
Well, what's the use of sacriEc.'
oneself: You possess a mos; ho-r.
sense Of rectitude."
Il would like to ask a tavo. OF yol.
hesitating.
X was going to say If there was any
thing 1 could do
If you don't mind" with incroas:a.
h~esitancy. will you say to Miss Thor;
for me that I'd like 20 see her to.Io.
row afternoon: II! cal! about 3-:ha
Is
Yes. I'll tell her for you"
Thank you" gratefully THAN
you very much. You think she WI, %
at home" awkward!y. for y" W.
afraid the doctor had misunderstood.
Il fancy so. | can see now. Z 70,