Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-20
By
FRANCIS LYNDE

! It was open. and in the coy guests
writing room at one of the tables
| drawn up before a cheerful wood fire
sat the vice president Of the Trans
continental seemingly in solitary state.
But in the room beyond a battery of
telegraph instruments clicked busily,
and a close observer would have re-
! marked that the small table before
the fire WAS fitted with a row Of cleo
trio call buttons.
Cliffcrest inn. deserted OF guests.
had been transformed into the hidden
headquarters in the field of the com
mander in chief
Well" said the great man, looking
up quickly when Gantry entered. You
took your time about getting here.
Whose car is that?"
1T is Kittredge's," said the traffic
man.
Better tell him to get one that will
make time" was the impatient com
ment. Then: 'Sit down and bring the
situation up to date, and talk fast
Time is precious today"
Gantry drew up a chair and gave
hasty resume of the political situation.
Everything had been done that could
be done. and so far as the traffic man
ager knew the railroad forces were
ready to meet the issue at the polls.
At one point. and only one, the de-
lenses were weak. Its that Gryson
deal" he explained. 1T has been rath-
er awkwardly handled. and If Evan
Blount should happen to stumble upon
it any time during the day l shouldn't
like to answer for the consequences"
You ought to have made sure by
getting him safely out of the way"
was the rasping comment Of the great
man. You are just common bunglers
you and Kittredge- of you"
Gantry's gesture was of humorous
despair.
There's a limit, Mr.. Mcvickar. We
couldn't very well garrote him and
carry him of to a dungeon. We have
tried every way we could to muzzle
him. So far as know. he hasn't been
doing anything incendiary since you
were here last week, but 1 had to put
one across on him about the equalizing
of the freight rates"
What did you dog snapped the vice
president
Il mailed him what purported to be
a carbon copy of the legal notice Of a
reduction. He doesn't know yet that
he has the only copy-that the notice
hasn't been posted in our stations, as
the law directs. I'm hoping that he
won't find it out until after tomorrow,
when it Won't make any especial diff
ference"
Mr.. McVickar frowned again.
Your eXpedients have all been pref
ty crude, Gantry. You seem to per-
sistently forget that you are dealing
with a mighty sharp. shrewd young
lawyer; that the chances are ten TO
one that young Blount discovered your
pious fraud at once Go back to the
city and think up some scheme that
viii keep him busy today. too busy TO
smell out the facts in the Gryson
matter"
Gantry got up and stood with his
back TO the FIRE
I'm all in, Mr.. McVickar. and that's
the humiliating fact There isn't an
other idea left IN me-" he confessed
Cant you help us out a
little, Mr.. McVickar?"
Being thus put face to face with the I.
inventive test. the vice president did .
not hesitate a moment
'Of course" he grated. IF have 10 1
10 your thinking for you. Go back .
and get into communication with Cry |
son. Tell him the time has come to /
play the same game on young Blount |
hat he played four years ago on
detheredge, the speaker Of the house.
He'll understand
But now Gantry was shaking his
lead obviously. IN do what you
Jay and do it quickly. But candidly.
IIr. McVickar. I'm afraid Of Gryson
I Blount should happen TO go at him
ust right there might be consequences
Il another sort. Gryson is pretty sore
Is it is