Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-14

Is good looking. But l don't care for /
blonds." Fraser gazed admiringly at |
the brown hair before him and rolled |
his eyes eloquently. "I'm strong for |
brunettes, am. It's the creole blood !
in me-"
She gathered up her wild flowers and !
rose, saying:
az must be going"
'T'lI go with you" He jumped to
his feet with alacrity.
THANK you. l prefer to walk alone"
Declined with thanks" he murmur-
ed. I'D need ear muffs and mittens
to handle her. l think I'll build me
some bonfire and thaw out. She must
own the mint"
At the upper cannery Mildred found
Alton Clyde with the younger Berry
girl. She called him aside and talked
earnestly with him for several min
utes.
IAN right" he said at length. "I'm
glad to get out, Of course. The rest IS
up to you
Mildred's lips were white and her
voice hard as she cried:
'T am thoroughly sick of it ALL
have played the fool long enough?
''Now, look here" Clyde objected
weakly, ''you may be mistaken, and 1t
doesn't look like quite the square thing
to do" But she silenced him with an
angry gesture
Leave that to me. I'm through
with him."
"AH right Let's hunt up the gov
ernor." Together they went TO the Of
fee in search of Wayne Wayland.
A half hour later when Clyde re-
Joined Miss Berry she noticed that he
seemed i'll at ease. gazing down the
bay with a worried. speculative look
in his co!orlesS eyes.
Boyd Emerson reused from his death
like slumber late in the afternoon, still
worn from his long strain and aching
in every muscle. He was in wretched
plight physically. but his heart was
aglow with gladDess. Big George was
still at the trap, and the unceasing
rumble from across the way told him
that the fish were still coming in. AS
he was finishing his breakfast a watch
man appeared in the doorway.
There's a launch at the dock with
some people from above" he an
nouuced. 81 stopped them, according
to orders, but they want to see you"
SHOW them to the office" Boyd rose
and went into the other building, where
a moment later he was confronted by
Wayne Wayland and Willis Marsh.
The old man nodded to him shortly.
Marsh began:
I'VE heard about your good fortune.
Mr.. Wayland has come to look over
your plant"
at IS not for sale"
"How many fish are you getting?"
THAT is my business" He turned
to Mr.. Wayland. Il hardly expected
me enouGh?"
"JuSt a moment before you order me
out. I'm a stock holder in this com
pany. and l am within my rights"
You stakeholder? How much
stock do you own? Where did you
get it?''
Il own $4,000 shares outright" Mr.
Wayland tossed n packet of certif-
Gates upon the table. And l have
options on all the stock you placed in
Chicago. | said you would hear from
ne when the time came"
so you think the time has come to
crush me. eh:" said Emerson. wei.
you've been swindIed. Only one-third
Of the capital stock has been sold. and
Alton Clyde holds $4,000 shares of
that"
The old man smiled grimly. II have
not been swindled."
Then Clyde sold OUT" exploded
Boyd.
Yes. paid him back the $4,000 he
put in. and / took over the $4,000
shares you got Mildred to take
"Mildrcd"' Emerson started as if he
had been struck Are you insane?
Mildred doesn't own Why. Alton
never told me who put up that mon
eyr'
Don't tell me you didn't know
cried Wayne Wayland. You knew
all the time You worked your friends
out and then sent that whipper snap
per to nv daughter when you saw you
were about TO fail You managed
we'll. You knew she couldn't refuse"
How did you find out that she held
the stock?''
"She told me. Of course"
Don't ask me to believe that If
she hadn't told you before she wouldn't
tell you now. All can say is that she
acted of her own free will. 1 never
dreamed she put up that 500. What
do you intend to do now that you have
taken over these holdinEs?''
What do you think? l would spend
ten times the money to save my daugh-
ter" The old man was quivering.
You are only a minority stock
holder. The control OF this enterprise
still rests with me and my friends"
Your friendsr' cried Mr. Wayland
That's what brings me here-you and
your friands. I'll break you and your
friends " it takes my fortune"
IL can understand your dislike of