The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-07-22

I
hobby was method, Mr.. Galbraith had
established a custom Of giving himself
quiet half-hour of inviolable seclu-
sion in which to read and consider
his mail During this sacred interval
the stenographer, standing guard IN
the outer office, had instructions to
deny his chief to callers Of any and
every degree. Wherefore, when, at
20 minutes to II, the door Of the pri-
vate office opened to admit a stranger,
the president was justly annoyed.
We'll, sir; what now?" he demand
ed, impatiently, taking the intruders
measure in swift glance shot from
beneath his bushy white eyebrows.
The unannounced visitor was 3
young man of rather prepossessing ap-
pearance, a trihe tall for his breadth
of shoulder, fair, with blue eyes and a
curling, reddish beard and mustache'
the former trimmed to a point. so
much the president was able to note
in the appraisive glance-and to re-
member afterward
The caller made no reply to the curt
question. He had turned and was
closing the door. There was quiet
insistence in the act that was like the
flick of a whip to Mr.. Galbraith's irri-
tation.
IF you have business with me,
you'll have to excuse me for a few
minutes" he protested, still more i'm
patiently. BE good enough to take
seat in the anteroom until l ring.
MacFarland should have told you"
The young man drew up chair and
sat down, ignoring the request as If
he had failed to hear it. Ordinarily
Mr.. Andrew Galbraith's temper was
equable enough the age-cooled tenn
per of methodical gentleman whose
long upper lip was in itself an adver-
! tisement of self-control. But such a
deliberate infraction of his rules
coupled with the stony impudence Of
the visitor, made him spring up an
grily to ring for the watchman.
The intruder was too quick for him.
When his hand sought the bell push
he found himself looking into the
muzzle of revolver, and so was fain
to fall back into his chair, gasping
"Ah-h-h!" he stammered. And when
the words could be managed: so
that's it, is it?-you're a robber!"
NO." said the invader of the presi-
Dental privacy calmly, speaking for
the first time since his incoming. Il
am not a robber, save in your own
very limited definition of the word.
am merely a poor man, Mr.. Gal
braith-one of the uncounted thou
sands-and l want money. If you call
for help, l shall shoot you, 1t is
merely question of money, and II
you are amenable to reason"
"If I'm-but I'm not amenable to
your reasons" clustered the presi
dent, recovering little from the first
shock of terrified astoundment. II re-
fuse to listen to them. I'll not have
anything to do with you. Go away!
: The young mans smile showed his
teeth, but it also proved that he was
not wholly devoid of the sense oi
humor.
Keep your temper, Mr.. Galbraith,
: he advised coo1ly. THE moment il
: mine, and l say you shall listen frs
and obey afterward. Otherwise yol
Il die. Which is it to be? Choos'
), quickly-time is precious"
u :, The president yielded the frs
point, that of the receptive ear; bu
Q grudgingly and as one under stric
> compulsion.
. We'll, well, then; out with it. Wha
,, have you to say for yourself?"
p This: You are rich; you represen
n the existing order of things. l an
a poor, and l stand for my necessity
which is higher than any man-mad
=, law or custom. You have more none
y than you can possibly use in any le
y gitimate personal channels; hav
q not the price of the next meal, alread
twenty-four hours overdue. l cam
" here this morning with my life in m
- hand to invite you to share with m
portion of that which is yours chief
- by the right of possession. II you
a it, we'll and good; if not, there wi
, be new president of the Bayou Stat
= Security. Do make myself sufficien
q ly explicit?"
# Andrew Galbraith glanced furtivel
at the paper-weight clock on his desl
1t was nearly eleven, and MacFarlan
would surely come in on the strok
of the hour If he could only fen
off the catastrophe for few minutes
j. until help should come. He searche
q in his pockets and drew forth hanC
a full of coins.
a The invader of privacies glanced q
the clock in his turn and shook hi
# head.
s, you are merely trying to gain TIM
l. and you know 1t, Mr.. Galbraith. M
10 stake in this game is much more tina
q handful of charity silver; and
e don't do you the injustice to believ
e that you hold your life so cheaply
e, you who have so much money ant
If at best, so few years to live"
% The president put the little hea
e Of coins on the desk, but he did NJ
l. abandon the struggle for delay.
% What's your price, then?" he d.
l. manded, as one who may possibl
r. consider a compromise.
"One hundred thousand dollars
c. cash."