Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-04-21
CHAPTER xxIII.-(Continued.)

pilgrimage of endless miles, he nan
crept down to the gate. But 1t was
Miss Dabney, and not Nanny Juliers
Pete. who was holding the reins.
II 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-loo was creeping over
his face again.
IT 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 l choose to drive you when
you are too sick to hold the reins' II
IL my own affair"
II wasn't thinking of that; but you
must first know just what you're do
ing. My father stands TO lose all ne
has got TOTO the Farleys. That's
what the meeting Is for Do you I'M
derstand?"
She bit her lip and a far-away look
came into her eyes Then she turned
on him with little frown of determl-
nation gathering between her straight
eyebrows frown that reminded him
Of the Major in his militant moods.
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 1ustT
Your motive is not revenge?
TT Is my fathers cause, and none
Of mine; more than that. 1t Is your
grandfather's cause-and yours"
SIZE pushed the buggy hood back
with a quick arm sweep and gave him
her free hand. step carefully" she
ottff pn{n thoV
were speeding swiftly down the pike
in a white dust cloud of their own
making.
There was q sharp crisis to the fore
IN the old Lighthouse office at the fur
mace. Caleb Gordon. haggard and
tremulous, sat at one end Of the tres
tle-board which served as table. with
Norman at his elbow; and Ranking
him on either side were the two Far
leys. Dyckman, Trewhitt, acting gem
eral counsel for the company in the
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 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
of the iron supply and making ruin
GUS forfeiture of pipe contracts newt
able; suit would be brought to recover
damages for the alleged mismanage-
4R To ia
ing the absence of the majority stock
holders; and the validity of the pipe
Dit patents would be contested in the
courts. This was the ultimatum.
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 memorable. 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
laborat tory for private word
.Tt'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 a friend i can't advise you t.
take that course"
IF we would only make out to find
out what Toms holding over emil
Kroaned Caleb. helplessly.
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, o.
course. But on the other hand, they
can force you to the wall in a month
and make you lose everything 20,
have, I've been over the books with
Norman: II you can't fill your pip,
contracts, the forfeitures will ruin you
And you can't fill them unless you car
have Chiawassee iron. and at the pres
ent price"
The old iron master led the wa,
back to the room of doom and took hi
place at the end of the trestle- boarC
table.
.'Give me the papers," he said. gloom
ily; and the Farley's attorney passe,
them across. with his fountain-pen
There was a purring OF wheels In tn
air and the staccato clatter of a horse
hoofs on the hard metaling of the pike
Vincent Farley rose quietly in his plao
and tiptoed to the door. He was in tn
act of swapping the catch of tn
spring-latch, when the door flew In
ward and he fell back with smother
ed exclamation. Thereupon they a.
looked up Caleb, the tremulous, wit
the pen still suspended over the sigma
lures upon which the ink was still we
Tom was standing In the doorway
deathly sick and clinging to the Jam
for support In putting on Is hat h
had slipped the bandages, anG tn
wound was bleeding afresh. Dyckma
yelped like stricken dog. overturnin
his chair as he leaped up and backe
away into corner. Only Mr.. Duxbur
Farley and his attorney were who'll
unmoved. The lawyer had taken h
fountain-pen from Caleb's shaking fir
gers and was carefully 'recapping q
and Mr.. Farley was pocketing Il
agreement. by the terms of which Il
frm of Gordon & Gordon had ceased
exist
Tom iurched into the room and thre
I himself feebiy on the promoter, ar
.-aadA a. II he would coma b