The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-24
CHAPTER XII.

A WELLSPRING DESERT. ~N the telephone station at the ho-
 tel BIount tried several times,
 and always Intellectually, to get
 long distance connection with Wartrace Hall. Failing in this, he called up Gantry to ask if the traffic manager knew anything about the pur- poses and movements of his father. Gantry did not know, but he knew something else-a thing which proved the leakiness of the telegraph depart ment.
 "Come down here and tell me what you mean by sending incendiary teIe- grams to the vice president he com manded, with testing severity, over the phone.
 Gantry was busy with the stenogra- pher when Evan entered, but the traf- fc manager immediately postponed the business of the moment and dis missed the clerk.
 ''There is nothing to te1lmore than you seem already to know" said Blount morosely in answer to Gantry's quest ''I have wired my resignation; that is all.''
 ~But whyF' persisted Gantry.
 Because I am not going to be an 1 accessory either before or after the fact-not if I know it, was the pfompt rejolnder.
 "An accessory to what?'
 ITO a criminal disregard for the laws of this state and of the nation Gantry, if you and some others had your just deserts you would be break ing stone in the pen1tentiary this bless | ed minute"
 Suffering jehu,'' laughed the traf- fc manager, somebody must have been hitting you pretty hard! Who was 1t, Evang' #i
 At another time Blount might have been less angry and more discreet.
 ~It was MT. Simon P. Hathaway, president of the Twin Buttes Lumber company be said
 Gantry drew long breath, which ended in a low whistle.
 "So that's what you were let in for, was it T' he exclaimed. And then he checked himself abruptly and went back to the principal contention: But you're not going to quit, Evan. You can't afford to do that-"
 ~Why can't 12''
 Because you have committed your self right and left No man can walk out of the ranks on the eve of bat tEe. You don't stop to consider the construction that will be put upon such hasty action on your part.''
 T don't stop to consider anything, Dick, except the fact that was evil dently expected to connfVe at a crfm- final contempt for the law Of the land, the law which, as a member of the bar, I have sworn to uphold. That was enough for me-
 ''But it won't be enough for MT. Mo WTN-- can afford to drop out he can't afford to let you" Then, with sudden gray tty, Hadn't you better let me hold up that telegram of yours for a few hours, Evan. until you've had time to think 1t over?7
 Blount sprang from his. chair in a white heat.
 'sDo you mean to tell me that you . are already holiling 1t up?' he de manded
 'T took the liberty temporarily.'' said the traffic man eoolly. There is no harm done. MT McVickar is on his way west now, and he will be here in a day or two. Why not Kill the mes sage and have it out with him in ger . son when he comes?' But B1ount was not to be appeased. 'I won't have my communication | have given an order to have that tele : gram held out you. can give another tt have it sent immedia tely.'' "An r1ght,' said Gantry, just a' ] you say.'' And he made no effort tl 3 detain the enraged one when Bloun
 turned his back and strode away. Blu ! after the self discharged political man ] ager was gone the traffic man chuc g kled quietly and turned up a face' n down paper which had been lying ol { his desk during the short and bellig e erent interview.
 Q s'Humph!" he unused, reading tn
 typewr1tten lines over again. 9Th s- little lady was too fly for you thi J. time, Evan. my boy She was jus l- prophecies enough to guess where an n how you would go off the handl< @ Great little woman that I believ ? she figures out more than half of tn s fine moves in the honorable senator r game"
 @ CTo be Continued.)