The diamond drill., 1915-09-04


blacks you were looking at. and Wen
call IL square"
docs that mean that you intend &c
go on until you have smashed him?"
she asked, quietly ignoring the puta'
tive bribe.
I'm going to put him out OF busi-
ness-him and that other fool friend OF
yours--if that's what you mean"
Again the sudden lightning glowed
In Margery Grierson's eyes; again
there was struggle. short and sharp.
between the leaping passions and the
indomitable will. Yet she could speak
softly.
what is the reason7 Why do you
hate these two so desperately" she
asked.
Jasper Grierkon famed away the
nimbus OF cigar smoke with which he
had surrounded himself and stared
gloomily at her through the rift
who said anything about hating :"
he derlded. That's a fool woman's
notion. This is business. and there
amt any such thing as hate In bust
ness
81 hate IT. she said coldly. Then
she dragged the talk back to the chan
nel ~ was leaving. II ought to have
broken in sooner: might have known
what you would do. You are respons-
ible for this labor trouble they are
having over at the iron works. Don't
bother to deny IT.: l 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 me?"
Grierson was mouthing his cigar
again and the smoky hlmbus was
thickening to its customary density
when he said: You're nothing but a
spoiled baby. Madge. II you'd cry for
the moon. you'd think you ought to
have it. I've said my say, and that's
all there is to IL. 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.
"Pll go when you have answered one
question" she said. the suppressed
passions finding their way into her
F, voice. I've asked for bread and
you've given me q stone. I've said
please to you, and you slapped me for
II. Do you think you can AFFORD to
shove me over to the other side?"
II don't know what you're driving
at, now" was the even-toned rejoinder
Don't your Then I'll tell you. YOU
have been pinching this town for the
lions share ever since we came here
shaking II down as you used to shake
down the"-she broke of short. anC
again the indomitable will got the bet
ter OF the seething passions. Well lie
the by-gones 20. and come down TO the
present What II some OF the things
you are doing here and now would &c
I into print?"
! For instance?" he suggested. wheI
she paused.
The daughter who had asked 10
bread and had been given a stone pu
her face In her hands and moved 10
ward the door. But at the last momen
she turned again like spiteful littl
tiger-cat At bay.
"You think l can't prove itY Tha
is where you fall down. can convinc
people IL choose to try. AM
that isn't all: can tell them how yol
have planned to sell Mr.. Galbraith
tract OF virgin pine that has bee
culled over for the best timber a
least three times in the past nv
yearsl"
Jasper Grierson started from hi
chair and made quick clutch int
smoky space. "Madge-you littl
devlll" he gritted.
But the grasping hands closed upo
nothing and the sound OF the closin
door was his only answer.
When she had unhitched the littl
Morgan and had driven away from tn
bank, Miss Grierson drove quickly I
the Winnebago house and drew up 9
the carriage step. A bell boy ran ou
to the wheel OF the phaeton. Two mil
utes after the boys disappearance
Brofrn came out and touched his hs
to the trim little person in the baske
seat.
"You are Mr. Matthew Broffin OF th
, Colburne Detective agency. are yo
not7" she asked, Bweetly.
, Broffin took the privilege OF the a
cused and lied promptly.
mot that anybody ever heard OF,
reckon" he denied. matching the smil
in the inquiring eyes.
She laughed softly. "You see, IL r
solves itself into a question OF veraci'
between you and Mr. Andrew Ga
braith. You say you are not, and B
says you are. Which am to believe
Broffn did some pretty swift thin
ing. There had been times when }
had fancied that Miss Grierson, rath'
than Miss Farnham. might be the ke
10 his problem. There was one chan'
In a thouaa nd that abe might inadver