Mexico Missouri message., 1917-08-30

Smith returned to Brewster the next
morning by way Of the dam, making
the long detour count for as much as
possible in the matter Of sheer time
/ killing. It was q little before noon
when no reached town by the round
about route, and went to the hotel to
reconnoiter. The roomclerk who gave
him his key gave him also the informa-
ton he craved.
"Mr. Rlchlander7 oh, yeE; he left
early this morning by the stage. He is
interested in some gold properties up
In the range beyond Topaz. Fine old
gentleman. Do you know him, Mr..
| SmithT'
"The name seemed familiar when
saw It on the register last evening""
was Smiths evasion; "but IL Is not
such a very uncommon name. He
didn't say when he was coming backT
mo"
Smith took fresh hold upon life
and liberty. While the world is peril
ously narrow in some respects, It is
comfortably broad in others, and
~
lessened. Snatching n hasty luncheon
in the grillroom, the fighting manager
Of Timanyonl High Line hurried across
to the private suite in the Kinzie build
ing offices into which he had lately
moved and once more plunged into the
business battle.
Notwithstanding new trouble
which Stillings had wished to talk over
with his president and the financial
manager the night before-the claim
set up by the dead-and-gone railroad
to right of way across the Timanyoni
at the dam-the battle was progress
ing favOrably. Williams was accom-
plishing the incredible in the matter
Of speed, and the dam was now nearly
ready to withstand the high-water
| stresses when they should come. The
| powerhouse was rising rapidly, and
| the machinery was on the way from
the East. Altogether things were look
ing more hopeful than they had at any
period since the hasty reorganization.
Smith attacked the multifariOus details
OF his many-sided job with returning
energy. If he could make shift to hold
on for few days or weeks longer. {.
While Smith was debating the final
batch Of letters to the second stenog-
| rapher q young man with sleepy eyes
and yellow creosote stains on his fin
| gers came in to ask for a job. Smith
put him Off until the correspondence
was finished and then gave him hear
ing.
"What kind of work are you looking
for?" was the brisk query.
Shorthand work, If l can get It,"
said the man out of a Job.
Smith was needing another stenog-
rapher and he looked the applicant
over appraisingly. The appraisal was
not entirely satisfactory. There was
certain shifty furtiveness in the half
opened eyes, and the rather weak chin
limited at possible lack of the dis
creetness which is the prime requisite
in confidential clerk.
"Any business experienceT
"Yes; I've done some railroad work."
"Here in BrewsterT
Shaw lied smoothly. mo; in
Omana.
ANY recommendations"
The young man produced a handful
of ''To Whom II May Concern" letters.
They were all on business letterheads,
and were apparently genuine, though
none Of them were local. Smith ran
them. over hastily and he had no means
of knowing that they had been care
fully prepared by Crawford Stanton at
no little cost in ingenuity and painstak-
ing. How careful the preparation had
been was revealed in the applicants
ready suggestion.
"YOu can write or wire to any OF
these gentlemen" he said; "only, if
there is job open, I'd be glad to go to
work on trial."
The business training Of the present
makes for quick decisions. Smith