Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-08-07

established a custom of giving himself
a~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
We'll, sir: what now" he demand
ed. impatiently, taking the intruder's
measure In a swift glance shot from
beneath his bushy white eyebrows.
The unannouneed visitor was a
young man of rather prepossessing ap-
pearanee. a trifie tall for his lbreadth
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-and to re-
member afterward.
The caller made no reply to the curt
question He had turned and was
closing the door. There was a quiet
insistence in the act that was like the
flick of whip to Mr.. Galbraith's irri-
| tation.
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 / ring.
| Mcfarland should have told you"
The young man drew up chair and
sat down, ignoring the request as IL
he had failed to hear it. Ordinarily
Mr.. Andrew Galbraith's temper was
hi lo1 f0vr
per of a methodieal 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
hs- found himself looking into the
muzZle of a revolver, and so was fain
to fall back into his chair, gasping.
"Ah-h-hi" he stammered. And when
the words could be managed: so
that's 1t, is it?-you're a robert"
NO." said the invader of the presi-
Dental privacy calmly. speaking for
the first time since his incoming. 81
am not a robber, save in your own
very limited definition of the word.
am merely a poor man. Mr.. Gal
braith-one of the uncounted thou
sands-and / want money. If you call
for help, / shall shoot you. 1t is
merely question of money, and If
you are amenable to reason
IF Fm-but I'm not amenable to
your reasons!" clustered the presi-
dent, recovering a little from the first
shock of terrified astoundment 81 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 it 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 | say you shall listen first
and obey afterward- Otherwise you
die Which is it 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
| compulsfon-
We'll. well, then; out with it. What
have you to say for yourself?"
This. You are rich; you represent
Il
poor. and ! 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-
climate personal channels; have
not the price of the next meal, already
twenty-four hours overdue I 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. IL you do
it, well and good; if not, there will
be a new president of the Bayou State
| Security. Do make myself sufficient
4 ly explicit?"
Andrew Galbraith glanced furtively
at the paper-weight clock on his desk
1t was nearly eleven, and Mcfarland
| would surely come In ON the stroke
of the hour Ii he could only fend
OF the catastrophe for a few minutes.
until help should come. He searched
in his pockets and drew forth a hand
| full of coins
The invader of privacies glanced at
the clock in his turn and shook his
head
You are merely trying to gain time.
and you know it. Mr., Galbraith. My
stake in this game is much more than
a handful of charity silver. and
don't do you the Injustice to believe
that you hold your life so cheapIy;
you who have SO much money and
| at best. so few years to live