Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1915-10-29

II was hstween half-past four and
nVe that Miss Grierson, driving in the
basket phaeton, made a stop in front
OF the Farmers and Merchants bank
Since it was long past the closing
hours, the curtains were drawn in the
pank doors and street-facing 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
cnalr at the desk-end sat man florid
OF face, hard-eyed and gross-bodied
his hat was on the back of his head
and elamped between his teeth under
the brlstling 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, it
went on in guarded tones at a silent
signal from the banker to his visitor.
There was a trade journal lying in
the windcw-seat, and Miss Grierson
TOOK 1t up to become idly immersed in
study of the advertising pictures. II
she listened to the low-toned talk 1t
wes only mechanically. one would say.
Yet there was quickening of the
breath now and again, and a pressing
OF the white teeth upon the ripe lower
lip, as she turned the pages of the ad-
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; it was her
fathers query. and she also heard the
answer. We're goin' to put EN- in
bad. don't you forget it. Thereh be
some broken heads, most likely, and
II they're ours, somebody'll pay for
en-" A little farther along il 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 heeler
or a walking delegate, and who had
been both, and many other and more
questionable things, by turns, Jasper
Grierson 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. l came to give you notice
that 1t is time to quit. When / asked
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
Longing angle and laughed: a slow
gurgling laugh that spread from lip to
eye and thence abroad through his
great frame until he shook like gro
tesque incarnation of the god of mirth
II am to turn around and help him
cut of the hole, am 1? oh, no; / guess
not" he denied. ITS business now.
little girl, and the tea-fights are barred
I'll give yoL check for that span o.
blacks you were looking at, and Wen
call it square"
Does that mean that you intend to
go on until you have smashed him?"
she asked. quietly ignoring the puta-
tive bribe.
I'm 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 a fool woman's
notion. This is business, and there
amt any such thing as hate in bust
ness"
Il hate it," she said coldly. Then
she dragged the talk hack to the chan
mel 1t was leaving. 81 ought to have
broken in sooner; I 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 l came. You don't play fair with
many people; don't you think you'd
better make an exception of me?"
Grierson was mouthing his cigar
again and the smoky nimbus was
thlckening to its customary density
when he said: You're nothing but