Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-07-12
By Francis LYnde

rejoinder. But that's all over. You
said you'd get US, and you did. ] don't
bear malice. If you had given me one
more day I'd have got you; the stuff
that would have broken your neck "fth
the Washington people was all writ
ten and ready to put on the wires. But
that's past and gone, and the next
thing is something else There is a
lot of money and securities locked up
in the Niquoia bank vault. We've come
to clean up, and we brought a few
peace officers along from Red Butte
for guard. The miserable scoundrels
are scared stiff: they won't stir out or
the hotel. Bongras tells me you've got
your force organized and armed-can't
you lend us fifty or a hundred huskies
to keep the mob off while we open that
bank vault ?"
Brouillard's black eyes snapped, and
the blood danced in his veins. The op-
portunity for which he would have bar
tered Ormuz' treasure had come TO
him-was begging him to use 1t.
Il certainly can" he admitted, an
swering the eager question and empha-
sizing the potentiality.
But will you? that's the point. Wen
make it worth your while. For Gods
sake. don't say no. Brouillard! There's
pretty well up TO a million in that
vault. counting odds and ends and
left-overs. Schermerhorn oughtn't to
hovo IaF4 g. tb1ngbt he had cauSa
enough to stay and see 1t 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. l think
it is more than likely. Mr.. Cartwright.
and / wonder that 1t hasn't been done
before this. It would have been done
il 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"
"Oh. 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?"
NO. It is no part Of our duty TO
go and keep the mob off while you
save your stealings. but we1l do it.
And from the noise they are making
down thai 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 a mat
ter, you sent a part of your sheriff's
posse up to seize the Little Susan and
to arrest David Massingale-"
"It's-it's a ue!" stammered Cort-
wright. Somebody has been trying to
backcap me to you!"
Brouillard looked up. frowning.
You are a good bit older man than
| am, Mr.. Cartwright, and / shan't
punch your head. But you'll know why
I ought to wien : tell you that my in
formant is Miss Amy Massiugale.
What have you done with old David -
The man who had lost his knack OF
blufling came down and stayed down
"He's-he's over at the hotel" he
stammered.
Under guard"
'WeIl-y-yes.
Brouillard pointed to the telephone
on the wall
Go and call up your crowd and get
IL here. Tell Judge Williams to bring
the stock he is holding. and Scher-
merhorn to bring the Massingale
notes, and your man Jackson to bring
the stockholm. Wen have a direc.
tors meeting that was called, and
wasn't held. three weeks ago"
1t was a crude little expedient, but
it sufficed 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 it appeared. and Cartwright abused
him spitefully
You've balled it-balled It beauti-
fully" he shouted. Come over here
to Brouillard's office and bring Sher-
merhorn and the stock and the notes