The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-11-15
he COrrectOr of Destinies
Being Tales Of Randolph Mason "a R.,.,...
His Private Secretary. CORTLAND PARKS -
THE INTRIGUER
By Melville DAVIDSON Posi-
Copyright by Edward J. Ciojo

n"iu' Ihen the domtnant
C Suai'y IN her, In her father, in every
"arhett' came imperiously forward. .
listening" an
began then with what willing sp,r.
II could summon.
Margaret Garnett listened Closely
putting now and then n query and
eiahc'ng now and then at the man
VINO sat applauding in that first chair
VI the NTH row, as though to establish
somehow. a relation there with this
mania OF Randolph Mason. II was evi.
'nt that | was telling her nothing
mat she had not already heard.
am almost wishing. Courtlandt %
sne said. that Randolph Mason would
reiuse to assist my father in the fight
win Mr.. Wood. 1t seems to be max.
ing the game unfair. like the Rhine
neiping the Germans there against
Caesar. This drama OF Gafki, like all
Homeric echoes, outrages my sense Of
fair play. There was not, as I re.
member, a clean fight in the whohe
mad; some god was always lending
hand"
she sat moment silently watching
Caesars pontoon bridges sucked I'm.
der by mysterious currents.
i ought. as dutiful daughter. I'd
hold keener interest In my fathers
side OF 1t, / suppose" she said. IF
Mr.. Wood Is not checkmated. fathers
railroads will go into receivership:
and II my father brushes him, he will
go. In every sense. under the ak. So
/ ought to be fired with a certain bar
barrie eagerness for victory, and SO, in
way, | am. But somehow, at the
bottom OF me, wish to see the fight
fair. No handicaps, no Olympic leg.
ging, the winning to the best man."
This impassioned speech was inter.
rupted by a thin piping voice. little
more than a birds chirp. Please
Margaret" It said, 81 am tired. May
go home?" The old aunt had awak.
ened. Her face was plaintive, like a
child's. Time. having made life's cir.
cult with her, was returning her to
dissolution by the cradle.
! summoned the old woman's maids,
and they got her, with the footman's
assistance. 10 the carriage. / went
out with Margaret Garrett. She
harked back to her theme a moment
as took my leave of her. Good.
night. Courtlandt." she said. please
keep Randolph Mason a neutral in this
fight. II is too fine struggle to be
spoiled by an outsider. II father wins,
| shall have this mans head on q
charger, il wish II. II he loses let
the victor sell me into slavery"
| turned to call hanson, when one
OF the theater attendants touched me
on the arm.
Il beg your pardon" he said; "can
you tell me II this article belongs 10
Miss Garnett? 1t was picked up by
an usher in her box" He held in his
hand fiat gold locket attached to a
chain linking alternately a topaz and
an opal. carried the locket to the
light and examined II. The case was
without mark. pulled 1t open to
see II there was any inside, and ]
found there such one as left no
doubt remaining The locket contain
ed the picture of her father. and op.
posite It. OF all persons on this earth,
the face OF Thomas b. Wood
| returned the locket to the waiting
lackey. 1t is certainly Miss Gar
nett's," said; you would better send
Il Immediately to her residence
On Thursday morning the counsel OF
John A. Garnett called on Randolph
Mason. When Pietro brought him In
TO the Office took him for some cele'
brated actor.
II have the honor" he said. ito ad'
dress Mr.. Parks. believe. the secre'
tary OF Randolph Mason. My name Is
Alger. I am here on matter for John
A. Garnett"
hid under a conventional greeting
the flaming interest which these
words lighted. Here was the envoy
WHICH Margaret Garrett said her faith
ar was about to send. did not know
that this meeting was by appointment
until Randolph Mason appeared on the
threshold of the folding.doors between
the two rooms. He spoke to me.
~ shall be engaged with Mr.. Alger
for the next half hour. Direct Pietro
% admit no one" Then he went back
into the room. followed by the attor-
nov I presently found Pietro, gave
him the directions and returned to my
table where l could witness through
the folding-doors this conference whicn
Margaret Garnett wished SO greatly
90 nreyent. It was Randolph Mason
Who began the conversation. =.
"Can you give me brieily' ne sa'u'
"the history Of this case!
The attorney was not moved 10 .
h,stv recital by Mason's abrupt impa'
,,once He sat down In chair pe-
fore the table, lifted his face. serene
Nth that deep internal composure
.ommon 10 those who are accustomed
- sneak the last irrevocabie wo,a'
and regarded Randolph Mason as no
douhtless would have regarded so%e
..r.rse unfamiliar tribunal. to %
..ras"Ilv addressed. When he SPOKE
-. ro,ca was as clear as glass IL
MS Vo'eo A.. ,ottar IN the SEN