The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-09-23
CHAPTER XXIn.-iContlnuedl

MN When, Atl0T WuAt seemed llho q
pilgrimage Of endless miles he had
orept down 10 the gate But II was
Miss Dabney, and no Nanny Julieti
Pete, who was holding the reins.
Il couldn't hnd Pete, and Japheth
has gone 10 town." she explained
"Can you get IN by yourself?"
lie 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 she
thought he was thinking OF the dis
grace for her.
Il am my own mistress" she said,
eoldly III / choose to drive you when
you 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 he
has got to-to 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 a little frown OF determi-
nation gathering between her straight
eyebrows frown that reminded him
VI bliN AAdJoI III MS illlllAANA NlthAas
II 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 reyengew
1T Is my fathers cause, and none
of mine; more than that, II is your
grandfathers cause-and yours"
She pushed the buggy hood back
with a quick arm sweep and gave him
her free hand. Step carefully" she
cautioned; and a minute later thoy
we're speeding swiftly down the pike
IN a white dust cloud OF their own
making
There was a sharp crisis to the fore
N the old Lighthouse Office at the fur
nace Caleb Gordon. haggard and
Eemulous, sat at one end of the tres
ne-board which served as a table with
Norman at his elbow; and hank.uE
him on either side were the two Far
!eys, Dyckman, Trewhitt, acting gem
bral counsel for the company in tho
Farley interest, and Hanchett. repre-
Ientlng the Gordons.
Having arranged the prelimlnarics
70 his entire satisfaction, Colonel DuX-
bury had struck true and hard. The
pipe foundry might be taken into the
parent company at a certain nominal
3gure payable In a new issue of CHA
Rassee Limited stock, or three several
hings were due to happen smultane-
pusly: the furnace would be shut down
Indefinitely for repairs" thus cuttin5
9ff the iron supply and making ruin
GUS forfeiture Of pipe contracts newt
able; suit would be brought to recover
damages for the alleged mlsmanage-
ment of Chiawassee Consolidated dur
ing the absence of the majority stock
bolders; and the validity Of the pipe
pit patents would be contested in the
courts. This was the ultmatum.
The one sided battle had been fought
to a finish. Hanchett, hewing away in
the dark, had made every double and
turn that keen legal acumen and "a
sharp wit could suggest to gain time.
But Mr.. Farley was inexorable. The !
business 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 |
for a private word
ITS for you to decide, Mr.. Gordon" |
he said IF you want to follow them |
into the court, wen do the best we can.
But as a friend 1 can't advise you to
take that course"
IF we would only make out to find
out what Toms holding over 'eml"
groaned Caleb, helplessIy.
YES; but we can't" said the lawyer
"And whatever 1t may be, they are evil
IDENTIFY not afraid Of it."
Wen never see a 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 wav
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
ly: and the Farley's attorney passed
hem across, with his fountain-pen.
There was a purrlng of wheels In tho
,ir and the staccato clatter Of a horses
loofs on the hard metaling Of the pike.
Vincent Farley rose quietly in his place
Ind tiptoed to the door, He was in the
lct of swapping the catch Of the
Jpring- latch when the door flew in
ward and he fell back with a smother
ID exclamation. Thereupon they all
ooked up, Caleb, the tremulous, with
he pen still suspended over the sigma
ures upon which the ink was still wet
Tom was standing in the doorway
leathly sick and clinging to. the iamD
or support. In putting on his hat no
lad slipped the bandages, anu the
wound was bleeding afresh. Dyckman
-elped like a stricken dog, overturning
lis chair as he leaped up and backed
way into a corner. Only Mr.. Duxbury
farley and his attorney were wholly !
The lawyer had taken his
pen from Caleb's shaking fin {
ers and was carefully recapping It; !
nd Mr.. Farley was pocketing the @
by the terms of which the /
rm Of Gordon & Gordon had ceased to /
xist. '
Tom lurched into the room and threw t
imself feebly on the promoter, and +
4incent made as If he would come be- o
I0ME'S INFAMOUS PERIOD