The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-09-08
CHAPTER XVII.

pointment to the receivership and Whea-
ton went to and from his work with many
misgivings. Several of Wheaton's friends
had confided to him their belief that he
ought to have been appointer receiver in
stead of Saxton, and there was little that
he could say to this, except that he had
no time for 1t. He had become nervous
and distraught, and was irritable under
the jesting Of his associates at The Bach
elors'. There was good deal of joking
at their table for several days after Sax
toms appointment over Margrave's dis
comfture, to which Wheaton contributed
little. He felt decidedly Ill at ease under
1t. Thompson, the cashier, had come
home, and Wheaton found his presence
irksome.
He had seen Margrave several times at
the club since their last interview at the
bank and Margrave had nodded distantly,
as II he hardly remembered Wheaton.
Wheaton assumed that sooner or later
Margrave would offer to pay him for his
shares Of Traction stock. But while the
loss Of his own certificate, under all the
circumstances, did not trouble him, Mar
graves appropriation Of Evelyn Porter's
shares was an unpleasant fact that haunt
ed all his waking hours.
One evening, week after the receiver
ship incident, he resolved to 20 to Mar
grave and demand the return of Evelyn's
certificate. The idea seized Arm hold up
on him, and he set out at once for Mar
graves house. He inquired for Margrave
n InN~ ay,l kha l.
into the library. They were entertaining
at dinner, she told him, and he said he
would wait. He walked nervously up
and down In the well-appointed library.
He heard the hum Of voices family from
the dining-room. Margrave came In pres
emily, fat and ugly In his evening clothes.
He welcomed Wheaton noisily and intro
duced him to his guests, two directors of
the Transcontinental and their wives, who
were passing through town on their way
to California.
Mrs. Margrave and Mabel greeted
Wheaton cordially. Mabel was dressed
to impress the ladies from New York. and
was succeeding. Mrs. Margrave was op-
pressed by the presence in her home of
so many millions and so much social dis
tinctlon as her guests represented, and
she contributed only murmurs of assent
to the conversation which Mabel led with
ease, discoursing Of yacht races, horse
shows and like matters of metropolitan
interest. Wheaton was glad now that he
had come; Margrave's guests were people
worth meeting. As soon as Wheaton
felt that he could go decently, he rose and
shook hands with the visiting gentlemen
and bowed to the ladies'. Margrave took
him by the arm with an air of great intj-
macy and affection and walked with him
to the hall, where he made much of helm
ing Wheaton into his overcoat.
II wanted to see you on a busines.
matter" Wheaton began, in a low tone.
"Oh, yes,' said Margrave loudly. I
forgot to mail you that check. I've been
terribly rushed lately; but in time. INV
boy, in time!"
"Oh, not that! l mean that other GER
tifcate." Wheaton was trying TO dron
the conversation to a Whispering basis az
he drew on his gloves. Margrave had
again taken his arm and was WALKING
with him toward the front door. talkIne
gustily all the while. He swung the door
open and followed Wheaton out upon the
front step.
"A glorious night glorious !'' he e,acu.
lated, putting from his walk. His hand
wandered up Wheaton's arm until II
reached his collar, and after he had nj.
lowed his fingers to grasp this lingering
ly' he gave Wheaton a sudden push for.
ward, still holding his collar, then raised
his fat leg and kicked him from tbs
step. '"e
Come again, Jim?" he called plea
iy, as he backed within the door and
closed 1t to return to his guests.
Wheaton reached his room. filed with
righteous indignation. He might bave
known that coarse fellow like Marprave
cared only for people whom he could con.
troll; and he decided after a night 81 -.
hection that he had acted handsomely in
saving Porter's package Of securities fror,
Margrave the night of the encounter NJ
the bank. The more he thought Of II tha
more certain he grew that he could 10 n
became necessary to protect himself In
any way, turn the tables on Marsrave
lie called Margrave a scoundrel in b;s
thoughts, and was half persuaded TO 90 .
once 10 Fenton and explain why Marrra va
had been at the bank on the night that