Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-22

Empire Builders
BY FRANCIS LYNDE
Copyright Isos-By Francis Lynde.

cHApTER xx11I-Continued.

for the moment of outsetting. o
conveyances for the party there were
the two double-seated buckboards
used on the canyon trip The previous
day, and one other. with a single seat;
but there we're only two drivers. the
third man, who had brought the sin
gle-seated rig from Copah. having
been prevailed upon by Ford 20 dis
appear.
Ford directed the distribution of the
trippers arbitrarily, and was amazed
when the president aceuiesceG with
out protest. Mr.. Colbrith. the doctors
wife, and Penfleld. We're 10 go in the
leading vehicle; Aunt Hester Adaii.
Miss Van Bruce, and the doctor, in
the second; and Ford drove the sin
g~le-seated third, with Miss Alicia for
his companion.
II think you must have taken Uncle
Sidney -unawares,' said Alicia. When
the caravan was toiling at a. SLOW foot
pace along the rough wagon road par
alieIing the Horse Greek grade.
You near that ne might have OBJ
jected to your driver? You are a
whole lot safer with me than you
would be with nj of those livery
stable helpers UP ahead"
ooh, no: I didn't just that.
But you know he usually plans all
the little details himself, and
.'And the fact that somebody else
plans them is sufficient excuse for a
rearrangement. That is IN Of the
penalties he pays for being the big
boss laughed Ford. Since the yes
terday was now safely yesterday. and
today was his own, there was no room
for anything but pure JOY.
You are a big boss too, aren't
your she said matching his light
hearted mood.
Il was, in a way, until your uncle
caIne Owe and eclipsed me-
"And you will be again when Uncle
Sidney moves a little farther along
In his orbit"
THAT remains to be seen. There is
yet plenty of time for him to abolish
me, permanently. before he goes on
his way rejoicing"
But you are not going to resign,
you know" she reminded him.
Am I not?" Then he took his
courage by the proper grip and went
on with sudden gravity: THAT rests
entirely With you.
Mr.. Ford! Aren't you a little I'LL.
fair?' She did not pretend to mis-.
understand him.
II am open to confinement he
affirmed. ~
1T Is making me Uncle sidney's
executioner. on one hand: or yours
on the other"
He pressed the point relent!essly.
There are only two horns to the
dilemma: either MI. CoIbrith, or a
man named Stuart Ford, will have to
walk the Official plank. Because MI
Coibrith is your relative. I'm willing
TO be the victim. Bit you must say
that it is what you wish. That is
my price.
II say. it is unfair she repeated
why should ycu put the burden OF
the decision upon poor rne?"
Because, If you We're not concerned
there would be, to put it is good Hi
herman. only one horn to the dilemma
-And your uncle would be impaled up
on that one"
Mercy she suddered. in mock
}disrnay.. "That sounds almost vindic
tive. Are you vindictive. Mr.. Ford?'
Terribly" he laughed. THE black
hearted villain of meiodrana isn't q
patch on me when Pm stirred"
land then, more seriously: ''But ii
isn't altogether a joke. There is an
other side to the thing-what yol
might call the ethical, l suppose
There are a score or SO Of men ir
!the company's service-Frisbie ant
This Observation-Disclosures jobs hang.
upon mine. A worse man than / eve,
aspired to be might be loyal to his
friends"
Il wouldn't think of questioning
your loyalty TO your friends" she ad
mitted.
Also he went on determinately
there is the larger question Of righ'
and wrong involved. Is it right FOL
ME to step aside and let an organized
system OF graft and thievery go on I'm
checked? / know 1t exists: | have
evidence enough 10 go before a Crane
Jury. I'm not posing as a saint OF
even as a muck raker: but Isn't some
thing due to the people who are pay
Ing the bills?'
Nov you are involving Uncle Sid
ney again. and | cant listen TO that.
H5e IlS Is IAiOSCht, ~ {"
some hundreds of other narrow-mina
ed, short-sighted old men whom
chance, or the d~uplicity Of the rea
~rascals, puts at the head Of corpora
TONS
"Yet you would make him SUITE:
with the guilty"
Not willingly, you may be sure
mot at all, If he would listen to rea
son. But he won't. He'll stand b.
North I'LL the last gun is fred: ant
while North stays there'll be graft, biz
or little, as the opportunities wal
rant"
Alicia held her peace while tn
caravan was measuring another halt
mile of the houlder-streTn road. The'
she said: 4 feel so ~wretchedly in
adequate TO help you, Mr.. Ford.
wish you could wait until you har'
talked 1t over with nay brother
$50 do l.. But | am afraid post
ponement doesn't lie with me-, nov
From your uncle's u and iron
what he said to me yesterday.