Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-05-26

think things over fairly and without
heat.
y few minutes later Gantry looked
IN aai. apparently missing the half
""ng""ird "asy chair and It's occupant
81 tAt bookcase alcove. went his way.
il3 Was scarcely gone before two
men entered. coming down the CORR
dor from the grill room.
Blount saw them. and he made sure
that they saw him. But when they
had taken chairs on the other side Of
the room he vas suddenly assured that
they had not seen him. They were
talking quite freely Of him and Of his
father.
well. the Honorable Sagebrush has
got McNickar dead to rights this
time" said the elder Of the two. a full
faced man. TO whom Blount had been
introduced on his first day in the CAPT
tai. but whose name and station he
could not recall. This scheme Of put
ting his son up for attorney general Is
the foxiest thing the senator has ever
PIT across. You can bet the air was
blue In the Transcontinental Chicago
offices when the news got there"
What do you suppose McVickar
will doY asked the other.
He will do anything the senator
wants him to do. Blount Is land hun
cry, and l guess he'll take n few more
sections Of the railroad mesa land I'M
der the Clearwater ditch. That was
what he did two years ago, when Nc
Vickar wanted the right Of way for
the branch through Carnadine cOun-
ty."
Don't you believe he's going to
take any little Christmas gift this
time" was the rasping reply Hell
sell the railroad something and take
good hard money for 1t. It's Il cincl.
The railroad can't afford to have the
courts against 1t. and McVickar will
be made to sweat blood. You watch
the wheels go round when McVickar
comes out here"
Evan Blount found himself turning
Sick ut heart. Could 1t be his father
whom they were thus calmly accusing
Of graft and trickery and blackmail-
ing methods?
His first impulse was to face the
two men. to demand proofs, to do and
say what loyal son should But the
sickening conviction that they were
discussing only well assured and we'll
known facts crushed him back into
his chair. and after that he was anx-
ious for only one thing-that they
might finish their cigars and go away
without discovering him.
Fate was kind to him thus far. After
a little further talk. in which the &C.
cepted point Of view Of the onlooker
Cas made still more painfully evident.
the younger Of the two men spoke Of
an engagement. and they both went
out together.
One clear thought, and only one,
came to Evan out Of the sorrowful
confusion. Not for any inducement
that could be offered would he now
lend himself to the furtherance Of his
fathers plans.
Beyond this he did not 60 In the mis-
cradle hour wrought out In the quiet
Of the club smoking room.
But when he rose to go another
prompting was forcing its way to the
front-a prompting to throw himself
boldly into the scale against graft and
cEicanery. to redeem by whatsoever
means might offer the good old name
that had been SO shamefully dragged
In the mire.
He did not know just how 1t was to
be done. but he would find a way.
That 1t would be full Of thorns he
:ould not doubt, since every step In II
would open and widen the breach be-
tween him and his father But, though
II should lead him to the bar OF justice
as that fathers accuser. he must walk
in it. He said to himself in n fresh
access Of determination that. though
he might have to blush for his father,
Patricia should not be made ashamed
for her lover.
long enough on the steps to remember
that he was in no fit frame Of mind to
risk an immediate meeting with his fa-
Their. To avoid the chance he crossed
the street and. passing through the
capitol grounds. strolled aimlessly out
one Of the residence streets until he
came to the open country.
1t was quite late In the afternoon
when he re-entered the city by another
street and boarded a trolley car for
the downtown center The long after
noon tramp and the conclusions It had
bred made It imperative for him to see
Cantry before the traffic manager
should have left his Office for the day
His business with the railroad man
was purely personal. He meant to
ask Gantry n few pointed questions,
requiring such answers as friendship
may demand. II Gantry's answers
were what be feared they would be he
would seek bis father and come at
once to plain understanding with
him.
The trolley cac dropped him within
square OF the railway station, ON the
second door OF which Gantry had his
Office. The shortest way to the Sierra
avenue end OF the station building was
through the great train shed.
Halfway up the block-long platform
Blount met The incoming overland
steaming In from the east. At the
Sierra avenue crossing the yard crew
was cutting of private car. Blount
saw the number on tine medallion.
COS" and noted half Gbsently the
rich window hangings and the polish
ed brass platform ratings.
y car Inspector In greasy overa!ls
aud 1umper was tapping the wheels
with his long handled hammer.