Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-10-15

You should know that men in my
position may not consider their pri
vate Impulses, Our wealth is truss
Ia sacred trust" He paused, perhaps
to control the rising emotion inspired
by thought. The secret of my sue
cess has been harmony in my organ.
ization. Harmony | must have--l will
have. And so | must reserve the right
and means TO GUST any who seek to
disturb it. The work to which | have
given myself-the projects you, fear.
hold so lightly-depends too closely on
my business success to allow me to
violate successful presidents. Even.
| he beamed on Mark. even for the
sake of your brilliant young friend.
Even for you"
Quinby's face had not put off its
smiling benevolent mask His voice
had not risen nor lost by so much as
a note it's wonted musical stately
| cadence. But Mark, silent and al
most forgotten listener, knew that in
the last words menace spoke as clear
and venomous as in the hiss Of a
snake. He could interpret the men,
| ace; Henley had rested too securely
in his Importance to the company; he
now had his warning; like Damocles'
sword the power of Quinby's contract
rested heavy overhead.
II he had not known from Quinby' 8
voice, Mark would have understood
from him to whom the menace had
been spoken. Henley's hands, resting
on the desk, clenched until the nails
bit into the palms. The ugly imperi-
Gus face was deathly white. His black
eyes blazed. Mark thought for mo-
ment he was about to spring upon
Quinby and infiict physical injury. or
at least hurl at the vain shallow poseur
the splendid defiance of the man of
real worth, of invincible and unpur.
chasable spirit. Because he had pro-
found respect and a sort of love for
Henley, he wanted to see and hear
that defiance. He forgot his own in.
terest in the scene.
Henley reached again convulsively,
| for pen and paper. Quinby raised a
hand--a beautiful, soft. perfectly man.
toured member-in humorous protest.
MY dear Toni" How the purring
paternal phrase, addressed to Henley,
stung! Mark felt the hot blood rise,
resentful for his master. IF you are
about to resign again, / beg Of you.
consider. have made one concession
to that threat. But IL you make II
again, shall be Obliged to break OF a
relation that has been both pleasant
and profitable. 1t will cost me some
thing, perhaps, butt will cost you
more"
"Now!" muttered Mark.
Now was the time to hurl defiance,
to overwhelm Quinby and Quinby's
power under manly scorn. 4. Quin-
by, outwardly serene as midsummer's
skies. smiled on. Henley was silent.
The blazing anger In his eyes died
down to a smoldering, sullen, futile
rage. The pen dropped from his hand.
What a shattering of idols was
there! Mark turned away that he
might not see.
His glance fell upon Quinby. The
mask of benevolence had been pulled
aside. Ugly triumph and still uglier
hate shone. In that moment Quinby's
revenge for thousand sneers and the
open contempt OF years was taken.
Mark hated him.
After long heavy silence Quinby
turned to Mark. DO you accept the
agreement"
1T seems to be Hobson's choice"
Quinby rose and took Marks right
handiin both of his.
Let me be the first to welcome you
into the company. I'm sure we shall
be-harmonious."
II can see," Mark answered with a
shrug, that harmony pays
Quinby was gone Mark, sickened
and saddened, watched man. for the
moment mad. belatedly giving voice
to his rage. He paced swiftly back
| and forth across the room, like the
wild beast he had become. He cursed
incoherently the departed Quinby
pouring forth flood of coarse bias
phemies. He flung his arms about
smote and kicked chairs and desk az
though they had lives to be taken
This, with Quinby present, would have
struck a responsive chord in Marks
barbaric soul But this, with Quinby