Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-04-06
CHAPTER XVI.


CHAPTER XVI.
interesting News For tho Big Boy.
- LEDGE did what any other fool
lover would have done. He tel
ephoned three times that even
ing to see how Molly was, and
when he went home he drove two miles
out Of the way to pass the house. He
was equally solicitious the next morn
ing and handled his business with sin
gular lack Of concentration. The last
two weeks had made him more slavish-
" In love with Molly than ever, and
he missed her as q morphine fend does
his dope"
Goldman dropped in to see him at 2
o'clock.
II want to talk consolidation with
you, Mr.. Sledge," he offered, sitting
smilingly in the visitors chair.
what consolidation? asked Sledge.
'-The street railway companies. We
have Just purchased the controlling in
terest in the company now operative"
Sledge turned on him a slow glance.
"From Frank Marley?" he demanded
"From Frank Marley" repeated Cold
man pleasantly, looking as If he ex-
pected to be applauded for his enter
prise.
YOU'RE up against It," Sledge warn
ed him. did you payf"
Gave Marley my check yesterday
afternoon"
'Today's a holiday" advised Sledge.
Better stop payment"
81 don't understand" faltered Cold
man.
"You will when you're stung," ad.
vised Sledge.
I'm not stung," announced Goldman
emphatically. Our people don't take a
chance on getting in wrong. That
check can be stopped"
go to It," ordered Sledge and punch
Cd the bell. where's BendixT' he de-
manded Of Adolph.
"Don't know. Want him7"
"Quickr' ordered Sledge. "Why
didn't you tell me you was after con-
trol7 Now you don't get anything"
II get out-that's one cinchr'' stated
Goldman. rising and looking at his
watch.
'cHow7" asked sledge.
That's my affair. I'd be q sucker to
lay -mys>af liable by an admission of
tho knowledge"
II want to know" persisted Sledge.
n want to be sure of it,
You're cunning for Marley" sur
missed Goldman.
ssSuno 7 a oDrooa c1o5~o .ST a>,,,<
want you stung. How do you crawl2"
"Do I get back in after it's all
Strengthened out?'
you can have q chunk Of it,
Goldman surveyed him thoughtfully
They do say you stick to promise
like that" he mused. "Well, two
weeks ago I had a written authority
to make contracts. conclude business
and write checks, In the name of my
corporation. Day before yesterday
that authority was revoked. We al
ways do that"
Bendix came in.
Marley got out from under" Sledge
told him. 'Why?"
$50 the wedding could come off,"
returned Bendix, with an involuntary
glance at the red rose boutonniere.
'The wedding! repeated Sledge
Look here. Bendix, don't you kid
mer'
II wish I was" replied Bendix.
showing. for the first time, his knowl-
edge Of how important all this was to
the big boy. molly and Bert Glider
are to be married right off the bat"
No man had ever seen Sledge pale
before.
"When? he wheezed.
Right away. This afternoon!
They're being married now"
Although there were to be no guests
at the Marley wedding, the house was
naturally in a state Of much tensity as
the time approached. Molly. for two
hours before the minister was to ar
rive. was engaged in the finishing
touches of her toilet, which was fully
a. elaborate. though not SO conven
tional, as If the function was to be
the most formal one possible, and her
boudoir, from one end to the other,
was clattered with fluffy finery, with
toilet accessories, with two maids and
Pern Burbank, the three latter articles
being In state closely bordering on
hyIteria.
Downstairs Bert Glider wandered
nom room to room feeling more in the
way than II he were an unbidden guest
et somebody else's wedding, his only
human companion being an occasional
contact with the thin legged butler.
who, under the excitement of the occa.
sion, had opened a surreptitious bot
tie Of champagne in the pantry. and
there being plenty Of room I'm his In
tslloct, had succumbed to the inevita
Bile gloom Of the occasion.
The most busily occupied one of all
however, was Frank Marley. who
from Immediately after breakfast, had
snsconced himself i'm his den, where
hs somewhat sadly finished his con
nection with many odds and ends of
local business and social institutions
writing checks and friendly notes all
the morning.
He even had his lunch brought I'm to
him, for, truth to tell, he preferred
rather to be alone than to be with