The Red Cloud chief., 1912-03-14

some of those ideas you'd given me
were getting ready to sprout. Well
they sprouted this morning. that's all.
| knew wanted to ride in the hills
with you just about thirty million
times more than wanted to go to the
office. And knew all the time II
was impossible. And why? because
Of the Office. The Office wouldn't let
me. And then made up my nina
that was to the dividing OF the ways.
One way led to the office. The other
way led to berkeley. And | took the
Berkeley road I'm never going to
set foo, in the Office again. That's all
gone. finished. over and done with,
and I'm letting 1t slide clean to smash
and then some. I'm wiping the slate
clean. I'm letting 1t all so 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 a suit case and
hundred and forty hair brides All
the rest goes, and good riddance. It's
that much junk"
A knock at the door interrupted
him. and he was left to stare delight
edly 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. lie
says It is important"
Daylight shook his head and smiled.
please tell Mr.. Hegan 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
"iIe refuses to hang up. He told
me to tell you that Unwin Is In the
ofilce now. waiting to see you. and
Harrison. too. Mr.. Hogan said that
Grimshaw and Hodgkins are In trouble.
That 1t 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 II the house of Grimshaw
, and Iiodgkins went it would precipi
: tate a number of failures and start a
furry of serious dimensions. But Day
, light smiled, and shook his head.
lie caught her by the hand and drew
, her to him
, You let Iieean hang on to that line
till he's tired We can't be wasting
n a second on him on day like this"
/, "But know something OF the tigh
, you have been making" Dede con
!. tended "If you stop now. all the worl
/. you have done, everything, will be dc
,, stroyed. You have no rigl; to do 1t
:. You can't do It."
!. Daylight was obdurate. lie shool
y. his head and smiled tanta Hingly.
.. Nothing will be destr, ed, Dedc
o nothing. You don't unde' stand thi
=, business game It's done on paper
20 All | stand for is paper. We got tn
% paper for thousands Of acl es OF land
9 All right. Burn up the PAPER. AM
a. burn me along with It. TIE land re
N mains. don't It? Nothing is going t
". be lost--not one pile out OF the docks
not one railroad spike, not one ounc
G. of steam out of the gauge Of ferr!
N boat. The cars will go on runnini
,e whether hold the paper or somebod
10 else holds it,
BY this time Hogan had arrived !
n an automobile The honk OF 1t cam
in through the open window. and the
10 saw 1t stop alongside the big red m,
,e chine. In the car We're Cnwin an
Harrison. while Jones sat with til
= chauffeur
II "I'n see lIegan." Daylight told Ded
"There's no need tor the rest The
can wait In the machine"
rs he drunk" llegan whispered
Dede at the door.
Il She shook her head and showed hi
,J In.
u Good morning, Larry" was Da
e lights greeting. Sit down and re
your feet. You sure seem 10 be In
nutter."
II IL am" the little Irishman snapp'
back. "Grimshaw and HOdgktnS a
going to smash II something isr
done quick. Why didn't you come
| the Office? What are you going to I
A about IT."
vi Nothing" Daylight drawled lazi
"A Except let them smash. guess. J.
n had no dealings with Grimshaw al
IA Hodgkins. don't owe them anythir
I'll Besides. I'm going to smash myse
NJ Look here. Larry. you know me. y
know when | make up my mind
4 mean it. Well, I've sure made up
~ mind. I'm tired OF the whole gan
I'm letting 90 Of 1t as fast as ! CT
ear and a smash Is the quickest way to
20. All you've got to do Is to prot'
yourself and all our friends. Now
lis? listen to me while tell you what
me. do. Everything is In good shape
W? do It. Nobody must get hurt. Eve
red, body that stood by me must CO