The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-12-02
CHAPTER xxII1.-(Continued.)

pilgrimage Of endless miles, ne ha''
crept down to the gate. But It WAS
Miss Dabney, and not Nanny Jullet
Pete, who was holding the relns.
Il couldn't find Pete, and Japnetn
has gone to town." she expiaineo
~Can you get in by yourselfT
He was holding on by the cut wheel
and the death-look was creeping over
his face again.
Il can't let you," he painted; and snc
thought he was thinking OF the OILS
grace for her.
Il am my own mistress" she sald'
coldly. IF / choose to drive you "neh
Won are too sick to hold the reins, II
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 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 the
truth: is your cause entirely just?
Your motive is not revenge"
1T Is my fathers cause and none
of mine; more than that, it Is your
grandfath theirs cause-and yours"
She pushed the buggy hood back
with a quick arm sweep and gave him
ELL 1,
cautioned; and a minute later they
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
tie board which served as table, with
Norman at his elbow; and thanking
him on either side were the two Far
leys. Dyckman, 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-
pipe foundry might be taken into the
parent company at q 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
OF the iron supply and making a ruin
>ous forfeiture of pipe contracts newt
hi ho ,crht RI
damages for the alleged mismanage-
ament 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 ultimatum.
The one-sided battle had been fought
: to finish. Hanchett. hewing away in
the dark had made every double and
turn that keen legal acumen and
sharp wit could suggest to gain time.
but Mr.. Farley was inexorable. Ths
sbusiness 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 the
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"
IF we would only make out to find
out what Toms holding over 'em!"
groaned Caleb, helpless1y
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 dollars dividend
out O. the stock, Cap'n Hanchett
might as well give 'em the foundry free
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: If 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
fly: and the Farley's attorney passed
them across, with his fountain pen.
There was purring of wheels in the
air and the staccato clatter Of a horse,
hoofs' on the hard metaling Of thu nira
Vincent Farley rose quietly in his nla -
and tiptoed to the door. He was in ~
act of swapping the catch OF III.
spring latch. when the door few In.
ward and he fell back with smother.
ed exclamation. Thereupon they ii
a. 49, i