Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-09-14
cHAPTER-xv-continued.

The promoter pulled himself erect
with grip on either arm Of the chair.
"Brouillard, do you know what you
are talking about?" he demanded.
mo; 1t is only guess. But as mat
ters stand-with your son indictable
for an attempted murder i'll
were you, Mr.. Cartwright, I believe
I'd give David Massingale chance to
pay those notes at the bank"
"And let him blackmail me? Not in
q month of Sundays, Brouillard! 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
emit rumor on the street that you and
your associates succeeded in getting
resolution through both houses of con-
gress at the last session, appointing
committee to investigate this Coronida
claim right here on the ground. No
body seems to have any definite de-
tails. and 1t 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 1t here in Bongras'. You are ex-
pecting the priyate-car special next
week"
"Well?" said the magnate. You're
Q pretty good Kindergarten. But what
Of it,"
"Oh, nothing. Only l think you
might have taken me in on the little
side play. What II / 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, l might have been taken in,"
persisted Brouillard suavely. You'll
surely want to give me my instruc-
tons little beforehand, won't you?
Just think how easily things might get
tangled. Suppose 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 a 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-
preston that he had seen in the face
Of the son when Van Bruce Cartwright
was struggling for second chance to
kill q man.
Damn you'll" said the magnate saw
Agely; you always know too much!
You're bargaining with mel"
We'll, you have bargained with me,
FIRST last and all the time," was the
cool retort. ION each occasion l have
had my price, and you have paid it.
Now you are going to pay 1t again.
Shall l go over to the Spotlight office
and tell Harlan what known"
You can't bluff me that way, Brouil-
hard. and you ought to sense 1t by this
time. Do you suppose l 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, Mr.. Cartwright" he said even
"; you don't know men. Put on your
coat and come over to Harlans Office
with me. 1t will take Just about two
minutes to satisfy you that I'm moi
blufing." .ns ~ 80.
For moment 1t appeared that the
0Fer was to be accepted. But when
- had one arm in coat sleeve