Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-08-12
Illustrations by c

esses we're all serious, and whose
hobby was method. Mr.. Galbraith had
established a custom Of giving himself
a 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 IL, the door of the pri.
vate office opened to admit a stranger,
the president was justly annoyed.
Well, sir; what now?" he demand
ed. impatiently. taking the intruder.
measure In a swift glance shot from
beneath his bushy white eyebrows.
The unannounced visitor was
young man of rather prepossessing al
pearance, a trife tall for his breadt
Of shoulder, fair. with blue eyes and
curling. reddish beard and mustach
the former trimmed to a point.
much the president was able to no
in the a%ppraisive g%lance-and to !
member afterward.
The caller made no reply TO the c,
question. He had turned and "
closing the door. There was a gu
insistence in the act that was like
flick Of a whip to Mr.. Galbraith's
tation.
If you have business with
you'll have to excuse me for a
minutes" he protested. still more
patiently. BE good enough to tai
seat in the anteroom until |
mcfarland should have told you
The young man drew up a chair
sat down, ignoring the request
he had failed to hear it. Ordin
Mr.. Andrew Galbraith's temper
equable enough; the ~age-cooled tenn
per of a methodical gentleman whose
long upper lip was in itself an adver-
tisement of s%elf-control. But such a
deliberate infraction CT his rules
coupled with the stony impudence OF
the visitor, made him spring up an
grily TO ring for the Waterman.
The intruder was too quick for him.
When his hand sought the bell push
he found himself looking into the
muzzle of a revolver, and so was fain
to fall back into his chair, gasping.
"Ah.h-h!" he stammered. Ard when
the words could be managed: 80
that's it, is it?-you're a robert"
NO" said the invader of the presi-
dental privacy calmly, speaking for
the first time since his incoming. 81
am not a robber, save in your own
very limited definition of the word. l
am merely a poor man, Mr.. Gal
braith-one Of the uncounted thou
sands-and want money. If you call
for help, l shall shoot you. 1t is
merely a question CT money, and If
you are amenable to reason"
of I'm-but I'm not amenable to
your reasons!" clustered the presi-
dent, recovering a 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 of
humor.
Keep your temper, Mr.. Galbraith,"
he advised coolly. The moment is
mine, and l say you shall listen first
and obey afterward. Otherwise you
die. Which is it to be? Choose
n,,inE1v-fipnn l.. rran,~,
The president yielded the first
point, that of the receptive ear; but
grudgingly and as one under strict
compulsion.
well, well, then; out with it. What
have you to say for yourself?"
This: You are rich; you repl
the existing order Of things.
poor, and / stand for my nece
which is higher than any man..
law or custom. You have more m
than you can possibly use in an.
Ultimate personal channels;
not the price of the next meal, alrt
twenty-four hours overdue. G.;
here this morning with my life in
hand to invite you to share with
a portion Of that which is yours chic
by the right Of possession. If you
it, well and good; If not, there "
be a new president of the Bayou Sta
Security. Do | make myself sufficiel
ly explicit?"
Andrew Galbraith glanced furtivei
~ tho napar.uaiph olooG nm hio davl
1t was nearly eleven, and MacFarlan
would surely come In on the strok,
of the hour. II he could only fent
off the catastrophe for a few minutes
until help should come. He searched
in his pockets and drew forth a hand
full Of coins.
The invader Of privacies glanced a
the clock in his turn and shook hi!
head.
you are merely trying to gain time
and you know 1t, Mr.. Galbraith. Ny
stake in this game is much more thar
a handful Of charity silver; and
don't do you the injustice to beliew
that you hold your life so cheaply;
you who have so much money and,
at best, so few years to live"
The president put the little heap
OF coins on the desk, but he did not
abandon the struggle for delay.
whats your price, then?" he de-
manded, as one who may possibly
consider a compromise.
zone hundred thousand dollars-in