The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-05-07
j Mine thousand dollars, said Brand.
Ten thousand dollars" the Judge

p mine thousand dollars, said Brand.
ten thousand dollars" the judge
counted. <5z i. Z, I. 14
rs that correct?" he queried Of the
editor. T. 4. c. r.
ten thousand dollars, correct" was
the reply. "That will wipe the slate
clean between u.s." E.>. Is ~ .@:@
y Brand held out his hand to take the
money. Il ...S5. =. ) 1.E s
The judge picked up the pile Of bills,
compressed them with his hands and
extended the money across the desk.
Take 1t, Brand" he said. %,E g..
/ As the false Judge said these words
and stood with the money In his hands
and held it out to the editor loud ex-
plosion thrilled every nerve fiber In
his body. A binding glare Of light
filled the room. and the air was dlled
with the choking gaseous fumes Of
the smoke of the powder used by pho
tographers in making flashlights.
A pang Of terror shot through the
craven heart of the would be briber.
He started back in his alarm. his eyes
almost blinded by the unexpected nood
of light that had subsidized as quickly
as it had come.
my God! What is that?'' he cried,
rubbing the back of one Of his hands
across his eyes.
Wheeler Brand, who had risen in his
place at his desk when the judge had
finished counting the money, set his
face into hard. unyielding lines as the
judge besought him to speak, to ex-
plain. He had won. He had COM
pletely at his mercy this cold, crafty
betrayer of the public trust he had
sworn to hold sacred. And it was
with unmistakable triumph in his
voice that he gave the reply that was
to be imprinted on the brain of the
false judge as long as he was to live
a reply that would haunt him while
awake and awake him when he slept:
1T is picture of you in stripes,
Judge Bartelmy," he announced.
The judge, realizing that he had
been tricked-that he had been photo
graphed in the very act Of handing
bride money to the managing editor OF
the Advapce-displayed rare presence
OF mind for man whose complete
social and professional ruin had be-
come suddenly imminent. He rushed
across the room at the point where
the fash occurred, hoping to obtain
hold OF the camera and destroy the
plate. Owing to the pail Of smoke he
had been unable to see just in what
manner the camera had been arranged.
But when he reached the side of the
room there was no camera to be seen,
only a round hole extending, through
the partition into the next room and
from which the camera had been re-
moved. He stood and gazed in dis
may. He knew now that he was at
the mercy Of Brand and the Advance
to a degree that he hardly dared to
estimate. H.: F.. -, ...
He turned around and walked back
to the desk. Brand was still standing
in his place, looking axedly at the
judge. t......:~ >... :
Bartelmy was not beaten vet. He.
knew that he would not be beaten un-
til the Advance appeared in the streets
spreading forth to all the world the.
story of his shame. : -, 5ttE 49,;
Shaking from head to foot in his
rage, he pounded the desk and cried
out:
"You have gone to all your trouble
for nothing. I am going direct to Mr.,
Nolan's house, and in. less than an
hour you will receive orders to kill
that story-that dastardly pack Of lies
you want to print" -.
Brand smiled calmly. He gathered
the $4,000 in bills, which lay scatter
ed on the desk where Bartelmy. had
thrown them when he dashed for the
camera.
9TH keep these as evidence" he said.
when they have served their purpose
we will return them to you. or maybe
we will send them to the minority
stockholders in the Lansing Iron COM
pany. That's who the money probably
belongs to-" -.
Bartelmy accepted the situation with
stoieal composure for the time. He
saw that he would have no chance in
a hand to hand struggle with tho.
young athletic editor for possession Of
the money. Besides, he must see No
, lan-must see him at once. That was
the most important matter to which
he should now attend: >-':.. :
| He walked deliberately to the closet
| and secured his hat and coat. He
turned the key and went out Of the
door leading to the outer hall.
As the Judge disappeared Wheeler
Brand sank heavily into hts chair, Ha
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