The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-03-26
| good living abroad. There's boat

A dull red sprang into the younger
face. you mean"
Look at that crowd down there
you can hear them now. There'n be
a legislative investigation, of course. |
And the devil'll get the hindmost."
He struck the desk-top with his hand.
Have you ever seen the bills for this
furniture? Do you know what that
rug under your feet cost? Twelve
thousand-it's an old Persian What
do you suppose the papers will do to
that? Do you think such things will
seem amusing TO that rabble down
there?" His hand swept toward the
window. Its been going on for too
many years, I tell you! And now
some one'll pay the piper. The light
ming won't strike me-1'm not tall
enough. You're a vice-president.
do you imagine that / knew these
things-that l have been party to
what you seem to believe has been a
deliberate wrecking?' Valiant tow
cred over him, his breath coming fast.
his hands clenched hard.
"You?" The manager laughed again
an unpleasant laugh that scraped
the others Quivering nerves like hot
sandpaper "Oh, lord no! How should
you? You've been too busy playing
polo and winning bridge prizes How
| many board meetings have you at
tended this year? Your vote is prox-
led as regular as clockwork. But
you're supposed to know. The people
down there in the street won't ask
! questions about patent-leather pumps
and ponies; they'll want to hear about
such things as rotten irrigation loans
in the Stony-River Valley-to market
an alkan desert that is the personal
property Of the president Of this cor
| poration."
| Valiant turned blank white face.
"sedgwick?"
Yes. You know his principle: It's
all right to be honest, If you're not
too damn honest He owns the Stony
River Valley bag and baggage. 1t was
a big gamble and he lost"
Valiant was staring at the other
with strange look. Emotions to which
in all his self-indulgent life he had
been a stranger were running through
his mind, and outre passions had him
by the throat Fool and doubly blind!
A poor pawn, catspaW raklng the
chestnuts for INSCRIPTIONS men whose
ignominy he was now called on, per
force, to share! In his pitiful egotism
he had consented to be a tigurehead,
and he had been made tool A red
rage surged over him. No one had
ever seen on John Valiants face such
look as grew on it now.
He turned and without word
opened the door. The older man took
a step toward him-he had a sense Of
dangerous electric forces in the air
but the door closed sharply in his face.
He smiled grimly. Not crooked he
said to himself; merely callow. A
well-meaning, manicured young top
wholly surrounded by men who knew
what they wanted!" He shrugged his
shoulders and went back to his chair
Valiant plunged down in the eleva
tor to the street. He pushed past the
guarded door, and threading the
crowd, made toward the curb, where
his bulldog, with a bark Of delight
leaped upon the seat of FURNISHED
car, rumbling and vibrating with pent
I'D power There were those in the
sullen anxious crowd who knew whose
was that throbbing metal miracle, the
chauffeur spick and span from shining
cap-visor to polished brown puttees
and recognized the white face that
|
sneers. But he scarcely saw or heard
them, as he stepped into the seat, took
the wheel from the chauffeur's hanc
and threw on the gear
He drove mechanically past hun
dred familiar things and places, but he
saw nothing, till the massive marble
fronts of the upper park side ceased
their mad dance as the car halted be
fore tall iron-grilled doorway with
wide glistening steps, between win
dows strangely suffered and dark.
He sprang out and touched the bell
The heavy oak parted slowly: the con
fidential secretary OF the man he hat
come to face stood in the gloomy
doorway.
II want to see Mr.. SedgWick"
, You can't see him, Mr.. Valiant"
But Wilt" Sharp passion leape<
into the young voice. He must speal
, to me-"
The man In the doorway shook hill
head. He won't speak to anybod,
any MORE" he said "Mr. Sedgwic1
shot himself two hours ago.
CHAPTER II.
: Vanity Valiant.
THE witness is excused"
7 In the ripple that stirred across thu
court room at the examiners abrup