The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-07-31

established a custom of giving himself
quiet half-hour of inviolable seclu-
sion in which to read and consider
his mail During this sacred interval
the stenographer, standing guard in
the outer Office, had instructions to
deny his chief to callers of any and
every degree. Wherefore, when, at
20 minutes to IL, the door Of the pri-
vate office opened to admit a stranger,
the president was justly annoyed.
well, sir; what now?" he demand
ed, impatiently, taking the intruder's
measure in a swift glance shot from
beneath his bushy white eyebrows.
The unannounced visitor was a
young man of rather progressing ap-
pearance, a trifie tall for his breadth
of shoulder, fair, with blue eyes and
curling, reddish beard and mustache,
the former trimmed to a point. So
much the president was able to note
in the appraisive glance to re-
member afterward.
The caller made no reply to the curt
question. He had turned and was
closing the door, There was quiet
insistence in the act that was like the
flick of whip to Mr.. Galbraith's irri-
tation.
IF you have business with me,
you'll have to excuse me for a few
minutes" he protested, still more i'm
patiently. BE good enough to take a
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 if
he had failed to hear it. Ordinarily
Mr.. Andrew GaIbraith's temper was
equable enough; the age-cooled tenn
per of a methodicaI gentleman whose
long upper lip was in itself an adver-
! tisement of self-control. But such a
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 fain
| to fall back, into his chair, gasping.
"Ah-h-h!" he stammered. And when
the words could be managed: sc
that's it, is it?-you're a robber!"
NO" said the invader of the presi
Dental privacy calmly, speaking fol
the first time since his incoming. 90
am not a robber, save in your OWL
very limited definition Of the word.
am merely a poor man, Mr.. Gal
| braith-One of the uncounted thou
sands-and 1 want money. If you cal
for help, / shall shoot you. 1t i:
merely a question CT money, and i
you are amenable to reason"
eff Fm-but I'm not amenable t.
your reasons!" clustered the presi
dent, recovering little from the frs
shock of terrified astoundment. ST re
fuse to listen to them. I'll not hav,
anything to do with you. Go away!'
The young mans smile showed hi
teeth, but it also proved that he wa
not wholly devoid of the sense o
humor
Keep your temper, Mr.. GaIbraith,
he advised cooTly. 1.-The moment i
mine, and I say you shall listen frs
and obey afterward. Otherwise yol
die. Which is It to be? Choos
Quickly-time is precious"
The president yielded the frs
point, that of the receptive ear; bu
grudgingly and as one under stric
compulsion.
well, well, then; out with it. VIVA
have you to say for yourself?"
This: You are rich; you represen
the existing order of things. I ar
poor, and I stand for my necessity
which is higher than any mammal
law or custom. You have more none
than you can possibly USo " Il
climate personal cham
not the price of the next CO.,
twenty-four hours overdue. l
here this morning with my life in
hand to invite you to share with La.
a portion of that which is yours chief
by the right of possession. If you d
it, well and good; if not, there wi
be a new president Of the Bayou Stat
Security. Do I make myself suhcien
ly expIicit?"
Andrew Galbraith glanced furtivel
at the paper-weight clock on his desl
1t was nearly eleven, and MacFarIan
would surely come in on the strok
of the hour. If he could only fen
OF the catastrophe for few minute
until help should come. He searche
, | in his pockets and drew forth a han,
, full of coins
The invader of prfvacies glanced Z
the clock in his turn and shook hi
head.
You are merely trying to gain tim
and you know it, Mr.. Galbraith. N
: stake in this game is much more tina
handful of charity silver; and
: don't do you the injustice to beliey
: that you hold your life so cheaply
. you who have so much money an
( at best, so few years to live"
, The president put the little hea
: Of coins on the desk. but he did n,
: abandon the struggle for delay.
2 What's your price, then?" he d
: manded, as one who may possibl
: consider compromise.
"One hundred thousand dollars
: cash"