Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-10-28

enemies.
/ II was between half-past four and
five that Miss Grierson, driving in the
basket phaeton. made stop in front
of the Farmers and Merchants bank.
Since It was long past the closing
hours. the curtains we're drawn in the
bank doors and streetfacing windows.
But there was side entrance and she
went straight to the door OF the pri-
vate room. entering without warning.
Her father was not alone. In the
chair at the desk-end sat man fiorid
of face, hard-eyed and gross-bodied.
! His hat was on the back of his head,
and clamped between his teeth under
the bristling mustaches he held one of
Jasper Grierson's fat black cigars. The
conference paused when the door
opened; but when Margery crossed
the room and perched herself on the
deep seat of the farthest window, 1t
went on In guarded tones at silent
signal from the banker to his visitor.
There was a trade journal lying In
the window-seat. and Miss Grierson
took it up to become idly immersed In
study of the advertising pictures. II
| she listened to the low-toned talk 1t
was only mechanically. one would say.
Yet there was quickening Of the
breath now and again, and pressing
of the white teeth upon the ripe lower
lip. as she turned the pages of the adj
vertising supplement-; these, though
only detached sentences of the talk.
drifted across to the window-seat:
You're fixed to put the entire re-
| sponsibility for the ruction over on to
the other side of the house?" was one
of the overheard sentences; 1t was her
fathers query, and she also heard the
answer. Were goin' to put 'em in
bad. don't you forget it. ThereIl be
some broken heads. most likely. and
If they're ours, somebody'll pay for
EN-" A little farther along 1t was her
father who said: you've got to quit
this running to me. Keep to your own
side of the fence. Murray's got his
orders. and he'll pay the bills. II any
thing breaks loose, won't know you.
Get that?" I'm on" said the red
faced man; and shortly afterward he
took his leave.
When the door had closed behind
the man who looked like ward heller
or walking delegate. and who had
been both. and many other and more
questionable things. by turns, Jasper
Grferson swung his huge chair to face
the window.
"Well?" he said. "how's Galbraith
coming along?"
The smoldering fires in the daugh-
ter's eyes leaped up at the provocation
lurking in the grim brutality; but they
were dying down again when she put
the trade journal aside and said: Il
didn't come here to tell you about Mr.
Galbraith. came to give you notice
you to put Mr.. Raymer under obliga-
tons to you. said I'd tell you when
1t was time to STOP"
The president of the Farmers and
Merchants tilted his chair to the
lounging angle and laughed; slow
|
eye and thence abroad through his
great frame until he shook like gro
tesque incarnation of the god Of mirth
Il am to turn around and help him
out of the hole. am 1? Oh, no; guess
not" he denied. tits business now,
little girl, and the tea-fights are barred.
I'll give you a check for that span O.
blacks you were looking at. and we'll
call it square"
Does that mean that you intend to
go on until you have smashed him?"
she asked, quietly ignoring the puta-
tive bride.
Pm going to put him out of bust
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 reason? Why do you
hate these two so desperately" she
asked.
Jasper Grierson 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 derided. That's fool woman's
notion. This Is business, and there
amt any such thing as hate in bust
ness"
81 hate i'll" she said coldly. Then
she dragged the talk back to the chan.
mel 1t was leaving. Il 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; 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 mounting his cigar
again and the smoky nimbus was
thickening to its customary density
when he said: You're nothing but q
spoiled baby, Madge. II you'd cry for
the moon, you'd think you ought to
have 1t. I've said my say. and that's
all there is to 1t. 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.
'Tll go when you have answered one
question" she said, the suppressed