Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1911-09-14

door.
The touch Of the push button was
only a touch, and there was no an
swerfng skirl Of the bell in the all.
Joining room. But as if the Intention
had evoked It shadow crossed behind
the superintendent chair and came
to rest at the end Of the roll top desk
Lidgerwood looked up with his ewes
adame. 1t was Hallock who was
standing at the desks end. and he
was pointing to the memorandum on
the calendar pad.
ssYou made that note three DAYS
ago." he said abruptly. 81 saw your
train come in and your light 90 on.
What bill Of lading was it you want
ed to see me about?"
For an instant Lidgerwood failed to
understand. Then he saw that in alb
breviating he had unconsciously used
the familiar sign teB-L,' the common
abbreyiation Of bill Of lading.''
"sit down." he raped out. egThat
isn't bill Of lading;' it's building and
! loan"
| Hallock dragged the one vacant
chair into the circle Illuminated by the
shaded desk electric and sat on the
edge Of 1t. with his hands On his
knees. '.WeIl?" he said in the grating
voice that was so euriously like Grid
ley's.
/ I'VE can cut out the details"-this
from the man who. under other con
ditions, would have gone diplomatical-
| ~ into the smallest details. Some
years ago you were the treasurer Of
the Mesa Building and Loan assoeia
ton. When the association went out
Of business its books showed a cash
balance in the treasury. What became
OF the money!"
Hallock was silent for time, SO long
a time that Lidgerwood burst out
tmpatiently. why don't you answer
meW
ST was just wondering If it is worth
while for you to throw me overheard"
said the chief clerk, speaking slowly
and quite without heat. You are
needing friends pretty badly just now,
if you only knew it, Mr.. LidgerWood."
The cool retort. as from an equal in
rank, added fresh fuel to the fire.
I'm not buying friends with conces-
sions to injustice and crooked deal
ling" Lidgerwood exploded You We're
in the railroad service when the money
was paid over to you. and you are i'll
the railroad service now. want to
know where the money went"
Its none of your business, Mr.. Lid
| gerwood.'
"By heavens, I'm making it my
business, Hallock! These men who
were robbed say that you are an en-
lbezzler. a thief. If you are not you've
got to clear yourself. If you are you
can't stay in the Red Butte service
another day; that's all"
Again there was a silence surcharged
with electric possibilities. When Hal
lock spoke it was still without anger.
81 don't care hang for your chief
clerkship,' he said calmly, but for
reasons OF my own / am not ready TO
quit on such short notice. When am
ready you won't have to discharge me-
Upon what terms can / stay?
"I'ye stated them,'' said the one who
was angry. Discharge your trust.
make good in dollars and cents or
show cause why you were caught with
an empty cash box"
"You seem to take it for granted
that | was the only CRATER IN the
building and loan business the chief
clerk objected. Il wasn't. On the con
trary, / was only a necessary cog IN
the wheel. Somebody had to make the
deductions from the payrolls, and
I'm not asking you to make ex-
ouses." stormed Lidgerwood. sI'm tell
ling you that you've got to make good:
If the money was used legItlmately
Won or some Of your fellow officers III
the company should be able to show
it. If the others left you to hold the
bag it is due to yourself. to the men
who were held up and to me that you
set yourself straight. Go to Flemiste1
he was your president. wasn't me-
and get him to make statement thai
) I caa show to the grievance commit
tee. That will let you out and me-
too
HalIock stood up and leaned ove1
the desk end. His saturnine face wa
d mask OF cold rage. but his eyes were
burning.
IF | thought you knew what your'
saying. he began in the grating voice
"but you don't-you can't know
. Then. with sudden break in tn
fierce tone: Don't send me to Elem
9 lister for my clearance don't do it. Nj
LidgerwooG. It's playing with fire
: didn't steal the money: I'll swear 70 !
: on stack of Bibles mile high
' Flemister viii tell you so II he IS pal
his price. But you don't want me |
! ! pay the price. IL do
go on" said Lidgervood. froWl
Ing. IF you do. what then r