The Pulaskian., 1916-04-21
cHAPTER-xv-contlnued.

The promoter pulled himself erect with grip on either arm of the chair.
 "Brouillard, do you know what you are talking about ?" he demanded
 No; it is only guess. But as mat ters stand-with your son indictable for an attempted murder if I were you, MT. Cartwright, I believe I'd give David Massingale chance to pay those notes at the bank"
 And let him blackmai1 me? Not in month of Sundays, Brouillardi Let him sell his ore and pay the notes if he can. If he can't, I'll take the mine" ]"
 All right" said the visitor placably. You asked, and I've answered Now let's come to something more vital to both of us. There is pretty persist ent rumor on the street that you and your associates succeeded in getting a resolution through both houses of con gress at the last session, appointing a committee to investigate this Coronida claim right here on the ground. No body seems to have any definite de- tails. and it possibly hasn't occurred to anyone that congress hasn't been in session since Mirapolis was born. But that doesn't matter. The committee is coming; you have engaged rooms for it here in Bongras' You are ex- pecting the private-car special next week" l"
 "Well?" said the magnate. You're a pretty good kindergartner. But what of it?"
 "Oh, nothing. Only I think you might have taken me in on the little side play. What if had gone about town contradicting the rumor?"
 Why should you? It's true. The congressional party will be here next week, and nobody has made any secret of it."
 Still, I might have been taken in, !" persisted Brouillard suavely. You'll surely want to give me my instruc- tions little beforehand won't you? Just think how easily things might get tangled. Suppose I should say to some body-to Garner, for example-that the town was hugely mistaken; that no congressional committee had ever been appointed; that these gentlemen who are about to visit us are mere complaisant friends of yours, coming as your guests, on junketing trip at your expense. Wouldn't that be rather awkward?"
 The mayor of Mirapolis brought his hands together, fist in palm, and for fitting instant the young engineer saw in the face of the father the same ex- pression that he had seen in the face of the son when Van Bruce Cartwright was struggling for second chance to kill man.
 Damn you!" said the magnate saw agely; you always know too much! You're bargaining with mel"
 We'll, you have bargained with mo, first, last and all the time," was the cool retort. "On each occasion have had my price, and you have paid it. Now you are going to pay it again. Shall go over to the Spotlight office and tell Harlan what know?"
 You can't bluff me that way, Brouil- lard, and you ought to sense 1t by this time. Do you suppose I don't know how you are fixed ?-that you've got money-money that you used to say you owed somebody else-tied up in Mirapolis investments?"
 Brouillard rose and buttoned his coat.
 There is one weak link in your chain. MT. Cartwright" he said even ly; you don't know men. Put on your coat and come over to Harlan's office with me. It will take just about two minutes to satisfy you that I'm not blufang."
 For moment it appeared that the offer was to be accepted. But when he had one arm in coat sleeve. }1 .t 3