The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-09-08

the storm Of antagonism evoked
by Lidgerwood's attempt to bring
order out of the chaos reigning In
his small kingdom.
On the Saturday in the week of
surcease, Flemister came in on
the noon train from the west. and
IL was McCloskey who ushered
him into the superintendent of
flee. Lidgerwood looked up aud
saw a small man wearing the
khaki of the engineers, with a soft
felt hat to match.
what can | do for you, Mr..
Flemister?" Lidgerwood asked.
notwithstanding on top of
earth; it's the other way round
came to do something for you
or, rather, for one of your subor-
dinates. Hallock tells me that the
ghost of the old Mesa Building
and Loan association still refuses
to be laid, and he intimates that
some of the survivors are trying
to make IL unpleasant for him by
accusing him to you"
Yes" said Lidgerwood.
There is only one explanation
to me made, said the excluding
and loan president, brazenly. "A
few of us who were the officers of
the company were the heaviest
losers, and we felt that we were
entitled to the scraps and Law
ings."
I'm other words, you looted the
treasury among you" said Lid
gerwood, eoldly. How fas was
Hal1ock implicated?"
HE was not implicated at all,
save in a clerical way"
You mean he did not share in
the distribution of the money!"
He did not"
Then It is only fair that you
should set him straight with the
others, Mr.. Flemister."
I'll think about it," returned
the mine owner shortly; but Lid
gerwood was not to be put off so
easily.
You must think of It to some
good purpose" he insisted.
You're not threatening me, are
you, Mr.. Lidgerwood?"
"oh, no; there is no occasion
for threats. But II you don't
make me that statement, fully
generating Hallock l shall feel
at liberty to make one of my own,
embodying what you have just
told me. And if I am compelled
to do this, you must not blame
me IL l am not able to place the
matter in the most favorable light
for you"
A few days later Lidgerwood
set out for Copah in his private
car. Leaving late of an after
noon, he had an appointment with
Leckhard of the main line. timed
for an early hour the following
morning. Entering the car, Lid
gerwood went at once to his desk
and promptly became deaf and
blind to everything but his work
3 Il was close to midnight when.
looking up from his work at the
final slowing of the wi cells, he
saw the masthead lights of the
Copah yards.
Taking 1t for granted that SUI
.Derintendent Leckhard had long
sinee left his office in the Pacific
Southwestern building, LAdger-
wood gave orders to have his car
pzaced on the station spur, and
Hent on with his work. At last
- was about done. He closed his
Isl and was taking a final pull
- the short pipe which was his
waking companion. when the car
door opened silently and he saw
an apparition.
Standing in the doorway and
cropping with her hands held out
before her as n she we're blind.
was a woman. Her gown was the
tawdry half-dress Of the dance
halls. One glance at the eyes.
fixed and staring, assured Lidger-
wood instantly that he had to do
with one who was either drink
maddened or demented.
Where Is her7" the intruder
asked. I'm q throaty whisper.
staring. not at him. as IddRerwood
was quick to observe. but straight