The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-17

"0'ye Sec That FeIIy DoubIin' tn
Fence corner"
hate these two so desperatelyT" sh,
asked.
Jasper Grierson famed away tn,
nimbus of cigar smoke with which h,
had surrounded himself and stared
gloomily at her through the rift.
Who said anything about hating p
he derided. That's a fool woman's
notion. This is business, and there
amt any such thing as hate in bust
ness
Il hate it," she said coldly. Then
she dragged the talk back to the chan
mel it was leaving Il ought to have
broken in sooner; I might have known
what you would do. You are respons
ible for this labor trouble they are
having over at the iron works. DON:
bother to deny it; know. That was
your 'heeler'-the man you had here
when came. You don't play fair with
many people; don't you think you'd
better make an exception of met"
Grierson was mounting his cigar
again and the smoky nimbus was
tnickening to its customary density
when he said: You're nothing but q
spoiled baby, Madge. If you'd cry for
the moon. you'd think you ought to
nave 1t. I've said my say, and that q
all there is to 1t. Trot along home and
tend to your tea parties; that's your
part OF the game. can play my hand
alone.''
She slipped out Of the window.seat
and crossed the room quickly to stand
before him.
I'll go when you have answered one
question:" she said. the suppressed
passions finding their way into her
voice. I've asked for bread and
you've given me a stone. I've said
please to you, and you slapped me for
1t. Do you think you can afford to
shove me over to the other side?"
Il don't know what you're driving
at, now" was the even.toned rejoinder.
Don't you? Then I'll tell you. You
have been pinching this town for the
lions share ever since we came here
shaking it down as you used to shake
down the"-she broke of short, and
again the indomitable will got the bet
ter of the seething passions. We'll let
the by-gones 60, and come down to the
present. What II some Of the things
you are doing here ana now would get
into print?"
For instance?" he suggested. when
she paused.
The daughter who had asked for
bread and had been given a stone put
her face in her hands and moved to.
ward the door. But at the last moment
she turned again like a spiteful little
tiger-cat at bay.
"You think I cant prove it? That
is where you fall down. can convince
people IL I choose to try. And
that isn't all: can tell them how you
have planned to sell Mr.. Galbraith a
tract of virgin pine that has been
culled over for the best timber at
least three times in the past five
years."
Jasper Grierson started from his
chair and made a quick clutch into
smoky space. 'Madge-you little
DEVIL" he gritted.
But the grasping hands closed upon
nothing and the sound of the closing
door was his only answer.
When she had unhitched the little
Morgan and had driven away from the
bank. Miss Grierson drove quickly to
the Winnebago house and drew up at
the carriage step. A bell boy ran out
to the wheel Of the phaeton. Two min.
utes after the boys disappearance,
Brofin came out and touched his hat
to the trim little person in the basket
seat.
you are Mr.. Matthew Broffin of the
Colburne Detective agency. are you
not?' she asked. sweetly.
Brofiin took the privilege Of the &C.
cused and lied promptly.
"Not that anybody ever heard of, l
reckon" he denied. matching the smile
in the inquiring eyes.
She laughed softly. You see, 1t re.
solves itself into question of veracity
you and Mr.. Andrew Gal
braith. You say you are not, and he
says you are. Which am to believer"
Broffin did some pretty swift think
ing. There had been times when he
had fancied that Miss Grierson. rather
than Miss Farnham, might be the key
to his problem. There was one chance
in thousand that she might inadveft-
emily put the key into his hands II he
should play his cards sktllfslly. and he
took the chance.
"You can call 1t q mistake Of mine,
IL you like" he yielded; and she
nodded brightly.
"That ia better: now we can go on
comfortably. Are you too busy to
take little commission from mel"
Maybe not. What is it?" He was
looking for q trap. and would not com.
init himself too broadly.
There are two things that I wish to
know definitely. OF course. you have
heard about the accident on the lake!
Mr.. Galbraith Is at our house, and he
il very ill-out Of his head most of the
time. He ID continually trying to tell
someone whom he calls 'MacFarland'
to be careful. Do you know anyone of
that namei"
Again Brofap- thought quickly. n he