The Parker post., 1915-05-15
Gray accepted and told Mr.. Smith

overenthusiastic. To his greater sur
prise, that day Smith told him to
Ego slow instead of to ginger up"
eve mustn't overdo it," he ex-
planned lamely. 1--WE don't want to
create a reaction"
While Allan stared at him, speech
less in surprise, Smith put, on his coat
and hat.
'T've got a lunch appointment" he
said. "See here, young man, are you
as stupid as you appear to be orr"
He got no further, for at that mo-
ment he was struck down with apo
plexy. An ambulance was called and
the doctor took the man away to the
hospital.
Hell probably get WE'LL" he said.
Butt will be some time before he
can use his pen or do any work
again."
Allan, left alone in the office, did
not know what to do. Therefore, he
started to do his work exactly as
though the unexpected had not hap
pened. He was hard on biting edi-
torial when the shadow of man in
silk hat fell across his desk and
caused him to start round.
Behind him, Immediately dressed,
his heavy jowl set in a sneering smile,
stood Gregory himself.
"Well, sir!" said Allan, rising.
"This is bad news about Mr.. Smith" !"
said the boss.
II should hardly expect you to take
it that way, SIR" suggested Allan.
The old boss took a chair at his
side. 80 you are the young man that
has been holding me up before the
public gaze as a scoundrel!" he said.
II am, sir" answered Allan, "and
believe conscientiously that"
The boss laid a hand on his arm.
Nov, If I had a young man like
you with me-" he said, what wouldn't
I be able to do?"
81 can't be bought, Mr. Gregory"
said Allan.
Il don't need to buy you, my boy"
answered the other. cat least, don't
think do. But Smith can't talk, and
what's the good of owning him?'
II don't understand" Allan began.
'I know you DON'T" answered the
other. II never thought you did from
the beginning Your editorials had the
ring of truth; his didn't. Well, then,
my friend-Jim Smith started this pa
per to get bought out. Understand
that? I wouldn't buy at his price, l
didn't believe he could hurt me. He
could. was wrong for once in my
life. When l came up to his terms
he went higher. So we played teeter
till four weeks before election day
Yesterday we agreed on terms. And
this is my paper"
Allan listened in horror, and grad
ually he began to understand many
things that had been mysteries to
him. No wonder Smith had encour-
aged him to write more stinging in.
vective-till that same morning.
"You will show me the agreement"
suggested Allan.
''Mr. Gray" said the boss, 'T never
bluff. 1t wasn't signed by Mr. Smith.
He was to have signed in my Office
today, after lunch"
'Then," said Allan calmly, "I shall
run the paper alone. I shall be true
to what I believed my employers
principles to be-"
wait minute" said Gregory, pull.
ing letter out of his pocket. Read
this-not so close, young man. Do
you think this letter, offering to &C.
cept my terms, would read we'll in
the newspapers? And this, you see,
is signed"
| Yes, that was Smiths signature.
Allan sank back helplessly in his
chair. He could say nothing more.
"Now, my young friend" Gregory
continued, "how much influence do
you suppose will remain to Smiths
Weekly when this letter is published
and you are jointly involved with ou1
friend in what you would call a
shameless conspiracy"
None" admitted Allan.
"Then," said the boss, will you
suspend publication or drag a dying
h1c1u . uoA0 OOWu W 1ulduuy 10 gain
a reputation for sincerity in which
no one will believer"
Allan thought hard. Then, 'I will
suspend for that letter." he answered.
Nov you're talking sense" an.
swered the boss. And he placed the
letter in Allan's hands. He knew that
he had not misjudged his man.
There was good deal of quiet talk
about Smith during the period preced-
ing the elections. The story of his
dishonesty became gradually known.
But nobody ever suspected the integ-
rity of Allan Gray.
That, doubtless, was why he secured
the election as sheriff by a majority
of nearly four hundred votes. And
that, too, was why he was enabled to
write to Mildred just two days after
ward. Come, dearest" he said.