Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-04-16

A dull red sprang into the younger
face. You mean"
Look at that crowd down there
you can hear them now. There'u be
a legislative investigation, Of course.
And the deviI1l 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 viii do to
that? Do you think such things will
seem amusing to that rabble down
there?" His hand swept toward the
window. It's been going on for too
many years, l tell you! And now
some oneu pay the piper. The light
ming won't strike me-Tm not tall
enough You're a vice-president."
DO you imagine that I knew these
things-that I have been a 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.
F'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 TASK
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 alkaIi desert that is the personal
property of the president of this cor
poration."
Valiant turned a 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 a strange look. Emotions to which
| in ali 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, a catspaW raking 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 figurehead
| and he had been made a tool A red
rage surged over him. No one had
| ever seen on John Valiant's face such
! a look as grew on it now
He turned and without a 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 foI
wholly surrounded by men who knew
what they wanted" He shrugged his
shoulders and went back to his chair
Valiant plunged down in the eleya
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 a FURNISHED
car, rumbling and vibrating with pent,
| up 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
went past, peIted 1t with muttered
! sneers. But he scarcely saw or heard
! the wheel from the chauffeur's hand
and threw on the gear.
He drove mechanically past a 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 a tall iron-grilled doorway with
wide glistening steps, between win,
dows strangely shattered and dark
! He sprang out and touched the bell
! The heavy oak parted slowly; the con.
tidential secretary of the man he had
come to face stood in the gloomy
| doorway
I want to see Mr.. Sedgwick.'
You can't see him, Mr.. Valiant"
But will" Sharp passion leaped
into the young voice. He must speak
to me-"
The man in the doorway shook his
head. He won't speak to anybody
any more" he said. Mr.. Sedgwich
shot himself two hours ago."