The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-18
SEEDS OF SUSPICION


 In Lamar'S office Gordon stood with his back to the locked door; white-faced, gasping. For the moment, at least, he was safe-and his eyes never left the face of the girl.'
 "Now,'' cried June under her breath, tell me everything-won't you?"
 Gordon shook his head
 q can't he said. I'm more grateful to you than I can ever make you know you've saved my life; or rather, my lib- erty, that counts for more; but-honestly, I mustn't tell you why they're after me- not now, anyway. I-''
 But why not?' interrupted June. "Ev- cry minute is precious. MT. Lamar is my I'm anxious to help you-I can help you if you'll tell me everything; but how can I be of use at all when you keep me in the dark like this?
 Her earnest eyes were full of plead ing. and reluctantly Gordon found him. self weakening.
 You're a brick he said Ito be in- terested in me at all, and I'm terribly grateful" {
 linen do as I say-begin at the be- ginning and tell me-
 Flow do we know but that someone is in that next room? Do you know where the other door leads top Wait a minute.'' said June quickly 'I'll look in the outer office. MT. Lamar s confidential clerk may be there. Don't move until come back On her way to the door, June hur- riedly laid her gloves and wrist bag on Lamar's desk, half-subconsciously noting at the same time a pair of handcuffs that lay there. With little shudder she passed them by and. slowly opening the office door, peered cautiously out. vii hoc ff ha- Coo the confidential clerk. busily writing and serenely unconscious that anyone was looking at him. June softly closed and locked the door,
 Gordon gave nervous glance around, and then began:
 'The whole thing, in a nutshell, is this:
 , "The Farwell corporation retained me so that they might legally defraud their employees of cooperative profits. When I found what they were up to, I rebel'ed and tried to expose the crooked deal--so of course they've had | it in for me ever since.
 There was only one thing to do-to tell the workers about 1.-the men who had expected to be profit sharers and were dupes instead So got crowd of them in the courtyard one day and | told them the whole thing Some of em believed me- most of l them didn't-or at least, were doubtful In the middle of it, the watchman and l a patrolman or two came to see what 1 it was all about, broke up the crowd with night sticks, and pushed me off l threatening me with arrest for starting a riot You see, was helpless. The l corporation blocked me-" muttered Cor l don, bitterly. Then, not content with l that, they ruined me financially.
 "One day I was in my office when | Farwe'l rang me up I want to see you at once he said. We are wrong and | we'll surrender
 Tt didn't take me long to hang uE I the receiver, get my hat and hurry over to his office. There he was, the grinning hypocrite, greeting me as ii were a long lost friend. He waved me to a chair, and then took out a paper and placed it airily on a desk leaf, and told me to read it. All the time he kept one hand on the thing, but I, like g
 fool. thought nothing of that-I was l idiot enough to believe he was acting ir good faith!
 "This is what the hound told me tt l read" went on Gordon: The Farwel | corporation, through it's attorney Charle. l Gordon, hereby rescinds it's recent ac l tion of withholding cooperative profits.
 There was a blank space left for mt
 to sign, and, like dub, signed it. Far well plcKeu IL up ana looked at 1t. Ther the smiling mask dropped from his face It grew all hard and cold.
 "Fcr a minute I didn't understand
 the change. Then saw the trick Far we'll had two pieces of paper, c'everly fastened one above the other, just leav ing room at the foot of the under on,
 for my signature. While I thought was signing the upper one. it was reall,
 the lower paper I was pinning my nam' to-irrevocably!
 Farwell crumpled the upper paper
 the one that I had thought I was sign ing-put it in his ash tray. and set fir, to 1t. He held the other paper out. fo
 me to read and at the same time he de
 manded that I produce the 'securitie | intrusted to mel This is what hat M signed my name to:
 III "'July 1. Received from the Farwel corporation this date, $75,00O of said cor ! porations bonds, to be held in trust b, the undersigned until called for by tn said corporation Signed Charles Cor don. Witnessed by Silas Farwell!' Continued in Tomoyrow's Age Heralu.)