The San Francisco call., 1908-11-29
CHAPTER xx-continued


of his chair and setting his teeth
deep into his cigar while the
probabilities were getting them
selves thrashed out. At the end of the
dispute he said quietly: ITS a HI
Of pity we can't have the use of the
wire for this one night But. gentle
men, we can't stop for trifes. There
are five Of US here in this room who
know how much is at stake. one of
two things is due to happen. II we
can keep Adair out Of it for another
twelve hours. Ford viii be disgraced
and asked TO resign. If he gets to that
point. We're safe. 1 know Ford's tenn
per. If Mr.. Colbrith puts it as he is
likely TO put it. Ford Will say and do
things that viii make it impossible for
Adair or any one else to get him back
into the service"
"Thrue for you. Misther Eckstein;
ye have i'm down to the crossin of a
t." agreed the eldest of the brothers
MacMorrogh.
THAT is one of the due things" "
8ckstein went on smoothly The
'bther isn't pretty to look at. If Adair
gets here in time. it viii be another
story He can handle Ford; and he
has proved once or twice that he can
handle Mr.. CoIbrith. If he hadn't been
out Of the way when you went to New
York with Mr.. North. you'd never have
Brian. Well. then what happens?
With Adair on the ground to back him,
Ford wins out. Do you know what
that means? Investigations. muck
rakings. and worse. There are two or
three Of us here. and some more on
the other side of the range who won't
get of with less than ten years apiece.
I'm willing to take the chance of a
few more years for another play on
the red How is it with the rest of
your"
The elder McMOrrogh spread his
hands.
IT'S all in the same boat we are
you've a notion in the back par-rt Of
your head. Misther Eckstein; lave US
have it."
AS I've said. we can't stick at
trifes If Adair's train is on the ex-
tension. it mustn't get here. Some
body goes up the line on hand car
tonight and stops it,"
rs it to ditch it, ye mane?" asked
the youngest of the brothers in
boarse whisper.
Eckstein laughed cynically. What
a lot of crude cutthroats you arer' he
5eered Now if it were Ford. instead
Of Adair-but pshawl a rail or two
taken UP and flung into the river well
beyond walking distance from this
camp does the business Only the man
who does it wants to make sure he has
gone far enough back to cover all the
possible chances.
That's me" said Dan AIacMovrogh;
and he rose and let himself out, with
the younger brother to lock the door
behind him.
The door keeping attended to- the
younger brother drew closer into the
circle.
There's wan thing. he said, look
ing furtively at Eckstein. I was in
Copah this day: I got the buckboards
for Misther CoIbrith. Coin past the
bank who would ] see but our
old book keeper. Merriam. chinnin
wild the bank president. L thought he
was out o. the way entirely"
stiff and saddle sore as he was. Eek
'0stein leaped out of his chair with an
oath
..,r-...s xk-t,. H. s..,.fl ; he ta.lz
here for? It's a put up job"
IT was the chief of the McMorroghs
who nung i'm the calming word.
'Tis only happen-so, Misther Eek
stein. Merriam owns a mine or two in
, the Copah, and We know the fever;
man can't keep away from thim.'
THAT may be; but it's cursed un-
lucky combination, just the same. I
tell you, Brian. he knows too much
this fellow Merriam. He knew what
was up when he was steering Frisbie.
You told him too much. And after
ward. when we gave him the Oregon
Job. he knew why he was being bribed
TO go away. You let us in for this:
you've got to muzzle him, some way"
The MacMorrogh looked at his re-
naming brother meaningly. "'Tis up
10 you this time. Mickey. by. Find
your way over TO the minin' camp this
night. and make clane job av it"
Penfeld was moving uneasily in his
chair The plotting waters were deepen
ing swiftly, much too swiftly for him.
Loyalty to his superior officer, the un-
questioning loyalty that disregards mo-
lives entirely and does not look too
closely at methods. was his fetch. But
these men were not merely loyal to
Mr. North. They were criminals-he
stuck at the word but there was no
other-hghting for their own hand
i guess guess I'd better go back
TO the Nadia" he stammered. trying to
keep his voice steady. Mr.. Colbrith
may need me-"
Eckstein turned on him like a snarl-
ing animal
NO Won don't Arthur, my boy. I