The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-10-17
CONTINUED from our last issue.)

dunn on his desk calendar TO take
the building and loan matter up
with Hallock the following day.
But the following day brought its
own woes. Lidgerwood mad
scarcely settled himself at his
desk when Benson came in. 1t was
a trouble call, and the young en-
gineer's face advertised 1t.
What Is the matter now,
Jack?" Lidgerwood snapped.
"Oh, nothing much - when
you're used to It; only about a
thousand dollars worth of dimen-
sion timber gone glimmering.
That's all. It's the Gloria bridge.
We had the timbers all ready to
pull out the old and put in the
new, and the shift was to be made
today between trains. Last night
every stick of the new stock dis.
appeared"
by heaven! this thing has got
to stop, Benson. And it's going to
stop, IL we have to call out the
state militia and picket every
cursed mile of this rotten rail
road"
do it," said Benson gruffly,
land when it's done you notify
me and I'll come back to work. "
And with that he tramped out,
and was too angry to remember to
close the door.
| Lidgerwood sat on at his desk,
raging inwardly at the mysterious
thieves who were looting the COM
pany as boldly as an invading
army might. Suddenly a shadow
crossed behind the superintend-
ent's chair and came to rest at the
end of the roll-top desk. Lidger-
wood looked up. 1t was Hallock.
I'VE can cut out the details,
Lidgerwood blurted out. some
years ago you were the treasurer
of the Mesa Building and Loan AS
Isolation. When the association
went out of business, its books
showed a cash balance in the
treasury. What became of the
money!"
ut Is none of your business
Mr.. Lidgerwood," Hallock replied
you seem to take 1t for granted
that was the only CRATER in the
building and loan business. ]
wasn't; on the contrary, l was
only necessary cog in the wheel
Somebody had to make the dedue'
lions from the pay-rolls and"
I'm not asking you to make ex.
cuses," stormed Lidgerwood
I'm telling you that you've got
to make good! Go to Flemister-
he was your president, wasn't he!
and get him to make a state.
ment that l can show to the
grievance committee. That will
let you out, and me, too"
Hallock stood up and leaned
over the desk end.
"If I though you knew what
you're saying" he began in a
grating voice, "but you don't -
you can't know!" Then, with q
sudden break in the fierce tone:
Don't send me to Flemister for
my clearance-don't do 1t, Mr.
Lidgerwood. It's playing with fire
didn't steal the money. III
swear 1t on a stock of Bibles a
mile high. Flemister will tell you
so If he is paid his price. But you
don't want me to pay the price. II
| do
Go on" said Lidgerwood,
frowning. "if you do, what them"
| Hallock leaned still farther
over the desk end.
IF I do. you'll get what you
are after-and good deal more.
ask you If 1t is worth while to
throw me overheard"
Lidgerwood was still angry
enough to resent this advance in
to the field of personalities.
you've had my last word, Hal
lock, and all this talk about con-
sequences that you don't explain
is beside the mark"
Halock Strengthened up and but
toned his coat.
"I'll get you the statemnt," he
said, quietly; "and the conse-
quences won't need any explain
ing" His hand was on the door
knob when he finished saying 1t,
and Lidgerwood had risen from
his chair. There was a pause
while one might count five.
"Well?" said the superintend-
emit.
II was thinking again." said
the man at the door. "By all the
rules Of the game-the game as It
is played here in the desert -
ought to be giving you twenty-four
hours to get out of gunshot, Mr..
Lidgerwood. Instead of that
am going to do you a service. You
remember that operator, Rufford,
that you discharged a few days
ago."
YES"
Bart Rufford. his brother, the
lookout at the Red Lights saloon
has invited a few of his friends to
take notice that he intends to kill
you. You can take 1t straight. He
means it,"
For a long time after the door
had Jared to its shutting behind
Hallock, Lidgerwood sat at his
desk, idle and abstractedly
thoughtful. At last he made his