The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-08-04

end" was the way in which she in
terrupted the financial secretary's
brow -knittings over a new material
contract. II have just wagered him a
nice fat little round iron dollar of my
allowance that you won't How about
it?"
Smith looked up with his best-na-
turcd grin.
"You win" he said shortly.
THANK YOU" she laughed. "In
minute or so I'll go back to the presi-
dents office and collect" chen: zone
dinner. lodging and breakfast of us
was about all you could stand, wasn't
ii? I 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 little interval of glove-smooth-
ing silence, and then, like a flash out
| OF a clear sky, she smiled across the
| desk end at him and said:
"Will you forgive me if ask you q
perfectly ridiculous question:"
Certainly. Other people ask them
every day"
isis your name really and truly
John Smlth?"
"Why should you doubt it,
! 1t was just here that Smith was
! given to see another one of Miss Co
rona's many moods-or tenses-and it
was a new one to him. She was visibly
embarrassed.
IL don't want to tell you," she
stammercd.
"All right; you needn't"
IF you're going to take it that easy,
I 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 n middle initial. 1t is M
He was looking her fairly in the eyes
rs he said il, and the light in the new
| offices was excellent. Thanks to her
horseback riding Miss Corona's small
oval face had n touch of healthy out
door tan but under the tan there
came. for just fitting instant. Il flush
of deep color, and II the back Of the
gray eyes there was something that
Smith had never seen there before.
"It's-it's just an initial?" she
queried.
Eyes: it's just an initial. and I don't
use il ordinarily. I'm not ashamed of
the plain john"
II don't know why you should be-
she commented. half ar emily. 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"
II should think you would be 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 hei
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 Mt his desk striving 10 bring
himself back with some degree Of clear
medicines 10 the pressing demands OF
his job. Just as he was about to give
il up and 60 across to the HophrG
House for his dinner. William Starbuck
drifted in TO open the railing gate ant
10 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, at last.
he said. when he had found the max
ings" and was deity rolling a cigar
ette-his one overlapping habit reach
ing back 10 his range-riding youth
Dick Maxwell got wire today from
his Riddles grandpaw-and my owl
respected daddy-in-law-Mr. Hiram
Fairbairn; you know him-the lumber
: king"
I'm listening" said Smith.
Dicks wire was an order; instruc
tons from headquarters to keep hand,
off Of your new company and 10 worl
strictly in cahoots-'harmony'w was III,
, word he used-with Crawford Stanton
How does that fit you?
The financial secretary'S smile wa:
the Self-congratulatory face-wrinklin:
OF the quarry foreman who has seer
. his tackle hitch hold TO land the hi:
stone safely at the top Of the pit.
What is Maxwell going TO 90 abou
it," he asked.
, Dick IS all wool and yard wide
} and what he signs his name TO is wha
he is going 70 stand by. You won't los,
; him. but the wire shows Us just ahou
: where we're aiming 10 put our leg in5,
! the gopher hole and break it. doesn'
: it,"
Tn rot borrowing any trouble Mr.
.Fairhairn and his colleagues are jus