Evening star., 1909-05-29
Copyright, 1907. By Albert Payson Terhune.


1ayin' my hands on the proof finished
Caleb. I'D do It, too-just for the sake
of punishin' a cur-if the ours brother
in-law. Mr.. Vroom. didn't happen to be
a clubmate of mine.''
with man like this on our rolls
fumed the elderly governor, I'VE shall
lose our reputation for
''If some OF YOU fellers could get rid
of your regulations" interrupted Caleb,
you'd be in luck"
was waiting a moment of silence in which
to- speak. He was nattily clad in blue
REFER and white duck trousers. yacht
ing cap lay on the table beside him.
Every inch of his stalwart body from the
curling black hair and pink cheeks down
to the immaculate white canvas shoes
bespoke a perfection of grooming that
seemed vaguely redolent of scented soap
and taifor's models. His full red lips
were curled back now from q double set
of ultra-pearly teeth, and his eyes. which
Desiree Shevlin had disrespectfully liken-
ed to twin chocolate pies, were CLASSY
with wrath.
well. Brother Blacarda," hailed Con-
over. breaking off in his reply as his gaze
rested on this latest opponent. who stood
threateningly. above him. what have you
got to say. Did you come to congratulate
me on the Steeloid win-out. or have you
somethin' to add to the bokays that your
little friends here have been tossin' at
me? Speak up. man! Stop lookin' like
'This-Nobby- -style-s7.4s,' an say what
you've got to- .
company sputtered Blacarda. that
ought to land you in states prison with
your crook father. trick that ought
to put you out of the society of decent
men. 1t will certainly put you out of
this club. Either you leave the Arareek
or 1 do
''well, now, that's too bad. Blacarda."
purred Caleb. 'Us chappies at the club
will be real sorry to lose you. But if you
must go-why, take my blessin' with
YOU"
This man. gentlemen" pursued Bla-
carda. loudly. wheeling to face the rest.
has. by dirty chicanery, absorbed all the
Independent Steeloid Companies-my own
among the number-in his iniquitous trust.
Let him deny it IL he dares to-"
DENY it?" laughed Caleb. mot me!
Best days work Of my life. Cleaned UP
an easy million on the deal. Watcher you
goin' to do about it p
DO about it, gasped Blacarda do
about it? There's a law in the land
and"
That's So" assented Caleb, "A fed'ral
law an a law of states. too. It's lucky
those two laws amt the same. Otherwise.
you'd have been outlawed from the whole
country instead of only from Iowa the
time you promoted that fake Des Moines
Improvement Comp'ny. But that's neither
here nor there. I'm told you're goin' to
carry our Steeloid squabble to the legisla
ture. l tell you in advance, you'll lose.
You may be able to swing part OF the
assembly. but I can do little swingin'
myself, up there. You'll find the Steeloid
Trust is goin' to win at the capital as
easy as it won today at"
I'VE have right behind u.s." clustered
Blacarda, '-and-
AN the Steeloid Trust has Caleb Con-
over behind it," retorted Caleb Il guess
he's as good hacker as Right any day.
I'm expectin a tough scramble In order
to beat you at the capital, Blacarda. But
III do 1t. III be on the ground myself.
An I'll beat you as sure as / beat you
today. TIN mean f1ght-a big fight. I
know that. But a fights somethin'
don't generally run ki-yi-in' away from"
(To be- continued tomorrow)