Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-12-24
liasgieton glanced at the morning

tubs. Herr, Joe. show that to Mr.
Gentle. No; wait. I'll do it myself"
He disappeared.
Moran closed his ledger, opened one
Of the drawers of his desk and took
from it revolver. Joe, looking over
his shoulder, was taken aback
what have you got that gun for?'
/ persisted Joe.
Nothing"
Moran put the pistol back into the
drawer.
You have been playing with that
gun for years, Moran" said Joe.
whats the use? You would never
dare to use it. You are milk and
water anarchist. Why don't you get
a bunch of frecrackers? They make
more noise for less money"
81 am fool,'' Moran announced
gloOmiy. II had no business to take
this job
"Well, then, why did you take it?'
81 was out Of work. wanted to help
Jenny. Never mind what she has been.
She is my daughter. She's all l have
got and now she's gone l have lost
her"
Two tears rolled slowly down his
labby cheeks.
Joe was touched He felt sincerely
sorry, but, after the manner Of his
kind, ashamed of this "softness" SO
he replied airily:
Jenny will turn up all right"
- Despair distorted the old mans fea-
lures.
"Where will she turn up?' he asked,
in an agony OF apprehension. What
is she doing now?'
you've got rank philosophy
calculated Joe. Whatever is Is wrong.
That's the way you dope it out Say,
you'd better get busy and mail those
letters Mr.. Jackson has signed or you'll
lose this job you are so ashamed off,
Moran obediently put on his coat
and hat, took up pile OF correspond
ence which Joe had meanwhile stamp
ed with lightning rapidity and walked
toward the door.
Joe returned to his typewriting.
Moran, however, having reached the
door, stopped, hesitated and turned
back He approached Joe's desk.
leaned over it and looked him straight
in the eyes. The grim determination
Of his face daunted Joe little.
"Hcre. you" said the old man Sig
niGcantly. Il want to know something.
and | mean to find out. Where IS
Jenny"
Joe shifted his eyes from Moran's
face to the wall behind 1t and wrig-
gled uneasily in his chair.
"Why-er''- he stammered.
Answer my question: said the
other man, with ominOus calm.
II don't know, Moran"
Il believe you are lying. You know
where she is aud what she is. Mark
nay words. will find that girl! l will
find her tell you"'
He continued to look at Joe in 81
lence, with n new determination in his
watery, wavering eyes. His tlabby
mouth was drawn in a tight line. Joe
was startled again, but again mas
tered himself. He looked back bold
ly. steadfastly, resolved to keep to
himself what he knew.
Morans next action startled him still
more. The old man took his keys out
| Of his pocket, unlocked the drawer,
took from it the revolver and slipped
1t into the pocket Of his overcoat.
Then he left the office without a
further word.
Joe got up and walked up and down.
He was now deeply disturbed, far
more so than he would admit even TO
himself. This sudden demonstration
Of firmncss by the flabby, yacilatlng,
mouthing MOran-well, he did not like
it. No man il so dangerous, he knew,
as coward with gun when he
screws his cOwart'ice up to the stick
ing point.
For whom was that revolver meant?
He cast about in his mind, but
could settle on no particular person.
MoraD's hatreds were SO all inclusive
social and economic in the aggregate
rather than particular.
Or course John J. Haggleton was to
Moran the incarnation Of all the evils
of society, including the evil whose
victim Jenny was. But then John j..
was away on his yacht for three
months cruise, and Moran could not
reach him with a pistol across the At
lantic ocean at Gibraltar.
There were the police and the police
justices on their benches and the set
Element workers, whose social superior
ity Moran detested. He hated the car
of Russia and the president OF the re-
DuI:lc He did not like Jackson. He
u;.-c;y tolerated Gentle. He had be-
.,un to sncer ut Philip and his sudden
business activity. He was rude to
Margaret Lawrence. Jenny alone be
loved.
Perhaps he hated Joe himself He
thought of the pistol again. 1t might
be turned against himself. Joe stop
ped in his walk.
He remembered what he had heard
the leader of the gang he had deserted
in time say upon one occasion: "When
man threatens you with gun, shoot
first, and do it quick But II you're
unarmed grab hold Of his windpipe
and squeeze. No man who feels the
life being strangled out Of him ever
has presence Of mind enough left to
shoot. Instinct tells him to tear thos"
hands away from his throat-to get
air. to breathe. He'll drop his gun to