The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-24

seat In the anteroom until l ring.
MacFarland should have told YOU"
The young man drew up chair and
sat down. ignoring the request as II
he had failed to hear 1t. Ordinarily
Mr.. Andrew Galbraith's temper was
eQuable enough; the age-cooled tenn
per Of a methodical gentleman whose
! long upper lip was in itself an adver-
tisement of self-control. But such
deliberate infraction of his rules,
.. coupled with the stony impudence Of
the visitor. made him spring up an
grily to ring for the Waterman.
The intruder was too quick for him.
When his hand sought the bell push
he found himself looking into the
muzzle Of a revolver, and SO was fam
to fall back into his chair. gasping.
"Ah-h-h!" he stammered. And when
the words could be managed: $50
that's 1t, is it?-you're q robert"
NO." said the invader Of the presi.
dental privacy calmly, speaking for
the first time since his incoming. II
am not a robber. save In your own
very limited definition of the word. l
am merely a poor man, Mr.. Gal
braith-one of the uncounted thou.
sands-and want money. II you call
for help. l shall shoot you. It Is
merely question Of money. and II
you are amenable to reason"
IF Pm-but I'm not amenable to
your reasons!" clustered the presi-
dent, recovering little from the first
shock Of terrified astoundment. II re-
fuse to listen to them. I'll not have
anything to do with you. Go away!"
The young mans smile showed his
teeth, but 1t also proved that he was
not wholly devoid of the sense Of
humor.
Keep your temper, Mr.. Galbraith, {"
he advised cooIly. THE moment is
mine, and I say you snail listen first
and obey afterward. Otherwise you
die. Which is 1t to be? Choose
quickly-time is precious"
The president yielded the first
point, that of the receptive ear; but
grudgingly and as one under strict
compulsion.
well. we'll, then: out with 1t. What
have you to say for yourself?"
This: You are rich; you represent
the existing order Of things. I am
poor. and l stand for my necessity,
which Is higher than any man-made
law or custom. You have more money
than you can possibly use in any le
| 0fttvnokn vnpnAnA1 Ohonnnvas hAvn
not the price Of the next meal, already
twenty.four hours overdue. came
here this morning with my life In my
hand to invite you to share with me
a portion Of that which is yours chiefly
by the right Of possession. II you dc
1t, well and good; II not. there will
be q new president Of the Bayou State
Security. Do make myself sufficient
ly explicit?"
Andrew Galbraith glanced furtively
at the 'paper-weight clock on his desk
It was nearly eleven. and MacFarlant
would surely come in on the stroke
of the hour. II he could only fent
of the catastrophe for few minutes
until help should come. He searched
| in his pockets and drew forth hand
| full of coins.
The invader Of privacies glanced a
l the clock in his turn and SHOOK hi
! head.
you are merely trying to gain time
] and you know it, Mr.. Galbraith. M,
| stake in this game is much more thai
handful Of charity silver; and
don't do you the injustice to believ
that you hold your life so cheaply
you who have so much money and
at best, so few years to live"
The president put the little hea
Of coins on the desk, but he did no
t abandon the struggle for delay.
o whats your price, them" he dc
manded. as one who may possibl
y consider compromise.
Q "One hundred thousand dollars
cash."
n "But man! we're clean daft! Do v
e think l have"
4, In the midst of his vehement prt
]. tests the stranger sprang out of hi
q chair s.nrred back a pace and raise
It lis roa"Cn
MI. Gc'0raith. you are 1ugglin
with your life! Write check Will
there is vet timer
The hammer of the leveled pistc
clicked Ancrcw Gaibraith shut hi
u cves and md 4 blind grasp fer p,u
10 a"d checktook rs hands were shall
Is ing as w:th a palsy. but the fear 9
dcath s,e3 d d them suddenly when h
came 20 write.
81 Endorse it," was the next con
8, nana The voices had ceo""' Uevon
H.
,e the partition, and the dead silence W
Va relieved only by the labored strok
r. Of the presidents pen md the tap-t'
,g OF the typewriter III the adiace
~ ante-oo,n.
of The check was written ana lndorse
:, ar5 under the menace Of the revolv
Andrew Galb-a'th was trying to 81
i. it to tie rob3cr. But the robber Won
no ! not take 1t.
81. mo. don't want your paper; cor
Or. with me to your paying teller and 9
me the money. Make what explar
,c. ton you see At; but remember-if
=. hesitates, you die"
"a They left the private Office togeth'
ar the younger man a short half-step
1, ! the rear. with his pistol-bearing ha
~ thrust under his coat. The preside
70, did not despair. In the public lob
:, there would be eyes to see, and p