The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-10-13
CHAPTER xxIII.-(Continued.)

The Dabney buggy was waiting Tor
him when, after what seemed Ike
pilgrimage of endless miles. he hah
crept down to the gate But IL wa
Miss Dabney, and not Nanny Juie''
Pete. who was holding the reins.
Il couldn't find Pete. and Japheth
has gone TO town." she eXpiAiheu-
Can you get I'm by yourself!
He was holding on by the cut wneei'
n the death-look was creeping over
his face again
7 can't let you," he painted; and she
thought he was thinking or the us
grace for her.
It am my own Mistress" she said.
coldly. IF choose to drive you when
you are too sick TO hold the reins. 1t
Is my own affair"
Il wasn't thinking of that: but you
must first know just what you're do
ing. My father stands to lose all ne
has got Toto the Farleys. That's
what the meeting is for. Do you un-
derstand?"
She bit her lip and a far-away look
came into her eyes. Then she turned
On him with a little frown Of determi-
nation gathering between her straight
eyebrows frown that reminded him
OF the Major in his militant moods.
Il must take your word for it" she
SAID. and the words seemed to cut the
air like edged things. Tell me me
truth is your cause entirely just!
Your motive Is not ~revenge?"
1T Is my fathers cause, and none
OF mine; more than that. 1t Is your
grandfather's cause-and yours
She pushed the buggy hood back
with a quick arm sweep and gave him
her free hand. Step carefully" she
cautioned; and a minute later thcy
were speeding swiftly down the pike
In a white dust cloud of their own
making.
There was a sharp crisis to the fore
In the old Lighthouse office at the fur
mace. Caleb Gordon, haggard and
tremulous, sat at one end OF the tres
tle-board which served as a table. with
Norman at his elbow; and thanking
him on either side were the two Far
leys, D~yckman. Trewhitt acting gen.
eral counsel for the company in the
Farley interest. and Hanchett. repre-
senting the Gordons-
Having arranged the preliminarics
to his entire satisfaction. Colonel Dux-
bury had struck true and hard. The
pipe foundry might be taken into the
parent company at a certain nominal
figure payable In a new issue Of CHA
wassee Limited stock. or three several
things were due to happen simultane-
ously: the furnace would be shut down
indefinitely for repairs" thus cutting
off the iron supply and making a ruin
Gus forfeiture Of pipe contracts newt
able; suit would be brought to recover
H.
ment OF Chiawassee Consolidated dur
ing the absence Of the majority stock
holders and the validity of the pipe
pit patents would be contested in the
courts. This was the lltimatum.
The one-sided battle nae been fought
to a finish. Hanchett, hewing away in
the dark, had made every double and
turn that keen legal acumen and 81
sharp wit could suggest to gain time
But Mr.. Farley was memorable. The
business must be concluded at the
present sitting; otherwise the papers
in the two suits, which were already
prepared, would be filed before noon.
Hanchett took his principal into TIA
laboratory for a private word.
Its for you to decide. Mr.. Gordon"
he said. IF you want to follow them
into the court, we'll do the best we can.
But as a friend I can't advise you to
take that course" y
IF we would only make out to find
out wha Toms holding over 'em."
groaned Caleb. helplessly.
YES; but we can't" said the lawyer.
And whatever 1t may be, they are evil
IDENTIFY not afraid OF it"
We'll never see a dollars dividend
out o. the stock. Cap'n Hanchett. 1
-fxbf a. uofl give 'em the foupdrv fraa
and clear"
That's the chance you take, of
course. But on the other hand. they
can force you to the wall In a month
and make you lose everything you
have. I've been over the books with
Norman: IL you can't fill your pipe
contracts, the forfeitures will ruin you.
And you can't fill them unless you can
have Chiawassee iron. and at the pres
ent price"
The old iron-master led the way
back to the room of doom and took his
place at the end of the trestle- board
table.
Give me the papers," he said. gloom
NY; and the Farley's attorney passed
them across. with his fountain-pen.
There was a purring OF wheels In the
air and the staccato clatter of a horses
hoofs on the hard metaling Of the pike
Vincent Farley rose quietly In his place
and tiptoed to the door. He was in the
act of swapping the catch of the
spring Latch. when the door flew In
ward and he fell back with a smother
ed exclamation. Thereupon they all
looked up, Caleb, the tremulous, with
the pen still suspended over the sigma
lures upon which the ink was still wet.
Tom was standing In h doorway.
deathly sick and clinging to the jam1
for support In putting on his hat he
had slipped the bandages. an the
wound was bleeding afresh. Dyckman
yelped like a stricken dog, overturnin1
his chair as he leaped up and backed
away into a corner. Only Mr.. Duxbury
Farley and his attorney were wholly
unmoved- The lawyer had taken his
fountain-pen from Caleb's shaking fn-
gers and was carefully recapping IL:
and Mr.. Farley was pocketing the
agreement. by the terms of which the
Arm OF Gordon & Gordon had ceased to
exist.
Tom Iurched into the room and threw
himself feebIy on the promoter, and
Vincent made as il he would come be-
tween But there was no need for IN
tervention. Duxbury Farley had only
~ step ASIDE, ana IOlH leu nedVlly,
eiutching the air as he went down.
The dusty office which had once been
Ais mothers sitting-room was cleared
ff all save his rather when Tom re-
covered consciousness and sat up, with
Caleb's arm to help.
There. now Buddy; you ortn't 20
t1ed to get up and come down here"
said the father. soothingly. But Toms
blood was or fire
Tell mel" he raved; have they got
the foundry away from your"
Caleb nodded ~gravely. Put don't
you mind none about that. son. What
I'm sweatin' about now is the fix you're
in"
Tom struggled TO his feet, tottering.
III cut the heart out of these de-
mons that have robbed you Give mo
the pistol from that drawer, and drive
me down to the station before their
frof, o1poac I'll 10 - I'll IL - -D,rfu