Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-01-20
CHAPTER xxIII.-(cOntinued.)


Miss Dabney. and not Nanny Juliets
Pete, who was holding the reins.
Il couldn't find Pete and Japheth
has gone to town." she explained.
can you get in by yourself?"
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 she
thought he was thinking of the dis
grace for her.
Il am my own mistress" she said,
coldly. IF I choose to drive you when
you are too sick to hold the reins, 1t
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 toto the Farleys. That's
what the meeting is for. Do you un-
derstand?"
she bit her lip and far-away look
came into her eyes. Then she turned
on him with little frown OF determl-
nation gathering between her straight
eyebrows-a 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
grandfather's 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 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 log house office at the fur
mace. Caleb Gordon, haggard and
tremulous, sat at one end of the tres
tie board which served as a table, with
Norman at his elbow; and hankirIe
him on either side were the two Far
leys, Dyckman, Trewhltt acting gen.
eral counsel for the company in tho
Farley interest. and Hanchett, repre-
senting' the Gordons.
Having arranged the preliminarics
to 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
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
off the iron supply and making ruin
Gus forfeiture of pipe contracts newt
able; suit would be brought to recover
damages for the alleged mismanago-
ment 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 u
sharp wit could suggest to gain time.
But Mr.. Farley was inexorable. Tho
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
laboratory for private word.
"It's 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 friend 1 can't advise you to
take that course"
IF we would only make out to find
out what Toms holding over 'em!"
groaned Caleb, helplessly.
Yes: but we can't" said the lawyer
And whatever it may be, they are evil
dently not afraid Of It."
We'll never see dollars dividend
out O. the stock. Cap'n Hanchett.
might as we'll 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 month
and make you lose everything you
have. I've been over the books with
Norman: If you can't MI 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
nlace at the end Of the trestle- board
table,
"Give me the papers," he said, gloom
ily: and the Farleys attorney passed
them across, with his fountain-pen.
There was purring Of wheels in the
air and the staccato clatter of a horses
hoofs on the hard metaling of the pike.
Vincent Farley rose quietly In his place
and tiptoed to the door. He was in tho
act of swapping the catch of the
spring latch. when the door flew In
ward and he fell back with a smother
ed exclamation. Thereupon they all
looked up, Caleb, the tremulous, with
the pen still suspended over the sigma
lures upon which the ink was still wet
Tom was standing in the doorway,
seathly sick and clinging to the jamb