Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-08-17

courts against 1t, ana McVickar will
be made to sweat blood. You watch
the wheels go round when Mcyickar
comes out here"
Evan Blount found himself turning
SICK at heart. Gould it be his father
whom they were thus calmly accusing
of graft and trickery and blackmaiI-
ing methods?
His first impulse was to face the
two men, to demand proofs, to do and
say what a loyal son should. But the
s%lckening 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 ac-
cepted point of view Of the onlooker
was 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 go 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 it's way to the
front-a prompting to throw himself
boldly into the scale against graft and
chicanery. 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 it was to
be done, but he would find q way.
That it would be full Of thorns he
could not doubt, since every step in it
would open and widen the breach be-
tween him and his father. But, though
1t should lead him to the bar Of justice
as that fathers accuser, he must walk
LII IL. 44S Sd1u " IlllSC1l LII q llCSA
access Of determination that, though
he might have to blush for his father,
Patricia should not be made ashamed
for her lover.
Upon leaving the club he hesitated
long enough on the steps to remember
that he was in no fit frame Of mind to
risk an immediate meeting with his IA
Their. To avoid the chance he crossed
the street and, passing through the
capitol grounds, strolled aimlessly out
one of the residence streets until be
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
Gantry 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 a few pointed questions,
occurring such answers as friendship
may demand. If Gantry's answers
were what he feared they would be he
would seek his father and come at
once to a plain understanding with
him.
The trolley car dropped him within
a square of the railway station, on the
second floor 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 off a private car. Blount
saw the number on the medallion,
".O0S," and noted half absently the
rich window h%angings and the polish
ed brass platform ratings.
A car inspector in greasy overalls
and jumper was tapping the wheels
with his long handled hammer.
Whose car is this?' asked Blount.
"'Tis Misther McVickars, sorr-the
vice prisidint av the company" said
the man.
Blount turned away, saying some
thing which the hammer man mistook
for a word Of thanks. So the vice
president had come, fastening upon
the wing of occasions, it seemed, and
in the light Of the overheard converse
ton in the club smoking room it was
only too easy to guess his errand in
the %Sagebrush capital. He had come
to make such terms as he could with
the man who was going to hold
him up.
CHAPTER VII.