The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-08-25

tors meeting chat was called. and
wasn't held. three weeks ago."
1t was a crude little expedient. but
It sufficed. Cartwright tramped to the
phone and cursed and swore at 1t un-
til he had his man at the other end OF
the wire. The man was the lawyer,
as it appeared, and Cartwright abused
him spitefully.
you've balled it-balled it beauti-
to Brouillard's Office and bring Sher-
merhorn and the stock and the notes
and Jackson and the secretary's books
and Massingale and your Internal self!
Get a move, and get it quick! We
stand to lose the whole loaf because
you had to butt in and sweep up the
crumbs first!"
When the procession arrived, as II
did in an incredibly short time. Brouil-
lard laid down the law.
I'VE don't need these" he said curt
ly, indicating the two deputies who
came to bring David Massingale. And
when they were gone: Now, gentle
the less time you waste the better
chance there will be for your bank
salvage. Three requirements | make:
you will turn over the stock, putting
Mr.. Massingale in possession of his
mine, without incumbrance; you will
cancel and surrender his notes to the
bank; and you will give him a docu.
ment, signed by all Of you. acknowl-
edging the payment in full of all
claims, past or pending. While you
are Strengthening things out, I'll ring
up the yards and rally your guard.
Cartwright turned on the lawyer.
You hear what Brouillard says; fix
il. and do it suddenly"
1t was done almost before BrouillS I'd
had made Leshington. in charge of the
yards. understand what was wanted.
Now a note to your man at the
mine to make him let go without put
ting Us to the trouble of throw ,g him
over the dump" said the ef sineer,
when he had looked over tho stock
transfers, examined the Cancelled notes,
and read and witnessed the signatures
on the receipt in full.
Cartwright nodded to the lawyer.
and when Williams began to write
again the king OF the promoters
turned upon Brouillard with a savage
sheer.
Once more you've had you. price,"
he snarled bitterly. You and the old
man have bilked us out of what we
spent on the mine. But we'll call it
an even break If you'll hurry that gang
of huskies."
We'll call 1t an even break when It
is one." retorted Brouillard; and after
he had gathered up the papers he took
the New York check from his pocket
book, Endorsed it, and handed it to
Cartwright. THAT Is what was spent
out of the hundred thousand dollars
you had Mr.. Massingale charged with,
as nearly as we can ascertain. Take
1t and take care Of 1t; it's real money"
He had turned again to the tele-
phone to hurry Leshington, had rung
the call, and was chuckling grimly
over the collapse of the four men at
the end Of the mapping table as they
fingered the slip Of money paper. Sud-
denly 1t was borne in upon him that
there was trouble of some sort at the
door-there were curses, blow, a mad
rush; then f. 1t was Stephen Mas
singale who had fought his way past
the door-guarding sentry and stood
blinking at the group at the far end
Of the mapping board.
you're the houn' dog I'm lookin'
fort" he ragged, singing out Cartwright
mitted him to see. You'll rob an old
man first, and then call him a thief
and set the sheriff on him, will you-?"
Massingale's pistol was dropping to
the firing level when Brouillard flung
away the telephone earpiece and got
between. Afterward there was
crash like a collision Of worlds,
whirling, dancing medley of colored
lights fading away to gray and then to
darkness, and the engineer went down
with the avenger of wrongs tightly
locked in his arms.
:
After the period of darkness had
passed and Brouillard opened his eyes
again upon the world of things as they
are, he had confused idea that he
had oversight shamefully and that the
indulgence had given him bad head
ache.
The next thought was that the head
ache was responsible for set of singu-
lar Authorizations. His blanket bunk
in the sleeping shack seemed to have
transformed itself into white bed
with pillows and snowy sheets, and
the bed was drawn up beside an open
window through which he could look
out, or seem to look out, upon a vast
sea dimpling in the breeze and reflect.
ing the sunshine so brightly that 1t
made his headache a darling agony.
When he turned his face to escape
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