Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-02-24

any more Stock" he directed Bendix
and drove off. "Sell it."
He strobe into the offices Of the trac-
ton company and stopped at Hunts
desk.
Marley drawn any money here?' he
wanted to know.
His salary" replied Hunt, fawning
servilely on the big man who stood at
his side.
rs he selling any stock?"
Not that 1 know of, sir?"
Making any flash?"
Not particularly. He has been whis-
Ting"
Making any threats?"
"Not that I heard"
"Hunh!' and Sledge turned from the
desk. "Anybody in with him?"
II think his daughter, Sir" smirked
Hunt, "and MI. Glider, unless they
have gone out the other way"
Sledge looked down at his lapel. The
red rose was an excellent specimen ex-
cept that it had IL struggling petal in
which was a worm hole. He jerked off
that petal and walked u~nannounced
into Marley's office, pausing just inside
the door, struck dumb by a tableau be-
Ing enacted at the opposite entrance.
Bert Glider, in the act Of departing,
was kissing Molly goodby, and Marley,
at his desk, was looking on uncon-
cernedly. Bert grinned impudently at
Sledge and departed. Molly grinned
tantalizingly at him and sat in the big
leather chair opposite her father. Mar
ley grinned cheerfully and offered him
a cigar.
Fine weather. he observed.
WHO give out the dope about extend
ing the Ridgewood avenue line?'
Sledge gruftiy wanted to know.
II did," returned Marley calmly. 81
thought it might help the price Of my
stock. It's been going down of late"
"Who gave you the word?'
Il didn't need it," Marley reminded
him. I'm still president Of the road,
you know"
"I've called it off," sledge informed
him. You got no franchise
II beg your pardon" Marley smiling
ly interrupted. The original fran
chise granted a line to the end Of Grace
street. When it was cut through to
connect with R%idgewood avenue the
authorization of the cut and all the
condemnation proceedings were for an
extension Of Grace street."
May | tell Mr.. Sledge what we in
tend to do out there?' Molly pleasantly
inquired.
Il don't mind" granted Mr.. Mar
ley, beaming upon his child.
I'VE plan to carry out the original
idea of building an amusement park
on the Person property and to drop
the Lincoln road project if the stock
holders don't object at their meeting
tomorrow she happily told him. "Mr.
Glider thinks it a much better loca-
ton. Shall you be at the meeting, Mr..
Sledgc?"
In reply he chuckled at her.
YOU'RE a corker!!' he complimented
her.
You don't own much stock any
more. do your she went on, delighted
with her catechism.
Enough to stick around" he re-
minded her. Marley, are you fgur-
ing to put something over at this meet
ing?"
Are you" returned Marley blandly.
"Hunh!" Sledge half laughed. "Mol-
ly, my Bob is matched against the
champion forty pound bull of Chicago
tomorrow night. I can arrange for
you to see the scrap without these
~roughnecks getting a peek at you.'
THANK you" she replied. Pm sure
| can't come, however. I've never seen
a real dog fight. and l don't want to
see one. But l hope Bob wins"
He'll VIM declared Sledge conf
IDENTIFY. He's never beer licked yet"
Everybody gets it some time, don't
they" Molly dimpled up at him.
"Uh-hunh!!" he gruf1y assented.
Full of thought, he went owe to see
Bozzam, who now had an office in the
newest palace Of commerce.
Ready for the meeting tomorrow"
he inquired.
Quite" replied Bozzam, who, when
with Sleuge, was sparing of words.
us the slate fixed?'
Sure! BoZZam, I got your record"
"Yes?" returned Bozzam carelessly.
You served two bits before you got
educated, a n year and a two
stretch"
eyes," agreed Bozzam, still care
lessly.
swell, If you try to pull anything
here it'll be ten"
Mr.. Bozzam laid down the pencil
with which he had been tapping light
ly on his desk and leaned slightly for
ward.
Look here, you big slob." he gently
observed, ''you can't bully me, and
you can't bluff me. When you get the
goods on me Is the time for you to get
busy, but until then you keep your
trap closed. I'm not n Of your vii
lage pikers."
Sledge regarded him ixedly for a