The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-11-15

THE problem. then" he said, els to
remove Wood without the payment OF
his price--a thing no man can do"
"A thing any man can do" replied
Randolph Mason.
How" said the attorney, his finger
still lifted, his voice still impressively
deliberate.
Leave that to me-" said Mason.
"very WELL" he said. what am I
to do?"
What have you intended to do?"
replied Mason.
Il see nothing to do" continued the
attorney. "other than to accept the
conditions of Thomas B. Wood-to sur
render. to give him what he de-
mands."
do 1t then" said Mason.
The voice Of the attorney arose
again lingeringly on his words.
You give It up then, you bid me
ruin Garnett?"
II bid you save him." said Mason.
But" continued the attorney,
when this agreement is once effected.
what will be there to save him?"
Il shall be there" replied Randolph
Mason.
When the attorney left after his con-
ference with Randolph Mason, l wrote
a note to Margaret Garrett. Have q
care" said. Randolph Mason is no
longer neutral"
The next morning brought an an.
swer in the large. firm writing OF an
Englishwoman: Miss Garrett would
be at the Dresden at one o'clock.
Would come there? I was there at
the hour, and we lunched together.
In spite of the fact that directness
was the 6rst quality in the nature of
Margaret Garnet, thought she ap-
preached the subject In question with
trepidation. She did not ask me for
the story OF the conference She drew
out, rather, here and there feature
Of It by some subtle query, put inccn.
sequently In the course of our talk
Presently, when she knew in general
what had happened, her face took on
virile firmness.
"Courtlandt." she said, you are evil
IDENTIFY not poet. or else you would
see how deplorable thing 1t would
be to spoil this struggle between my
father and Mr.. Wood.
1T would be crude, barbaric. ugly
to throw to one or the other a balance
Of power. It would ruin the high dra-
matte tone Of the game; 1t would be
vandalism, like spelling canvas OF
Raphael, or a manuscript Of Horace"
Miss Garrett" / said, this is all
very beautiful, to quote your own ap-
propriate words; but, pardon me, are
you not giving tongue on the wrong
trail?' These lines should be spoken
to Randolph Mason. and not to his
fattered, but powerless, secretary"
She colored perceptibly; then her
face took on resolution. Very WELL"
she returned. Il will say them to Ran
dolph Mason"
wished then that I had said moth.
ing. 1t was worse than idle to go on
such an errand to Randolph Mason.
There was no escape, SO went with
Margaret Garrett in her carriage to
Randolph Mason.
l began then, somewhat late in the
hour, to prepare her for this meeting.
l advised her OF Mason's curious hab.
its, Of his unusual abstraction. warn
ed her against his abrupt, Indifferent
manner, his rigid. searching, brutal in
quiries. II she had any sensibilities
to be hurt, or any fragile ideas of
courtesy to be outraged, we would do
better to 60 back on the instant.
was glad Of this elaborate warning
when the girl stood finally before Ran
dolph Mason.
Mason deliberately laid down the
pen in his fingers and lifted his head,
with the expression of one who sub
mits out Of necessity to an Interrupt
ton.
Mr.. Mason" the girl began, II am
Margaret Garrett. wish to inquire
why you care so greatly for my father
to prevail over Mr.. Wood"
II do not care" he said.
The young woman was evidently
surprised. What interest have you
In my father, them" she inquired.
II have no interest In him." replied
Randolph Mason.
mo INTEREST,"" she repeated. "why
did my fathers attorney come hereY'
why do you come here?" returned
Mason.
She began to speak then, her voice
vibrating like the tense string of a
viol. She repeated. but in finer Sc
Quence, all she had said to me on that
night Of Gafki's drama, and all that
she had later said over our luncheon.
The spirit Of the woman came forth on
the flood; she was deeply, virtually. pas
sionately In earnest. speaking against
q sacrilege, speaking against wrong,
demanding. urging. pleading with Ran
dolph Mason to remain immovably
neutral. Let the struggle between her
father and this man be fair. Let its
thrilling. dramatic balance remain un-
disturbed. She was the one whose in
terest for her father should be deep
est, and she, above all things In this
world, wished to see the game played
out by the two now seated at the Ia
BILE. 1t was weak, cowardly in her IA
thar IN coma hare for MD ~ ha coulH