Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-06-22

bank vault?"
Brouillard's black eyes snapped, and
the blood danced in his veins The OPP
portunity for which he would have bar
tered Ormuz' treasure had come to
him-was begging him to use it,
'T certainly can," he admitted, an
swering the eager question and empha-
sizing the petcHsiaGcy
But will you? that's the point. Well
make 1t worth your while. For Gods
sake, don't say no, Brouillard! There's
pretty well up to million in that
vault, counting odds and ends and
.left-overs. Schermerhorn oughtn't to
have left it. I thought he had sense
enough to stay and see it taken care
of. But now"
But now the mob is very likely to
wreck the building and dynamite the
vault, you were going to say. 1 think
1t is more than likely, Mr.. Cartwright
and l wonder that it hasn't been done
before this. It would have been done
if the rioters had had any idea that
you'd left anything worth taking. And
it would probably wreck you and Mr.
Schermerhorn if it should get hold Of
you; you've both been burned in effigy
half a dozen times since you ran
away"
ooh, good Lord!" shuddered the
magnate. make it two hundred Of
your men, and let's hurry. You won't
turn US down on this. Brouillard?"
mo. It Is no part of our duty to
go and keep the mob off while you
save your stealings, but we'll do it
And from the noise they are making
down that way, think you are wise in
suggesting haste. But first there is a
question of common justice to be
settled. An hour ago, or such mat
ter, you sent a part Of your sheriffs
posse up to seize the Little Susan and
to arrest David Massingale-"
"It's-it's a lie!" stammered Cort
wright. Somebody has been trying to
backcap me to you'll"
Brouillard looked up, frowning.
"You are a good bit older man than
l am, Mr.. Cartwright. and l sha'n't
punch your head. But you'll know why
l ought to when tell you that my in
formant is Miss Amy Massingale
What have you done with old David ?''
The man who had lost his knack Of
bluffing came down and stayed down
"He's-he's over at the hotel" he
stammered.
Under guard?"
"Well-y-yes."
Brouillard pointed to the telephone
on the wall.
go and call up your crowd and get
it here. Tell Judge Williams to bring
the stock he is holding, and Scher
merhorn to bring the Massingale
notes, and your man Jackson to brine
the stock-book. Well have a direc
tors meeting that was called, and
wasn't held, three weeks ago."
It was a crude little expedient, but
1t sutficed. Cartwright tramped TO the
phone and cursed and swore at it I'M
til he had his man at the other end of
the wire. The man was the lawyer,
as 1t appeared, and Cartwright abused
him spitefuIly.
You've balled it-balled it beauti-
fully!" he shouted Come over here
to Broutllard's office and bring Sher-
merhorn and the stock and the notes
and Jackson and the secretary's books
al nd f1,fo oI
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 f1rst!"
When the procession arrived, as it
did in an incredibly short time, Brouil-
lard laid down the law.
I'VE don't need these" he said curt
~, Indicating the two deputies who
came to bring David Massingale. And
when they were gone: Nov, gentle
men, get to work and do business, and
the less time you waste the better
chance there will be for your bank
salvage. Three requirements I make:
you will turn over the stock, putting
Mr. Massingale in possession Of his
NINE, without inCumbrance; you VIII
cancel and surrender his notes to the
bank; and you will give him a docu-
ment, signed by all Of you, acknowl-
edg1ng 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
1t, and do 1t suddenly"
1t was done almost before Brouillard
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 throwing him
over the dump" said the engineer.
when he had looked over the 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 savage
sheer.
Once more you've had your 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