The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-12-02
nde. Copyright, 1914, By Charles Scril

what they could to restore some
semblance of order. 1t was little
enoughj and by ten o'clock the
amateur policing of the city had
reduced itself to double guard.
ing of the dam and the machinery
and a cordoning of the Metropole
the Reclamation Service build
ings, and the Spotlight office
For Harlan, the dash of sporting
blood in his veins asserting itself
still stayed on and continued to
issue his paper.
II said | wanted to be in at the
death. and for a few minutes to-
night | thought l was going to
be-" he told Brouillard, when the
engineer had posted his guards
and climbed the stair to the edit
orial office. Then he asked a
question: when is this little
hell-on-earth going to be finally
extinguished, Victor?"
Instead Of answering, Brouil-
lard put question of his own:
did you knew that Cartwright
and Schermerhorn and Judge Will
Jams came back this evening, Har-
LAM"
Il did," said the newspaper man.
They are registered at the Metro
pole as large as life. And Miss
Genevieve and Cortwright's ugly
duckling of a son came with them.
What's up?"
That's what I'd like to know.
There's bunch of strangers at
the Metropole, too, a sheriff's pos
Sc, Poodles thinks; at least, there
is a deputy from Red Butte with
the crowd. l wish l knew what
1t MEANS"
Lets see," said the newsman,
thoughtfully; what Is there worth
taking that they didn't take In the
sauve qui peut? BY Jove-say!
Did old David Massingale get out
Of j. Wesley's clutches before the
lightning struck"
81 wish I could say Yes and be
sure of It," was the sober reply.
You knew about the thieving
stock deal. Well, / had Massingale,
as president. call a meeting of d.
rectors-which never met"
How about those notes in the
bank? Wasn't Massingale person
ally involved in some way"
Brouillard bounded out of his
chair as If the question had been a
point-blank pistol-shot.
Great heavens" he exclaimed.
Today's the day! In the hustle 1
had forgotten 1t. That accounts for
the reunion at the Metropole."
Don't worry" said Harlan, cas-
lily. 1.-THE bank has gone, vanish
ed, shut up shop. At the end of
ends, l suppose, they can make
David pay; but they can't very
well cinch him for not meeting his
notes on the dot"
"Massingale doesn't really owe
them anything that he can't pay"
Brouillard asserted. "By wiring
and writing and digging up fig
ures, we found that the capitalize
ing stockholders, otherwise J. Wes-
ley Cartwright and Schermerhorn,
have actually invested $50, 900, or,
rather, that amount OF Massin-
gales loan has been expended in
equipment and payrolls. Three
weeks ago the old man got the
smelter superintendent over here
from Red Butte and arranged for
an advance of $4,000 on the ore
in stock. the money to be paid
when the first train of ore-cars
should be on the way in. It was
paid promptly in New York ex-
change, and Massingale Endorsed
the draft over to me, to be used In
the directors meeting which was
never held.
"Well?" said the editor.
Brouillard took a pacing turn up
the long, narrow room, and when
he came back he said 81 guess I'm
only half reformed, after all, Har-
Ian. I'd give year or so out of
my natural life II I had a grip on
Cartwright that would enable me
to go across to Bongras' and choke
a hteic JuotiS0 Out VI auiiu.
Go over and flash Massingaie's
$4,000 at 'em. They'll turn loose.
I'll bet a yellow cur worth Ii cents
that they're wishing there was q
train out of this little section Of
Sheol right now. Hear that"
The crash Of an explosion ratified
the windows, and the red glow on
the Jacks Mountain side Of the
town leaped up and become a mo-
mentary glare. The fell spirit of
destruction. Of objectless wreck
and ruin, was abroad. and Brouil-
lard turned to the stairway door.
I'll have to be making the
rounds again." he said. "The
Greeks and Italians are too excit-
able to stand much OF this. Take
care of yourself, I'll leave Grif and
a dozen Of the TRUSTEES to look