The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-08-19
THE TANNING OF
RED BUTTE WESTERN
CONTINUED from Second Page)


remember to close the door.
Lidgerwood turned back to his desk
sayagely out Of humor with Benson
and with himself and raging inwardly
ut the mysterious thieves who were
looting the company as boldly as an
invading army might. At this the
most inauspicious moment possible his
eye fell upon the calendar memoran-
dunn. "See HalIock about b." and
his finger was on the chief clerks bell
push before he remembered that 1t
was late and that there had been no
| light In HaI1ock's room when he had
come down tho corridor to his own
door.
The touch of the push button was
only a touch, and there was no an
swering skirl of the bell In the ad-
| Joining room. But as If the intention
had evoked 1t a shadow crossed behind
the superintendent chair and came
to rest at the end Of the roll top desk.
Lidgerwood looked up with his eyes
aaame. It was Hallock who was
standing at the desks end, and he
| was pointing to the memorandum on
the calendar pad.
"You made that note three days
ago." he said abruptly. II saw your
train come In and your light 60 on.
What bill Of lading was 1t you want
ed to see me aboutT
For an instant Lidgerwood failed to
understand. Then he saw that In alb
breviating he had unconsciously used
the familiar sign "B-L" the common
abbreviation Of "bill Of lading"
"Sit down." he raped out. THAT
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. "Wen?' he said In the grating
voice that was so curiously 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 associa-
| 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
q time that Ldgerwood burst out
impatiently, "Why don't you answer
meY
Il was just wondering II 1t 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.
"Tm not buying friends with conces-
sions to injustice and crooked deal
Ing" Ldgerwood exploded. You were
In the railroad service when the money
| was paid over to you, and you are In
the railroad service now. l 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-
bezzler. 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 silence surcharged
| with electric possibilities. When Hal
lock spoke 1t was still without anger.
Il don't care a hang for your chief
clerkship." he said calmly. but for
reasons Of my own am not ready to
quit on such short notice. When l am
ready you won't have to discharge me.
Upon what terms can l stay?'
/ Eve 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 I 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. ard
I'm not asking you to make ex.
cuses." stormed Lidgerwood. I'm tell
ing you that you've got to make good!
II the money was used legitimately
you or some Of your fellow officers in
the company should be able to show
1t. II 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 Flemister
he was your president, wasn't he?-
and get him to make a statement that
I can show to the grievance commit
tee. That will let you out and me
too"
Hallock stood up and leaned over
the desk end. His saturnine face was
a mask Of cold rage. but his eyes were
burning
III thought you knew what you're
saying" he began in the grating voice,
'but you don't-you can't KNOW
Then. with a sudden break in the
fierce tone: Don't send me to Flem-
lister for my clearance-don'td do it. Mr..
Lidgerwood. It's playing with fire. I
didn't steal the money: I'll swear to it
on a stack Of Bibles a mile high.
Flemister will tell you so II he IS paid
his price. But you don't want me to
pay the price. II do
1