Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-10-24
Authss -
sFFsnzied Finance"
sOspyirhi, I5sl, Do.9lsd.y. Pc. = %
CHAPTER VIIl.-contlnued.

CHAPTER Vlli.-contlnued.
"All right, Fred" l answered. 81
will 90 over to Bob's right now. j
hate to do It, but there Is no other
hope"
dropped the receiver and started |
for Bob's once. As went through |
said, They have just broken Anti |
Peoples TO 90 on bulletin that Tom
Reinhart's wife and only daughter
have been killed In an automobile &C
cident at their place In Virginia. They
first had Il that Reinhart himself was
killed. That has been corrected. al.
though the latest word 10 that he Is
Frustrated"
raped on Bob's private.ofFice
door. felt the coming struggle as
heard his hoarse below, Come in"
He stood at the ticker. with the tape
in one hand. while with the other he
held the telephone receiver to his ear.
My God. what a picture for n stage!
His magnificent form was erect, his
feet wore as firmly planted as IL he
were made OF bronze. his shoulders
thrown back as II he were Withstand.
ing the rush of the Stock Exchange
hordes. his eyes Rflre with a sullen.
smouldering blaze. his jaw was set in
q way that brought into terrible relief
the new, hard lines OF desperation
that had recently come into his face.
His great chest was rising and falling
as though he we're engaged in a phyBi.
cal struggle; his perfect.fitting, heavy
back from the chest. and a low,
rundown white collar formed the
setting for n throat and head that re-
minded one OF q forest monarch at
bay on the mountain crag awaiting
the coming Of the hounds and hunters.
hesltated at the threshold 20 catch
my breath. as l took In the terrific
figure. Had Bob BROMLEY been an
enemy OF mine should have backed
out In fear and / do not confess TO
more than my fair share OF cowardice.
Inwardly ! thanked God that Bob was
in his office instead OF on the floor Of
the Exchange. His whole appearance
was frightful. He showed In every
line and lineament that he was a man
who would hesitate at nothing, even
at killing. II he should find q human
obstacle In his road and his mind
should suggest murder. He was the
personification of the most awful mad
ness. Even when he caught sight OF
me, he hardly moved, although my
coming must have been a surprise.
80 Il Is you, Jim Randolph, Is it,
What brings you here7" His voice
was hoarse. but II had a metallic ring
that went to my marrow. Bob Brown
ley In all the years Of our friendship
had never spoken to me except In
kind and aloving regard. looked at
him, stunned. must have shown
how hurt l was. But II he saw II. he
gave no sign. His eyes. looking
straight into mine, changed no more
than II he had been addressing his
deadllest enemy,
Again his voice rang out, What
brings you here? Do you come 70
plead again for that bastard Reinhari
after the warning l gave your"
clenched both hands until felt
the nails cut the flesh Of my palms.
loved Bob Brownley. / would have
done anything TO make him happy
would willingly have sacrificed my
own life 10 protect his from himself
or others, but this mailman, this wild
brute, was no more Bob BROMLEY ~
I had known him than the howllnl
northeast gale of December is this
gentle. welcome zephyr Of August
and / felt resentment at his bruta
speech that I could hardly suppress
With a mighty effort l crushed 4
back, trying TO think OF nothing bu
his awful misery and the Bob of on
college days.
said in Il firm voice. Bob. Is thiI
the way TO talk to me In your own OF
nce7" At any time before. my word
and tone would have touched his ali
generous southern chivalry. but nov
he said harshiy-"To hell with sent
ment. What,-" He did not take hi
eyes from mine. but they told me tina
he was listening 10 a voice In the ~
ceiver. Only for a second; then h
let loose a wild laugh. which mus
have penetrated 10 the outer ONCE.
Eighty ard coming like q sprin
freshet," he said into the mouthpiecs
land the boys want 20 know II won
let up now that ReinhErt Is down? q
back and another them with all the
will take down 20 80. That's my al
swer. TEL them II Reinhart had to
more. wives and daughters and the
were all killed. I'd rend his damne
trust to help him dull his sorrow. Civ
the word at every pole that I vi
have Relnhart whore he win enra
.s,s iaak that he was not In tina aut'