The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-07-14
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, it is only a guess. But as mat
tiers stand-with your son indictable
for an attempted murder +. IL l
were you, Mr.. Cartwright, I believe
I'd give David Massingale a 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 il
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
ent rumor on the street that you and
your associates succeeded in getting
resolution through both houses of con-
gress at the last session, appointing a
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 it here in Bongras'. You are ex-
pecting the private-car special next
week."
"Well?" said the magnate. You're
a pretty good Kindergarten. But what
OF it?"
ooh, nothing. Only think you
might have taken me in on the little
side play. What If l 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, / might have been taken In"
persisted Brouillard suavely. You'll
surely want to give me my instruc-
lions a 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
complainant 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 a 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,
nrst, last and all the time" was the
lad my price. and you have paid it.
Now you are going to pay it again.
Shall go over to the Spotlight Office
and tell Harlan what know"
"You can't bluff me that way, Brouil-
lard, and you ought to sense 1t by this
time. Do you suppose don't know
how you are fxed?-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
"7here Is one weak link In your
chain. Mr.. Cartwright" he said even
iy; you don't know men. Put on your
coat and come over to Harlan's office
with me. II viii take Just about two
minutes TO satisfy you that I'm not
bIuaing"
For q moment It appeared that the
Offer was to he accepted. But when
- I'D oas arm N . coat sleeve.