Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-06-14

colonel.
Every good. Then they're simply
obliged to have your dam, Or Don't
you see the alternative now, colonel"
Heavens to Betsyp' exclaimed the
breeder of fine horses, bringing his fist
down upon Williams desk with a crash
that made the ink bottles dance. And
then: what a lot of fence-pOsts we
are-the whole kit and b'ilin' Of US
If they get the dam, they sell water to
US; if they don't get 1t, we sell it to
them :"
That's it, exactly" Smith put in
quietly. "And I should say that your
stake in the game is worth the stiffest
fight you can make to save it. Don't
you agree with me?"
"Great Jehu! I should say so"
calculated the amateur trust fighter.
Then he broke down the barriers mas
terfully. THAT settles it, Smith. You
can't wiggle out Of it now, no way or
shape. You've got to come over into
Macedonia and help US. Williams tells
me you refused him, but you can't re-
fuse me-"
If Smith hesitated, it was only partly
on his own account. He was thinking
again of the young woman with the
honest eyes when he said: 'Do you
know why I turned Williams down
when he spoke to me the other day."
Colonel Dexter Baldwin had his
faults, like other men, but they were
not those of indirection.
81 reckon I do know, son." he said,
with large tolerance. you're a lame
duck of some sort. But that's our
lookout. BARLEY is ready to swear
that you are not a crooked crook, what
ever else it is that you're lodging for.
Besides, there's yesterday"
''We agreed to forget the yesterday
Incidents" the lame duck reminded
him quickly. And then: 81 ought to
say No. Colonel Baldwin; say it
straight out, and stick to it. If I don't
say tiff ask for a little time-it is
because [ want to weigh up a few
things-the things can't talk about to
you or to Williams. If, in the end, /
should be fool enough to say Yes it
is only fair to you to say that, right in
the mi IL Of the scrap, may fall
to pieces on you"
Baldwin was too shrewd to try to
push his advantage when there was,
or seemed to be, a chance that the
desired end was as good as half at
tanned. And it was a purely manful
prompting that made him get up and
thrust out his hand to the young fell
low who was trying to be as frank
as he dared to be.
'Put it there, John" he said heartily.
Nobody in the Timanyoni is going to
pry into you an inch farther than you
care to let 'em; and if you get into
trouble by helping US, you can count
on at least one hacker who will stand
by you until the cows come home.
Now, then, hunt up your coat, and
we'll drive over to BillCreSt for q bite
to eat. I had my orders from the
RisSus before I left town, and I know
better than to go home without you.
Never mind the comI1issary khaki. 1t
won't be the first time that the work
ing clothes have figured at the Hill
crest table-not by q long shot"
And because he did not know how
to frame a refusal that would refuse,
Smith got his coat and went.
Given his choice between the two,
Smith would cheerfully have faced
another hand-to-hand battle with the
| claim jumpers in preference to even
so mild q dip into the former things
as the dinner art Hfllcrest foreshad-
| owed. The reluctance was not forced :;
1t was real. The primitive man in him
did not wish to be entertained. On
| across the bridge, and out to the Bald
win ranch, Smiths humor was frankly
sardOnic. He cherished a small hope
that Mrs. Baldwin might be shocked
At the soft shirt and the khaki. II
would serve her right for taking a man
from his Job.
AT the stOne-pillared portal he got
out to open the gates. Down the
road horse was coming at a smart
| gallop, the rider, Corona Baldwin,
booted and spurred and riding a mans
saddle.
Smith let the gray car go on it's
way up the drive without him.
$50 you weakened, did you? I'm
| disappointed in you," was Miss Bald
wins greeting. you've made me lose
my bet with colonel-daddy. I said you
wouldn't come"
81 had no business to come" he an
swered morosely. 'But your father
wouldn't let me Off"
| 'Of course he wouldn't; daddy never
I lets anybody off, unless they owe him
money. Where are your evening
| clothes"
Smith let the lever of moroseness
| slip back to the grinning notch. "They
are about two thousand miles away,
and probably in some secondhand
shop by this time. What makes you
think I ever wore q dress suit?" He
had closed the gates and was walking
beside her horse up the driveway.
"Oh, 1 just guessed it," she returned
lightly, 'and if you'll hold your breath,
I'll guess again.
| "Don't," he laughed.
At the steps a negro stableboy was
waiting to take Miss Baldwin's horse
Smith knew how to help a woman
down from a stde-saddle; but the two
stirruped rig stumped him. The young
| Cd oh -