The Huttig news., 1908-07-11

 sibly jeopardize our great undertaking. You would gamble the hair of your heads, You shall never gamble with the Central Pacific Railroad stock so long as we four, or any one of us. hold controlling interest That's all. In the instant of silence that followed l heard him turn toward the door The others were breathing as hard as a stage team.
 Then the two partners tried to bribe the governor with a string of temptations that would have made the Devils layout on the high mountain look like dime with hole in it.
 Perhaps you don't know that Nor. ris and l are planning to make you United States senator Bevins said in. sinuatingly as a last hot shot.
 I'll be senator without any of your helpl' the governor sent back at them savagely. Gentlemen, your re. quest is useless. You shall never have a chance to wreck the Central Patltic railroad
 I'd have given a chassez down the golden streets to have seen the tao faces that looked into the governor jlst then. It was Norris who spoke irst. We'll send your road to-hades!' But that isn't the name he gave the place.
 Yes Bevins said, with more pro fanity; we'll fight you till you haven't raj f<, han
 " III see you both dead in the poor house first!' the governor shot back at them and was gone"
 By George," the judge exclaimed. Norris and Bevins are doing pretty well for their threat; but the gov ernor's will come true first, or I'm no prophet"
 Please don't talk shop any more, judge. The railroad will win, of course, even against such a power as the Clarion; for Gov. Stanford and his company stand for destiny as well as for their own success Let's go into the parlor and have some music" Mrs. Harmon rose as she finished
 The judge pushed his chair back re- luctantly. She always separates folks just when they've spotted good time" he grumbled amiably to the women on either side of him; and with a comprehensive glance at the men, went on. However, I'll beat her on one point; I'll go bail for those that would rather stop in my den for smoke than serve out sentence in the parlor.' He rose and slid back the old-fashioned, glass paneled, walnut framed door, giving Esther an affec- tionate look as she passed through.
 Phineas was the only one who ac- eepted ball. and the smoke was short. Alfred was singing when the two men entered the parlor, and Esther saw the malignant gleam Phineas sent the un- conscious singer
 By ruse that cost him some time to perfect, MT. Montague succeeded in sequestering Esther in the bay win dow, There he held her by an intermin- able story that would have been good if it had not been diluted for times sake. As Alfred finished his song he noticed the two seated apart.
 Esther saw his look, and turned a more interested face to Mir Montague, heart and brain throbbing wildly with the old love she had thought dead or safely asleep. Would she meet him often? How. oh, how should she be able to show him ever a placid face?
 Presently she rose and went for ward to her hostess
 I'm sorry to go so early, Mrs. liar mon; but Mrs. Snow insisted, even If didn't arrive till after the play began. fear it will be half over; yet there's supper-theyYll have enough of me, think
 She passed around the room with a gracious farewell for each guest. as a daughter might have done And Al fred, watching, acknowledged with a pang that Esther outshone his most ambitious dreams for his Stella of the long ago.
 Pausing before Amabel and Alfred, she made some bright impersonal re- mark that included them both, bowed, and, with smiling goodbye, moved on toward the hall door, where the judge awaited her.
 Both Phineas and Mir. Montague pressed forward, but the judge warned them back. No, you don't Not one O you young sprigs shall cheat me out of my goodnight kiss But you needn't gfudge me, you wouldn't get It."
 The door closed on them and mo ment later Esther was speeding to her next engagement.