Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-08-01


allowance that you won't. How about
itT"
Smith looked up with his best-na-
tured grin.
You win" he said shortly.
THANK you" she laughed 'Tn a
minute or so III 60 back to the presi-
dents office and collect" Then: "One
dinner, lodging and breakfast of US
was about all you could stand, wasn't
it? ! thought maybe it would be that
way"
What made you think so?"
She had seated herself In the chair
reserved for inquiring investors. There
was a little interval of glove-smOoth-
ing silence, and then. like a fash out
of clear sky, she smiled across the
desk end at him and said:
win you forgive me if l ask you a
perfectly ridiculous question:
Certainly. Other people ask them
every day"
Isis your name really and truly
John SMITH"
ny SnOGtG you u0uDt II
1t was just here that Smith was
given to see another one of Miss Co
rona's many moods OF tenses-and it
was new one to him. She was visibiy
embarrassed.
Il don't want TO tell you" she
stammered.
"All right; you needn't"
'If you're going TO take it that easy,
l will tell you" she retorted. Mr..
Williams thought your name was an
alias; and I'm not sure that he doesn't
still think so"
THE Smiths never have to have
aliases. It's like John Doe or Richard
Roe, you know"
Haven't you any middle name?'
Il have q middle initial Ii is NJ -
He was looking her fairly in the eyes
as he said it, and the light in the new
Offices was excellent. Thanks TO her
horseback riding. Miss Corona's small
oval face had a touch of healthy out
door tan; but under the tan there
came, for just a fitting instant. q flush
Of deep color and at the back Of the
gray eyes there was something that
Smith had never seen there before.
"It's-it's just an initialY' she
queried.
Yes; it's Just an initial. and don't
use it ordinarily. I'm not ashamed Of
the plain John"
Il don't know why you should be-
she commented, half absently, he
thought. And then: How many John
NJ. Smiths do you suppose there are
in the United States?"
"Oh, don't know; a million or so.
guess"
81 should think you would he rather
glad of that" she told him. But when
he tried to make her say why he should
be glad, she talked pointedly Of other
things and presently went back TO her
fathers office.
There were fine little headings of
perspiration standing on the fugitive's
forehead when she left him.
After the other members of the Of
fee force had taken their departure,
he still sat at his desk striving to bring
himself back with some degree of clear
medicines to the pressing demands Of
his job. Just as he was about to give
il up and go across to the Hophra
House for his dinner, William Starbuck
drifted in TO open the railing gate and
TO come and plant himself in the chair
Of privilege at Smiths desk end.
well. son; you've got the animals
stirred up good and plenty, ut last. 8"
he said, when he had found the max
ings" and was deftlv rolling a cigar
ette-his one overlapping habit reach.
ing back TO his range-riding youth.
Dick Maxwell got q wire today from
his kiddie's grandpaw-and my own
respected daddy-in-law-Mr. Hiram
Fairhairn; you know him-the lumber
king"
I'm listening" said Smith.
Dicks wire vas an order; instrnc-
tons from heP quarters 10 keep hands
off of your new company and to work
strictly in cahoots-'harmony was the
word he used-with Crawford Stanton.
How does that fit you?"
The financial secretary's smile was
the self oongratulatorv -wrinkling
Of the quarry foreman who has seen
his tackle hitch hold 10 land the big
stone safely at the top Of the bit.
"What Is Maxwell going TO do about
it," he asked
Dick is all wool and yard wide /;
and what he signs mis- name to is what
he is going to stand by. You won't lose
him, but the wire shows US just about
where we're aiming TO put our leg into
the gopher hole and break it. doesn't
it?'
I'm not borrowing any trouble. Mr..
Fairbairn and his colleagues are Just
a few minutes too late. Starbuek.
We've got our fOoting-inslde Of the
corral"
The ex-cowpuncher, who was now
well up on the middle rounds Of for
tunes ladder. shook his head doubt
fully
Don't you make any brash breaks.
John. Mr.. Hiram Fairbairn and his
crowd can swing twenty millions 70
your one little old dollar and d half.
and they're not going TO leave any Of
the pebbles unturned when it comes 10
saving their investment in the Esca-
lante. That's all; just thought Id
drop in and tell you"
Smith went 10 bis rooms IN the hotel
2 few minutes later 70 change for d.n-
ner. He found the men dra-Fer IN his
rErosa q l.o.c o-nrf rr.-tr.., d. Z. ~