Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-12
BY REX BEACH
CHAPTER VII.
corr.'enr. 1903, .r

looks just my sort" And accordingly
Emerson notioned to the fisherman.
Seeing there was no help for it. Big
George composed himself and ventured
tdmidly across the portal.
/; Gimme a lemonade, quick; I'm all
het up" he ordered. 81 can't get no
| footholt Oh these fancy floors, they're
20 dang slick"
"AIr. Clyde offers to put $4,000 into
the deal If he can go to Kalvik with
US and help run the cannery," explain
ed Emerson.
| George looked over the clubman care
| fully from his curly crown to his slen-
der. high heeled shoes, then smiled
broadly.
! Its up 10 Mr. Emerson. I'm willing
] II he is" Whereupon. vastly encour.
aged. Clyde proceeded to expatiate
upon his own surprising qualifica-
tons. While he was speaking a party
Of three men approached and seated
themselves at an adjoining table. As
they pulled out their chairs Big George
CHANGED to glance in their direction.
| then put down his lemonade glass care
fully.
whats the matter2" Boyd demand
ed in a low tone. for the big fellows
face had suddenly gone livid. while
his eyes had w1dened like those Of an
enraged animal.
That's him!' George srowled.
''That's the dirty hound!'
"Sit still.' commanded Emerson.
''Don't make a fool Of yourself" he
cautioned
That's himr' repeated George. his
, eyes glaring redly. That's Willis
Marsh"
"where:" Emerson whirled curious
IL. but there was no need for George
to point out his enemy. for one Of the
strangers stood as II frozen. with his
hand upon the back Of bis chair. an
expression of the utmost establishment
upon his face. A smile was dying
from his lips.
Boyd beheld plump, thickset man
- thirty eight in evening dress. There
was nothing distinctive about him ex-
cept, perhaps, his hair, which was Of
decided reddish hue. he was light of
! compilations; his mouth was small and
/ Of a rather womanish appearance. due
to the fl:l red lips. He was well
groomed. well fed: in all ways he was
a typical city bred man. Raising his
brows In recognition, he nodded pleas
! antly to Bait. then, as IL on second
thought. excused himself to his com
panions and stepped toward the other
group.
"How do you do. George? What in
the name OF goodness are you doing
here? hardly recognized you"
Marsh's voice was round and musical.
his accent eastern. With an assump-
ton Of heartiness. he extended q white
gloved hand. which the big. uncouth
man who faced him refused to take.
The other three had risen. George
seemed to be cropping for = retort
Finally he blurted out hoarsely:
Don't o1er me your hand. lts
dirty! It's got blood ON it!''
"Nonsense! Marsh smiled. Lets
| be friends again. George. Bygones are
bygones."
"You dirty raty' breathed the fisher
man.
Every well. II you wish to b OBJ
stinate"-Willis Marsh shrugged his
shoulders carelessly, although in his
voice there was q metallic note-"I
have nothing to say. Mr.. Bait and
I had a business misunderstanding"
he said smoothly to Emerson. (which
1 hoped was forgotten. 1t didn't
amount to much
At this Bait uttered . choking snarl
and stepped forward. only to meet
Boyd. who Intercepted him.
Behave yourselfv' he ordered.
Don't make a scene" And before the
big fellow could prevent it he had
linked arms with him and swung him
around. The movement was executed
30 naturally that mono Of the patrons
/ Of the cafe noticed 1t except perhaps
| as a preparation for departure. Marsh
bowed civilly and returned to his seat
Alton Clyde clamored for enlighten-
! ment ~ to the reason for this erup.
ton.
THAT Is the fellow we will have to
fight" Boyd explained. "He Is the
head Of the cannery combination at
Kalvik and bitter enemy Of
Georges"
Clyde spoke earnestly. "well, that
absolutely settles 1t as far AZ I am
concerned. This Is bound to end in .
row."
.'You mean you don't want to join
usY'
Don't want to! Why, I've Just got
to, that's all. The $4,000 II yours"
A month had elapsed when EMer.
son at last expressed to George tho
announcement that had lain silently
in both mems minds.
you've played your string out. chr"
Absolutely. I've done everything
except burglary, but can't raise that
100000. Times are hard, and I've
bled my friends Of every dollar they
can spare"
Its an awful big piece Of money"
Bait admitted, with . sigh.
IT never fully realized before how
very large" Boyd said. "And yet
without that amount tho Seattle bank
won't back us for the remainder"
"Oh, its NO use to tackle the bust
ness on q small scale" Big George
pondered. "Ws'd ought to bs en the
coast now. We're shy $4,000. chr
| Eyes"