Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-01-15

utely became cloud OF uuSl.
Jonas turned away with Walling-
ford's letter, and of course he read the
inscription. 1t was addressed to the
International Lithograph Stone COM
pany. Jonas. IN deep thought, which
was rapidly becoming painful, slowly
walked halfway across to the store,
which was also the postoflce, then
turned and came back.
"Lookit here" he charged In sud
den panic, you dug that hole on a pur.
pose to make me think you was a-buy-
Ing that property jes because you was
mad"
How dare you suspect me?" said
Wallingford, smiling.
"You come here a-purpose to buy my
stone field" Jonas further charged,
with sinking feeling in the pit Of his
stomach.
"I'll make no admissions" stated
WallngfOrd. stlffening.
"What do you want o my field, any.
howY Jonas demanded, now sure that
| uc udN Uetu SM lllulGu.
That's my affair, sir" announced
Walllngford crisply. Moreover, can't
waste time talking about 1t, I've got
great deal Of work to do in Squibble-
vile, and very little time in which to
do 1t. III take that letter il you
please" and, receiving 1t from Jonas
nerveless fingers, he walked across to
the postofiice and mailed his request
for catalogue.
Jimmy" said Blacllic, watching the
retreatlng legs of Toad with vast ad.
mlration, "if you don't make that kid
foreman Of the works at regular fore
mans pay I'll never draw up another
legal document for you"
Before noon Squibbleville was the
busiest town on the map The black
smith, the cooper and even the pro-
prletOr Of the Auditorium hotel to say
nothing Of pale eyed and pale haired
and red faced Ben Jessup and all the
other idlers in the village, quit their
respective occupations in hurry, even
to the ancient and honorable one Of
loafing, to secure that unprecedented
50 day. Even Hen Hant appeared
with his crowbar and pick and spade,
but 1t transpired that Jonas Squlbble
was merely subletting him and making
Sc n week profit from his labor, fact
which completed the dire work of max.
Ing a thorough anarchist Of Hen. He
would have spent most Of his time in
I eXpounding his reactionary views TO
his fellow workmen had 1t not been for
the activity Of the foreman. "Toad'
Jessup was on the job from the first
stroke Of the pick in the morning until
the echo Of the last cank of the crow.
bar had died away at night, and he
was continuously at the side of every
Individual man Of the near a score en-
ployed, giving his slow moving and
lstless paw the same attention as any
other careless workman who needed
driving.
WallinGforl, inspecting the new part
which had come that day to replace
the broken one Of his machine, felt the
touch Of friendly hand upon his
shoulder and looked up to find Blackle
pointing gloomily up the road
"Shall we run, bluff or lght?" asked
Mr. Daw.
Walllngford, following the direction
Of the pointing hand, saw Jonas riding
down the road in his blackboard, and
with him was gaunt man who wore
a dark blue suit and dark blue soft
hat with cord and tassel.
Wallngford arose with most cheer.
ful smile. "None Of the three Blackie,"
he returned plHcldly. "This isn't a
pinch; It's compromise, only it's about
two days later that expected. Here's
where win that jade fob pendant"
Turning from Backle. he assumed
an attitude Of great dignity as Jonas
and the county sheriff, without word,
thrust folded paper into Waling-
ford's hands.
"Now I've served 1t according the
law In such cases made an provided
fur declared the gaunt one in a bNss
voice so surprisingly deep that It seem
ed TO make the ground trcmblc. THAT
there's an injunction restrainln' you
from diggin' any more of this here
bluestone or removln' any more Of II
from this here field until the case Of
Squlbblc against Walllngford, now
pending In the Squawmus county court,
Is settled, dismissed and the costs paid,
an this here other papers notice o
the aforesaid suit" Here he thrust
upon Walllngford another document
and his official mission concluded, he
mopped his brow with 1nming vel
low handkerchief which gave an extra
jaundice to his already squashlkc com.
plexlon, and became his own agreeable
self again by adding, Fine GROWN
weather we're havln'. amt itf'
at grows splendldy," admitted Wal.
llngford. whats this suit about, any.
: how?"
"About a doggone swindlew inter-
Jectcd Jonas, unable longer to remain
silent under his wrongs Bought my
llth0grnph stone mine under false pre-.
tense
II never said It was Autograph stone,
and I'm not saying so now" declared
Wnlllngford, for whom the law had no
nets OF fine enough mesh.
mo, you was too slick" returned
Jonas. "That's jes' the point. You