Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-03-13

naSneu into his mind that MT Nen-
wyck was probably no better provided
than he in that particular-reassuring
, thought!
Suddenly Mr.. Renwyck unclasped
his hands and transferred one of them
to his breast pocket. Richard caught
sight Of bullying projection-it was
| there then!
He was on the point Of selling his
hosts wrist when the latter brought
| forth brown covered case.
Have cigar" he said, with crafty
cordiality, and Richard accepted, with
his gaze still concentrated on Mr.. Rem
wyck's hands.
"Light?"
THANK you. no." the Texan answer
ed. "I'll smoke it dry for awhile, II
you don't mind"
| The trick was an old one. He had
seen 1t worked along the Rio Grande.
A Mexican had presented cheroot to
COW puncher. who. after lighting it.
found himself looking into the muzzle
of an overgrown Colt's-and a Texan
| learns to profit by observation as we'll
| as experience.
Mr.. Renwyck now invited his guest
to seat beside him on a smooth fat
stone on the edge Of the cliff. Richard
accepted, but cautiously slid his foot
to point behind Mr.. Renwyck's leg,
with the aim of overturning his enc
my backward at the first sign OF
treachery.
"Croyland," he began abruptly, give
taken fancy to you somehow, and
I'm going to prove it by putting you
on the inside of little business deal"
"a business deal?' gasped Richard
In unfeigned surprise.
YES" nodded the old gentleman,
putting thoughtfully at his cigar. "Of
course I don't know how you are fixed
financially, nor have l any intention
of asking impertinent questions. but If
you care to come with me in a trans
action in which myself have invested
largely can put you in the way Of
making quite a snug little sum-"
| Richard withdrew his foot from be.
hind Mr.. Renwyck's leg and in the
darkness strove to kick himself. Con-
science had made of him not exactly a
|
| ice.
That's very clever of you. indeed"
he answered. lighting his perfecto and
gazing out across the Hudson. us II
what you call-er-a flier?'
"Well. no. said the old financler
"It's more than that. It's a dead GER
tainty, and I'm on the inside. Let me
explain. To begin with, it is a deep
water harbor enterprise in the state of
| Texas"
Richard pricked up his ears. and Mr..
Renwyck continued:
| "A local company has been organ
ized and styles itself the Houston.
Matagorda City and Gulf Railroad
and improvement company" And
Richard recognized the company with
a thrill Of excitement. They're go
ing to get an appropriation from the
legislature for making a deep water
harbor at Matagorda City. They own
all the land in the vicinity and the
right of way for branch line to con-
meet with the railroad systems of Tex
as at Houston. Now. this scheme, all
else being equal, would be a sweet.
| juicy plum for its promoters. But
things are not all equal. I have learn
ed its details, and l propose to smash
| it,"
| He spoke with savage emphasis.
which revealed his hatred and his de-
termination. If hell has no fury like
woman scorned. friend turned enemy
is almost as venomous.
How are you going to do itT' asked
Richard, with growing anxiety.
| There chances to be a rival COM
pany in the field. my boy, backed by
money-infuence-pull. In fact, I or
Dor at Longmatt, on San Antonio bay.
| rather think the legislative appropri-
alton will go there"
"And is LOngmatt better adapted for
a deep water harbor than Matagorda
city,"
much better"
"WhyY"
Because | own all the land at
Longmatt, and for various reasons that
-er-do credit to its business acu-
men the committee on railroads In the
| legislature agrees with me-"
| (which MEANS" suggested Richard,
that the legislature is doing business
at the same old stand"
Mr.. Renwyck laughed.
That sounds very American for a
foreigner but suppose we put 1t a lit
tie more delicately. The Legislature
through this committee can be per,
suaded."
And the other company does not
| know this?"
Not whisper of It,"
But won't 1t find out from the
legislatureY
1T won't. | am certain of those
Texas statesmen. They have been
! fixed"
| "Rut l thOuohtn= hapan Richard