The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-16


helpless little fower?"
Blake pushed aside the lawyers arm.
Davis" his dry lips struggled fran
tically with the words I'm going
Ito give you: just one minute
to leave my housed"
The lawyer reached for his hat and
stick. Every well, Mr.. Biakel / real
ize that my, proposition was rather-er
sudden, and so, under these cIrcum-
stances, 1 cannot accept this decision
as fnaIl"
He fumbled in his pocket, brought
out a card and placed 1t face up on the
table. 81 shall be in my Office until
six o'clock this evening, he resumed
"Good-afteFnooni"
For fully five minutes, brain whirling,
Blake stood in the center of the little
study, his cold fingers gripped at the
table edge. An utter silence fell and
deepened about him
Abruptly, bringing him back to the
world again, came the sharp twist Of
the doOrbell, followed by a whistle.
Mechanically he answered 1t. The
postman spoke to him pleasantly and
handed him a package, securely wrapped
and sealed. With staring eyes Blake
read the single name in the upper
corner. Then the understanding crush
ed upon him like some pitiless, leaden
weight. 1t was his novel; They were
sending it back. They did not want it
Somehow he got back to the room
and dropped the unopened manuscript
into a lower drawer of his desk. Lift
ing his eyes after moment he felt them
drawn, magnet-like, to the white card
still lying upon the table He smiled
Without an effort, his mind quite clear
he picked it up. He walked firmly
back to the hall, took up his hat and
went out the door into the street.
4afF lzkcr h Hs7n
Without pa1sing he hurried UP the
stairs and burst into his wife's room
She was deep among the pillows her
face flushed, her lips colOrless-
Marjorie, Marjorie, he cried, fall
ling upon his knees and placing his
comel It's comel They've taken the
the novel, deari You're to 90 away-to
Colorado You're to be well and strong
again, dear-weH and strong again"
1t was a very grave and iudieious
council that sat around the long table
that Wednesday afternoon before
Christmas They had been In session
since noon
Blake sat. the last of six on his side
of the table. His lips were set In
thin, straight line, his face was color
less, his hands fumbled nerYOusly IN
his hap. Minute by minute he was
steeling himself for the final vote that
was TO come.
At four o'clock the president cleared
his throat and arose slowly to his feet.
1.-THE final question before the council
this afternoon, he began quietly, Is
the plea of the Midtown Gas and Elec-
trie Company, at present operating IN
this city, for q tWenty-yeaT renewal Of
their franchise. Against them a new
company, composed of a number Of
citizens, has asked for franchise. The
situation before US, then, Is whether
the old eompany's franchise be renewed
or, shall the new company be granted
a permit to come into the city, thereby
eancelling the former plea "
Lengthy discussions followed, all of
which Blake listened to duly &nd lifted
no voice
The voting began amid q pregnant
and impressive silence, the men ap-
parently realizing the significance of
the question before them As each
name was called by the president the
ewes Of the rest were TIYeted upon him
They began from the opposite side Of