Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-07-05

: 49, =
might call low-down, tin-horn sort Of
a game"
1T is just that, and 1 know it as
well as you do. But it's the price
have to pay for my few days of grace.
Miss HIGHLANDER knows the Stantons;
they've made it their business to get
acquainted with her. One word from
her to Crawford Stanton, and a wire
from him to my home town in the mid
die West would settle me-"
The older man Strengthened himself
IL his chair, and his steel-gray eyes
blazed suddenly.
Break away from 'em, John!' he
urged. Break it off short, and let 'em
all do their worst! Away along at the
first, Williams and I both said you
wasn't !; crooked crook, and I'm be-
ieving it yet. When it comes to the
showdown, Wen all fight for you, and
they'll have to bring a derrick along
if they want to snatch you out of the
TimanyOni. You go over yOnder to the
Hophra House and tell that young wonl-
an that the BRIDES off, and she can
talk all she wants to!"
mo" said Smith shortly. Il know
what am doing, and shall go on as
I have begun. It's the only way. Mat
tiers are desperate enough with US now,
and if I should drop out"
The telephone bell was ringing, and
Baldwin twisted his chair to bring him
self within reach Of the desk set. The
message was a brief one, and at its
finish the neutrality-suspicious. was
frowning heavily.
"By Jupiter! it does seem as If the
bad luck all comes in a bunch!' he
protested. civilians was rushing
things just a little too fast, and they've
lost a whole section of the dam by
stripping the forms before the con-
crete was set. That puts US back an
other tWenty-fOur hours, at least. Don't
that beat the mischief"
Smith reached for his hat. cts six
O'clock" he said; land Williams form
shippers have furnished one more rea-
son why I shouldn't keep Miss Rich
lander waiting for her dinner" And
with that he cut the talk short and
went his way.
With a blank evening before her,
Miss Richlander, making the tete-a-
tete dinner count for what it would,
frightened her hold upon the one man
available, demanding excitement. Moth
ing else Offering, she suggested an eve
ming auto drive, and Smith dutifully
telephOned Maxwell, the railroad SUI
perintendent, and borrowed a runabout.
Smith drove the borrowed runabOut
in sober silence, and the glorious
beauty in the seat beside him did not
try to make him talk. Perhaps she, too,
was busy with thoughts Of her own.
At all events, when Smith had helped
her out of the car at the hotel entrance
and had seen her as far as the eleva-
tor, she thanked him half absently and
took MS excuse, that he must return
the runabout to Maxwel's garage, with
out laying any further commands upon
him.
Just as he was turning away, bell
boy came across from the clerks desk
with a telegram for Miss HIGHLANDER.
Smith had no excuse for lingering, but
with the air thick with threats he made
the tipping Of the boy answer for
momentary stop-gap. Miss Verda tore
the envelope open and read the inclo-
sure with a fine-lined little frown COM
ing and going between her eyes.
Its from Tucker Jibbey," she said,
glancing up at Smith. Someone has
told him where we are, and he is fol-
lowing US. He says he'll be here on
the evening train. Will you meet him
and tell him I've gone to bedY