The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-06-05

gone, finished, over and done with,
and I'm letting it slide clean to smash
and then some. I'm wiping the slate
clean. I'm letting 1t all go smash.
When them thirty million dollars
stood up to my face and said couldn't
go out with you in the hills today,
knew the time had come for me to put
my foot down. And I'm putting 1t
down. I've got you, and my strength
to work for you, and that little ranch
in Sonoma. That's all | want. and
that's all I'm going to save out, along
with Bob and Wolf, q suit case and q
hundred and forty hair brides. All
the rest goes, and good radiance. It's
that much junk"
A knock at the door interrupted
him, and he was left to stare delight
eddy at the Crouched Venus and on
around the room at Dede's dainty pos
sessions, while she answered the tele-
phone.
1T is Mr.. Hegan," she said, on re-
turning. He is holding the line. He
says 1t Is important"
Daylight shook his head and smiled.
please tell Mr.. Hogan to hang up.
I'm done with the Office and | don't
want to hear anything about any
thing"
A minute later she was back again.
He refuses to hang up. He told
me to tell you that Unwin is in the
Office now, waiting to see you. and
Harrison, too. Mr.. Hogan said that
Grimshaw and Hodgkins are In trouble.
That it looks as II they are going to
break. And he said something about
protection"
1t was startling Information. Both
Unwin and Harrison represented big
banking corporations, and Daylight
knew that If the house Of Grimshaw
and Hodgkins went 1t would precipi-
tate a number of failures and start a
furry Of serious dimensions. But Day
light smiled, and shook his head.
He caught her by the hand and drew
her to him.
you let Hogan hang on to that line
till he's tired. We can't be wasting
a second on him on a day like this"
But | know something Of the fight
you have been making" Dede con-
tended. IF you stop now. all the work
you have done, everything, will be de-
stroyed. You have no right to do it.
You can't do it."
Daylight was obdurate. He shook
his head and smiled tantalizingly.
Nothing will be destroyed, Dede.
nothing. You don't understand this
business game. It's done on paper.
All l stand for is paper. I've got the
paper for thousands of acres Of land.
All right. Burn up the paper. and
burn me along with it. The land re-
mains. don't 1t? Nothing is going to
be lost-not one pile out of the docks.
not one railroad spike, not one ounce
of steam out of the gauge Of a ferry
boat. The cars will go on running,
whether l hold the paper or somebody
else holds it."
By this time Hogan had arrived in
an automobile. The honk Of it came
in through the open window. and they
saw 1t stop alongside the big red ma
chine. In the car we're Unwin and
Harrison. while Jones sat with the
chauffeur.
"Ill see HeCan," Daylight told Dede.
There's no need for the rest. They
can wait In the machine"
"Is he drunk" Hogan whispered to
Dede at the door.
She shook her head and showed him
in.
Good morning, Larry" was Day
lights greeting. "Sit down and rest
your feet You sure seem to be in a
lutter."
81 am" the little 1rishman snapped
back. "Grimshaw and Hodgkins are
going to smash If something isn't
done quick. Why didn't you come to
the office? What are you going to do
about it,"
Nothing" Daylight drawled lazily.
Except let them smash, l guess. I've
had no dealings with Grimshaw and
Hodgkins. | don't owe them anything.
Besides. I'm going to smash myself.
Look here. Larry. you know me. You
know when | make up my mind |
mean 1t. Well. I've sure made up my
mind. I'm tired of the whole game.
I'm letting go Of 1t as fast as | can.
and a smash is the quickest way to let