The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-08-28

ne received the same answer, Z
haven't the smallest notion Of an idea
But that doesn't make the slightest
difference" she went on He is .
fellow human being, sick and helpless
That ought TO be enough for any Of Us
TO know"
Raymer stood watching her as she
tripped lightly into the bank, and when
he went 10 catch his car the conserTa-
tive minority had lost whatever coun-
tenance or support he had ever given
it
True to her latest Characterization
of herself, Margery had a nod and a
pleasant smile for the young men be-
hind the brass grilles as she passed on
her way to the presidents room in the
rear. She found her father at his
desk, thoughtfuIly munching the ur-
| burned half of one Of the huge cigars,
and named her errand.
CT want a safety-deposit box big
enough to hold this" she said briefly,
exhibiting the paper-wrapped packet
Jasper Grierson. deeply immersed in
a matter of business to which he had
given the better part of the forenoon.
replied without looking up: go and
| tell Murray; he'll fix you out"
As on any other business day, Presi-
dent Grierson was solidly planted in
his heavy armchair before a desk well
Uttered with work He nodded absent
ly to his daughter as she returned,
and knowing that the nod meant that
he would come to the surface of things
her surface-when he could, she
turned aside to the window and wait
ed
Though she had seen him develop
! day by day in less than three Of the
| thirty-odd years OF his western exile,
her father offered a constant success
sion of surprises to her When she
opened the door to retrospectionS which
was not often, she remembered that
the man who had stumbled upon the
rich quartz vein in Yellow Dog Gulch
could scarcely sign his name legibly to
/ the paper recording his claim; that
in those days there was no prophecy
OF the ambitious present in the man.
half drunkard and half outlaw, whose
name in the Yellow Dog district had
been a synonym for-but these were
unpleasant memories, and Margery
rarely INDUCED them.
Just now she put them aside by turn
ing her back to the window and taking
credit for the tasteful and luxurious
appointments of the private office, with
its soft-piled rug and heavy mahogany
furnishings. Her father was careless
OF such things; totally Indifferent to
them in business hours; but she saw
TO it that his surroundings kept pace
with the march of prosperity. Here in
Wahaska. as elsewhere, a little judi
cious display counted for much. even
if there were a few bigoted persons
who affected to despise it
She was in the midst Of a meditated
attack upon the steamship Autographs
on the walls-sole remaining land
marks of the ante-Grierson period
when her father wheeled in his pivot
chair and questioned her with a lift
Of his shaggy eyebrows
Want to see me, Madgie2"
Just a moment" She crossed the
room and stood at the end of the big
desk He reached mechanically for
his checkbook. but she smiled and
stopped him. No; it isn't money this
time; it's something that money can't
/
the front door e few minutes ago;
does he have an account with you? 20
Jasper Grierson's laugh was grimly
contemptuous.
The bank isn't making anything
out OF him The shoe is on the other
foot"
What is the matter? Isn't he max
ing money with his plant?"
"Oh, yes; his business is good
enough. But he's like all the other
young fools, nowadays; he amt con-
tent to bet on a sure thing and grow
with his capital. He wants to widen
out and build and put in new machin-
cry and cut a bigger dash generally.
Thinks he's been too slow and sure. "
Are you going to stake him?'' Mar
gerry waged relentless war with her
birthright inclination to lapse into the
speech OF the mining camps, but she
stumbled now and then in talking to
:, her father.
, q don't know; guess not Some
7 how, I've never had much use for
him"
why haven't you any use for him p
"Oh. 1 don't know-because, until
. just lately he has never seemed to
have much use for me, I guess Its
7 q stand-off, SO far as hkings go.
offered to reincorporate his outfit fol-
him six months ago, and told him I'd
take ffty-one per cent Of the reorgant
zation stock myself; but he wouldn't
talk about it. Said what little he had
was his own, and he proposed to keep
it"
> But now he is willing to let you
help him2"
Not much; he don't look at It In
: that light He wants to borrow money
from the bank and put up the STOCK
of his close corporation as collateral
It's safe enough, but I don't beIieTe
I'll do It"
q The chateIaine of Mereside came
: abruptly to the point
t Il want you to do It." she said. de
8 cisively-
L The devil you dol" Then. with thu
g dry, door-hinge chuekle: What's II