Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-10-13


right. Marsh is lighting TO delay us"
He began recital Of the mornings oc-
currence. but before he had finished he
was called TO the telephone.
More bad news" he exclaimed as
he re-entered the room The Jackson
Nebur company say they can't make
delivery Of their order | wonder what
next"
I'VE don't need anything more TO Grip
pie u.s." George declared blankly. ANY
one of these blows is a Knockout"
1t was perhaps an hour later that
Cherry entered unannounced
81 lust ran In for a minute 10 tell
YOU something new. When l came
ND from the bank the elevator boy
Mt the hotel made a mistake and car
ried me past my floor. Without motto
ing the difference, ! went down the
hall, and whom should | run right in
10. coming out OF a room. but our de-
tective! AS he opened the door ! heard
him say, Very well. sir. I'll report to-
morrow
"To whom was he reporting?"
81 don't know. A few minutes later
| called you up TO tell you about it, but
while / was waiting for my number
the operator evidently got the wires
crossed or left switch open. for
heard this much of a conversation:
"'Our contract covers $4,000 cases
at So We thought that was at least
90 cents under the market
81 was about TO ring off when | re-
membered that you had sold your out
put Of 10000 cases TO Bloc & Co. for s.
a case. so ! listened on a chance and
heard another voice reply
Whose voiceT'
II don't know 1t said. Well under
sell that by 81
"'GoOd Lord said the first speaker.
That means loss Of And then
was cut off. thought I'd better come
over in person instead Of trusting to
the wire"
And you didn't recognize either
speaker"
"No. But l discovered at the office
that rooms Go and 612-the suit saw
that detective coming out of-are occu-
pied by a Mr.. Jones of New York. who
arrived three days ago. I'll bet any
thing you please that you'll hear from
Bloc & Co. within twentyfour hours
and that the occupant of those rooms
at the Hotel Butler is Willis Marsh"
Big George began TO mutter profane
ly. at looks like they had us, and all
because Fraser's tongue is hung in the
middle"
"All the same. Wen fight it out" said
Emerson grimly. IF | can raise that
money in Tacoma Again the tele-
phone bell buzzed noisily.
bloc & Co." predicted Cherry. but
for once she was wrong
"a call from Tacoma" said Boyd. the
receiver to his ear; "it must be the
Second National. They were not to let
me know till tomorrow" Through
the open door of the adjoining room
his words came distinctly, while the
others listened In tense silence.
Hello! Yes! This is Boyd Emer-
SON." Then followed pause. during
which the thin, rasping voice of the
distant speaker murmured unintelli-
gibly.
why not? Can't you give me rea-
son? thought you said Very well.
Goodby."
Emerson hung up the receiver care
fully and with the same elaboration
turned to face his companions. He
nodded and spread his hands outward
in an unmistakable gesture.
What, already" queried the girl.
''They must have been reached by
phone"
THAT detective may have called
Marsh up from there"
THAT means 1t won't do any good
to try further in Tacoma. The other
banks have undoubtedly been fixed. or
they soon will be. If can slip away
undiscovered I'll try Vancouver next,
Sut l haven't much hope"
"It looks bad. doesn't it?" said Cher
ry.
"As we stand at present" Boyd ac-
knowledged. I'VE are the owners Of
a hundred thousand dollars worth Of
useless machinery and unstable sup
plies"
"And ALL" unused the girl. because
OF loose tongue and little type"
CHAPTER X.