Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-10-16

and she might as well not have any
father-better. perhaps AS God hears
me. Raymer. I'm going to see to it
that she gets a square deal"
by Georgei / believe you are in
love with her, yourself!"
Il am" was the cool reply.
We'll of all the Say, Griswold,
you're a three-cornered puzzle to me
yet. / don't know what the other
three-fourths of the town is saying, but
my fourth of it has it put up that
you've everlastingly cooked my goose
at Doctor Bertie's; that you and
Charlotte are just about as good as en-
gagged. Perhaps you'll tell me that it
isn't true"
'It isn't-yet."
But it may be, later on? Now you
are getting over into my little garden
patch, Kenneth. If you think I'm go
ing to stand still and see you put
wedding ring on Charlotte Farnham's
finger when 1 know you'd like to be
putting it on Madge Griersons-
Griswold's low laugh came as an
easing of stresses.
You can't very well marry both of
them, yourself. you know" he sug
gested mildly And then: IF you were
trouble. you'd see that I'm trying to
give you the entire field. 1 shall prob
ably leave town tomorrow, and l mere
ly wanted to do you, or Miss Grierson.'
or both of you, a small kindness by
way of leave-taking."
DO you mean to tell me that you
are going away, leaving me bucked
and gagged by this labor outfit to live
if my moneys gone. yours goes with
it,"
You are freely welcome to the mon
ey. Edward-if you can manage to
hang on to tt; and l have pointed out
the easy way to salvage the industrial
ship. Can't you give me your blessing
and let me go in peace?"
The blessing was not withheld, but
neither was it given.
Il came here with my own back-load
of trouble, but 1t seems that I'm not
the only camel in the caravan" said
the young ironmaster. thoughtfully.
What is 1t. Kenneth? anything you
can unload on me?"
You wouldn't understand" was
the gentle evasion.
Once again Raymer took refuge in
silence. After time he said: You've
been brother to me, Griswold, and
1 shall never forget that But If
needed your help in the money pinch,
I'm needing it worse now. I'll do the
right thing by Margery; 1 think I've
been meaning to. all along; If 1
haven't, it's only because this whole
town has been fixing up a match be-
tween Charlotte and me ever since we
were school kids together-you know
how a fellow gets into the way of TAX
ing a thing like that for granted mere
ly because everybody else does?"
Yes; l know"
well, guess it isn't a heart-break-
er ON either side. If Charlotte cares.
she doesn't take the trouble to show
it. Just the same, on the other hand,
I've got a shred or two of deceEcy left.
Kenneth. I'm not going to marry my
self out of this fight with Jasper Grier-
son-not in a million years. Stay over
and help me see it through; and when
we win out. l promise you I'll do the
square thing"
There's only one other way, Ed
ward; and that is to fight like the
devil" he said. speaking as one who
has weighed and measured and decid-
ed. What do you say?"
IF you will stay" Raymer began,
| hesitantly.
I'll stay-as long as l can" Then.
with the note of harshness returning,
Wen make the fight, and we'll give
these muckers of yours all they are
looking for. Shut the plant doors to-
morrow morning and make it lock-
out, III be over bright and early and
well place a bunch of wire orders in
the cities for strike-breakers. That will
| bring them to time"
| Ra>mer got up slowly and felt in
the dark for his hat.
Strike breakers" he groaned.
| "Griswold, it would make my father
turn over in his coffin If he could
know that we've come to that! But
1 guess you're right. Everybody says
I'm too soft-hearted to be a master OF
men. Well, l must be getting home
Tomorrow morning. at the plant? AL
right; goodnight"
And he turned to >grope his way tc
the door and through the dark upper
hall and down the stair
CHAPTER xxII..