Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-07
ery private character?"
asked

Role.
AYE, it is"
about the projected STRIKER?
Well, can tell you at once what his
attitude Is towards the men, without
you going up to London. He told me
a few days ago to say that if there
was any trouble, he'd close down the
works entirely for six months, or a
year, If need be. He won't stand any
nonsense
"An' starve the poor bairns-eh?'
mentioned the old engineer, who had
grown white in the service of the
firm. aye, when it was Cowan and
Drummond they wouldna' ha' done
that! l remember the strike in 'S2,
an how they conciliated the men. But
it was ma ABBOTT himself"
Himself! What does he concern
you? You've never met him. He's
never been in Glasgow in his life"
Whether I've met i'm or no is my
own affair, Mr.. Rolfe," replied the
old fellow, sticking his hairy fist into
his jacket pocket II want to see i'm
now, an at once. l shall go to the
London Office an wait till e comes.''
"And when he comes he'll be far
too busy to see you," the secretary
declared. $50, my dear man, don't
spend money unnecessarily in going
up to London, beg of YOU"
BY the old mans attitude Rolfe
scented that something was amiss,
and set himself to discover what it
was and report to his master.
els there any real dissatisfaction in
the works?" he asked Macgregor, aft
or a brief pause.
There was wee bittie, but it's =
passed away"
Then it is not concerning the
works that you want to see Mr.. Stat
ham?"
NAY, mon. not at ALL"
"Nor about any new patent?"
Nay"
Rolfe was filled with wonder. The
attitude of the old fellow was sphinx
like and yet he seemed confident that
the millionaire would see him when he
applied for an interview. For full
half-hour they chatted, but canny Mac
gregor told his questioner nothing
nothing more than that he was about
to go to London to have talk with
the great financier upon some import
ant matter which closely concerned
him.
Therefore by the West Coast ever
| ing express, Rolfe left Glasgow for
| the south full of wonder as to what
the whitebearded old fellow meant by
his covert insinuations and his proud
confidence in the millionaire's good
Offices. There was something there
which merited investigation-of that
he was convinced
CHAPTER XVIII
! The Outsider.
| On the left hand side of Old Broad
street, city, passing from the Royal
Exchange to Liverpool street station,
stands dark and dingy building,
with a row of four windows looking
upon the street On a dull day when
the green shaded lamps are lit with
in, the passer-by catches glimpses of
rows of clerks, seated at desks pour
ing over ledgers. At the counter is
a continual coming and going Of clerks
and messengers, and notes and gold
are received in and paid out constant
ly until the clock strikes four Then
the big, old doors are closed and up
on them is seen brass plate, with
the lettering almost worn off by con-
tinual polishing, bearing the words
"Statham Brothers"
Beyond the counter, through a
small wicket. is the managers room
large, but gloomy. screened from the
public Office, and lit summer and win
ter by artificial light In corner is
a safe for books. and at either end
big writing tables. In that sornbre
room deals" representing thousands
upon thousands were often made, and
through it's door, alas, many a man
who finding himself pressed had gone
to the firm for financial aid and been
refused. had walked out bankrupt
and ruined
Beyond the managers room was Il
narrow, dark passage, at the end OF
| which was a door marked Private"