The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-10-29


had to play his game as though we
were the best of friends. The irony
OF fate. He could have killed me
with an AK and wept tears of joy while
he was chopping me up; but he had
to smile!
"Mr. James will be here this after
noon," the old man smiled joyousiy.
Cant we wait till then?"
shook my head Goubtfully. Every
minute was valuable now. I'm
afraid not" I murrured sadly. "The
low price of these shares has created
a big demand"
There's been quite a bit of objec'
| ton to the big allotment we are allow
ing you" put in Whisky-Face. He
knew his game, though it must have
hurt him like pulling a tooth to say a
word that helped me.
"Allie amt fellin' so pert this
morning, either" the old man added
wistfully. Somehow it don't seem
right for her not to be here"
what seems to be the trouble?"
put in Trevor smoothly.
she amt what you'd call real
SICK" he said seriously. There
seems to be something on her mind"
Something on her mind She was
shielding the man she thought to be a
murderer! Protecting dog while he
robbed her father!
But Whisky-Face only saw it as
something suspicious.
"You have to get that noon train
for Philadelphia, don't you Mr.. Havi-
land?" he asked with a sneering in
situation that was lost on Mr.. Wal
ton.
"Yes. the Nixon people want a
thousand shares" l answered casual
ly, choking a growl in my throat. Oh,
we were a fine pair OF dogs, ready to
jump at each other, but knowing that
We must be nice or lose the bone.
Have you got the stock with
your" the old man asked, his eyes
alight with anticipation.
"yes," l assured him; hut I added:
"This is hardly place TO transac.
business"
WASN'T taking any chances of flash
ing those shares in big hotel. Some
wise one would have been right on the
Job to see what was being done.
let's go to our uptown Office"
suggested Whisky-Face, rising.
I'd known Mike Garven wouldn't
overlook a thing like that. He never
forgot details. That's why no one
ever had a chance of getting him.
The innocent old man never no
ticed the newness of the furniture, or
that there wasn't any name on the
door Trevor took us to- and his joy
when l showed him the gaudy shares
was pitiful
He touched them with his fingers to
prove that they were real. Ee read
every word of them. He even tried
to make out the scrawls OF the phoney
signatures.
It'll be all our company now" he
said softly, and a tear found its way
down his pinkwhite face,
do you reckon I could be some
Kind of an ol1cer?" he asked hope
fully. at seems like a part OF me,
somehow And I'd like to sec old
Jackson Crawford get some kind of
an easy job. He's had awful hard
lack lately. Do you reckon he could
sweepin' out the plant, or somethin'?
An maybe Allie could be bookkeeper.
She's wonderful smart with figures"
l turned away; the lump in my
throat seemed to choke me. This was
the price Mike Garven had put on my
life!
Tut Whisky-Face was crooked to
his heart.
"You can be president, IL you want
to-" he laughed; and it was a laugh at
a jokel "You can MAKE Jackson
Crawford vice-president al salary of
a hundred dollars a week, If you wish,
and you can give your daughter ten
thousand a year for doing nothing.
This stock gives you power to do any
thing you want"
"Honest?" His simple mind didn't
seem able to grasp It.
Nothing to It," grinned Whisky.
Face. He was enjoying himself.
Before my eyes the girl seemed to
stand, gazing at me as she had gazed
at me when I raised my right hand to
swear the oath she had demanded.
"Have you got the caeca?" 1 half
Certain" He took II from his
wallet just as he had received it from
tire Swelton firm. | picked it up.
at isn't certified" I gasped, as |
though l had made an awful discov- |
cry.
"Why - why" he stammered |
fearfully. "Does that make any diff
ferencc?"
Not at ALL" put in Whisky-Face |
quickly. you can come with us to
the bank and have 1t cashed. Then |
Mr.. Haviland will deposit 1t in his
own bank and make out a check TO my |