Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-10-01


''What?" Strickland almost shouted,
completely astounded.
"But--but II can't be done" Merritt
was so excited now that he suffered
his words.
1T can't be DONE" echoed Hunt. He
was well paid for being an echo.
"our best people live there" pro-
tested Merritt. q
Il live there" Hunt added. with &C
cumulated emphasis.
"An of u.s." Merritt continued, take
pride In the view along the water
froRt, Its damnahle. Why, out OF
common decency, man What do
you want of factories, anyway" he de-
manded, completely angered and out
of patience.
SHADES voice was almost drawl,
1t was so low-pitched and SO provok-
ingly calm. why didn'e you and your
associates protect your holdings?" he
inquired.
How'd we know a man with mil
lions would come along and buy up
the whole beach?" Merritt's wrath
was getting beyond the control that
Katherine's presence demanded.
'Siade, IL you persist in this" be
Numbered, "Pm going to take of my
coat and hit back. My paper has an
enormous outside circulation, and I'll
haste you once every day. II you pro
pose running for governor, you won't
get one vote In your own town. And
in one month, or less, you'll find San
Francisco has gorgeous climate"
Slade was unperturbed by Merritts
threats or Eerritt's bulldozing. All
| right, Merritt" he advised, good-nar
turedly, go ahead with your paper,
| I'll take my chances"
You will, eh?" Msrritt's tone was
ominous. What sort Of factories are
you going to build?"
Well" drawled slade, coolly, II was
thinking of putting up glue factoriesa"
"GIue!" The one word jumped from
| everyone's mouth at once, "Glue!'
they all repeated, and looked at each
other in CONSERVATION.
THE Ill you say" then remember
ing himself. Il beg your pardon, hiss
| Strickland"
eft can't be DONE" Merritt went On.
You can't build glue factories here,
and he emphasized every word with
an angry shake OF his finger.
by God. you"
He broke of as he saw Bob Hayes
stride into the room. Hayes, as SHADES
lawyer and almost a member of the
family, had the entree to the house q
all times.
Here's my lawyer" remarked slade
dryly, TASK him"
"Of course 1t can be doEe," Hayes
informed them. convincingly. tits per
fectly legitimate .s...
Then, as If to dismiss perfecti!
obvious subject, he turned to the girl
who had been enjoying every poin
that Slade had scored.
Katherine's eyes lighted with warn
welcome. 1t was the first time sh
had seen Hayes since she had re
turned. He was the man she had one
wanted to marry. once before he
father had given her the choice Q
Hayes or a finishing school In Pari
and a tour of Europe. Now she greete
him with cordial friendship, but wit
none of the sweet tenderness he Nigh
have expected from her. Once sh
had looked up into his eyes and though
him a god. Now, her eyes blinded b
the glare of ambition. she saw only
good looking chap. a struggling Law
yer, a man who hadn't made any pa
tieuiar mark in the world. She +,
turned Hayes burning, penetratin
gaze with cool, unruffied frankness.
another moment she had turned frol
, him and was earnestly watching slaa
listening to his every word with Gags
intentness.
You see, I'm a very simple sort I
, fellow" Slade was saying, don't drin
don't snoke-don't keep yachts I
! horses, don't keep wo-" he stopped
, his oft-repeated formula as he remer
hered Katherine's presence, don
, keen horses, so must do somethin
as / was saying 10 Mrs. Slade toda
II don't want to bother my neighbor
so III build high chimneys. 80 u
smoke won't trouble you much. T.
going into the glue business. That
~ course" and he paused and 80
! viewed the group about him with a cor
nlacent elevation OF his eyebrow
!. that Ia, unless you gentlemen "a
keen me busy In some other way. T.
= n very active man"
= Katherine leaned forward with ten
arpresgion to see how the mans O
:. Moments would take hiE game. IT
senator was smiling, Merritt tappii
y his foot restlessly.
well, boys, 1t looks as though
had us-strong?" Strickland broke Il
:. cilanca. Glue! Whew!"
Are we going to be had?" demand
- Merritt, testify. ARE we going to stal
: for this hoIdup?" and he turned d
:, eustedly toward the door. 80
, Don't yoa think we'd better Ike
= Mr.. Slada busy in some ether wa,
;. Strickland repeated.
81 DON'T" Merritt flung back oV
!. h,s shoulder as he left the room, 4
lowed. as usual, by Hunt
= Merritr's hasty departure was I
4 signal for Katherine to adjust !
r.. &aA -