Evening star., 1909-06-20

tactfully veiled offer even If chose. The
Star is but one of GRANTEES four daily
newspapers. If l refuse to print the
story. the three others remain to"
s'pose SO. In another five years there
won't .be a paper In Granite that'll dare
print a. word tell 'em not to. I wish now
bought up their stock already. instead
deals off my hands. A noospaper is
good weapon for a big man to keep for
emergencies. If twasn't for the apers L
could a pulled off lots of dandy schemes.
What cinch the old-time business men
must a had before printin' was invented,'
His voice trailed away. His head once
more sank. His eyes were shut; his
forehead contracted.
Il thought it only fair" began Caine
''Shut up" grunted Conoyer "Im
thlnkln. Leave me be-
Caine. In no wise offended. held his
peace and watched the big concentrated
figure that sprawled so motionless in the
desk chair. For several minutes the two
eyes. The frown had cleared; the light
of battle flickered beneath his shrewd lids
Game he said solemnly. Il got a
confession to make. You're the first to
hear it. So be fiattered. Caine, or Man
Shevlin had nothing to do with the Shev-
lin Contractin' Company. at the time the
city hall an the county courthouse was
started. Six months before then he'd
sold out the Whole business to me-.
What are-?'
Hold on a second" ordered Caleb
Hear all the sad. sad secret before you
fly up in the air. / bought out the Shev-
lin Contractin' Company. lock. stock an
bari; good will an fixtures l still ran
it under shevlin's name. SOS to get the
good of his old trade. That's why l
worked through agents. 1 didn't appear
in it at all. l built the courthouse an he
moo city hall. an made close onto a mil
nrr nJJfs ~ % r
if you like. But the statoot of limita-
tions'n keep me from bein' indicted for il.
l guess. An If I am indicted. I'll bet
fifty dollars to fifty doughnuts the case il
man, all right. An 1 can prove it,
Are you quite throush?' asked Caine
with exaggerated politeness, as the Fight
er paused:
Yep. That's bout all Good story for
the papers, hey?"
An excellent story-for the horse ma
rines," retorted Game. Really, Como
Yer" he continued almost plaintively, Il
don't see what overt acts of idiocy 1 have
ever committed that you should offer so
vile an insult to my intelligence"
What dye mean?' queried Caleb with
bland innocence.
Il mean, every word of that rigmarole
is thread in one Of the clumsiest tam
fortune to listen to. l thought better of
your inventive powers.'
You don't believe me?" exclaimed Con-
over, aggreved
Pm not lucky enough to have had the
Chess Queens training in believing at
least three impossible things before
breakfast every morning misouoted
Caine. Really, Conover. did it never oc-
cur to you that telling an unnecessary lie
is almost tempting Providence?''
The story's true" persisted Caleb dog
gedly. Just like ! todd it to you.
owned the Shevlin Contractin' Comp'ny
Shevlin had been out of 1t six months 1
was the enc that did the graftin' when
The two huldins was put up An / amt
ashamed OF it
Caine looked long. quizzically into the
light alert eyes that SO brazenly met his
:, i really Is,I believe you mean to stick to
don; you see that a single glance at the
records will disprove it all? If Shevlin
really transferred his business to you,
there would be record of it,
Thcre'n be recOrd-ff it's needed"
countered the Fighter. That's the east
est part of it all. But it won't be needed.
Ny sayso will be b'lieved for once Folks
wont S'pose a man would accuse him
self of bein a crook If he was really on
the square
DO as YOU please replied Caine, i'm
patiently. ''but don't keep up the farce
with me.
ful acquieseence Il won't. if it Jars
you. But that's the story that's soin'
out under my name. An you're the
man who's goin' to help me. Now, listen
10 me. an be sure You get my instruc-
tions right. An don't butt in with any
objections. Because I need you to help
me. If YOU don't some other paper will
MAY AS we'll get beat for the Star
Besides. you know | can help folks some
times who helps me. There's other deals
besides Steeloid. VIII you stand by me?
Is il goo"
The Fighters tone had deepcned to a
Srowl that held more menace than APP
peal. His eyes We're fixed in scowling
command on his visitors face
(To be continued tomorrow)