Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-22
ar too wide awake to let him surprise

far too wide-awake to let him surprise
her.
"Our home state, Of course. I don't
believe any member of Mr.. Smiths
immediate family on either side has
ever moved out of It."
Stanton gave it up for the time be-
Ing, and was convinced upon,two points.
secrecy--he might have hackers who
wished to remain completely unknown
in their fight against the big land
trust; but if he had no hackers the
other hypothesis clinched itself Instant
Lyle was in hiding; he had done
something from which he had run
away.
It was not until after Office hours
that Stanton was able to reduce his
equation to its simplest terms. and 1t
was Shaw. dropping in to make his re-
port after his first days work as clerk
and stenographer in the High Line
headquarters, who cleared the air of at
least one fog bank of doubts.
tive been through the records and
the stock-books," said the spy, when.
in obedience to orders, he had locked
the office door. "Smith is playing
lone hand. He flimfammed Knzie for
his first chunk Of money, and after that
it was easy. Every dollar invested In
High Line has been dug up right here
in the Timanyoni. Here's the list of
stockholders"
Stanton ran his eye down the string
of names and swore when he saw Max
wells subscription Of $4,000. damn
I'll" he rasped; "and he's Fairbanks
own son-in-lawl"
$50 is Starbuck, for that matter;
and he's in for twenty thousand" said
Shaw. "And. by the way. Bill is
man who will bear watching. He's
hand.in-glove with Smith. and he's onto
all Of our little crooks and turns. l
heard him telling Smith today that he
owed it to the company to carry a
gun"
Stanton's smile showed his teeth.
II wish he would; carry one and kill
somebody with 1t. Then we'd know
what to do with him."
The spy was rolling . cigarette and
his half-closed eyes had murderous
CLINT in them.
"Me, for instanceT he inquired Gym
ically.
ANYBODY" said Stanton absently.
He was going over the list Of stock
holders again and had scarcely heard
what Shaw had said.
"That brings us down to business,
Mr.. Stanton" said the ex-railroad clerk
slowly. "Tm not getting money enough
out OF this to cover tine risk-lny risk
The man at the desk looked up
quickly.
whats that you say? By heavens
Shaw, I've spoken once, and I'll do
it just this one time more: you sing
small If you want to keep out of Jail ~
Shaw had lighted his cigarette and
was edging toward the door.
"Not this trip, Mr.. Stanton he said
coolly. If you've got me, I've got
you. I can find two men who will 60
into court and swear that you paid
Pete Simms money to have Smith sand
bagged, that day out at Simms' place
at the dam! I may have to 60 to Jail,
as You say; but I'll bet you five to one
that you'll beat me to it," And with
that he snapped the catch on the locked
door and went away.
Some three hours .after this rather
hostile clash with the least trusfwor-
thy but by far the most able OF his
'henchmen, Crawford stanton left his
wife chatting comfortably with Miss
HIGHLANDER In the hotel parlors and
went reluctantly to keep an appoint
ment which he had been dreading ever
since the early afternoon hour when