Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-03-29

rison. The night before New Years
/ Wickersham was announced at Q. He
was thinking OF Barbara's mother
when he beckoned his guest to a chair,
shook his head over his red cheeks and
offered cigar.
"Deyilish cold weather." he grunteG
none too g-aciously, for he had not
wanted to be disturbed just then.
The younger man admitted that it
was. His mind plainly was not upon
the weather, but he found difficulty
in introducing a topic of his own choos-
ing. Outspokenness had never been
one of Archie Understands boldest
characteristics, so Allison assisted him
! now. Allison liked a man to be out
spoken.
We'll" he demanded, Tets hear it.
What's on your mind?''
There are times when hatred will be
tray almost any man. Hatred now led
Wickersham to speak not wisely, but
with venom.
Il want you to refuse to renew your
name on the East Coast notes." he said
They are due on the second"
Few men had ever said Il want YOU
to- to Dexter Allison and. as he put it.
''got away with it to any great OK,
tent" And Of all nights this one in
particular was the least likely to prove
propitious for such an attempt That
was Wickersham's oversight
"So." said Dexter. 80! Wen. now
for your reason"
Wickersham had not learned until
after Darh1ra's departure that she was
spending the holidays in Morrison for
he had hiElSelf expected to be away.
And it is onIy fair to tie girl to say
that she had honestly forgotten to ap-
prise lima Of her p!au. III her real ox-
citement at going, hut finding it out
! for himself had not made the fact any
pleasanter to Wickersham.
ut should be clear enough without
eXplanatfon'-he enunciatel each word
nicely-"if you want that road thcy
are building"
Allison glanced up, surprised at the
tone employed.
Meaning of course I DO" he unused
And yet-and yet l don't know"
Fear burned in the tall, thin man $
eyes that night-fear that made his
hatred for the absent man who was
teaching him fear anything but a pref
ty thing to watch.
1--WE tried to buy off their men," lie
was holding himself with IN effort that
| made him trenble. I've held up theiI
supplies on every track that we con
troll, but they've had the luck with
them. They've made up lost time by
| working day and night. I've
you've set drunken foo! to steal
his plans,' drawled the other with
deadly sarcasm, like a second rats
one night stand villain. Dent forget
to mention that tool! His lOunging
body shifted a little.
"Archie, do you remember what
told you about that woods rat, as YOU
called him once? Did I tell you that
he would fight? Well, listen, and listen
closely, while I repeat it for you He
hasn't even warmed to it yet!''
Wickersham went yellow at that, but
his icy self control held firm. He dij
not break into vituperation this night
He smiled, though his voice was only
a whisper.
Men have dropped out of sight be
fore now in those woods" he husked
"I'll win or I'll see that he lies and
| rots in one of his own sink holes"
A big voice is Il wonderful weapon
at times. Allison's booming bass made
Wickersham's threat seem only mean
and hollow when the heavy man leap
ed to his feet and shock finger under
that high bridged nose,
mo, you won't!' he snapped. NO.
you won't! And if I didn't know, after
hearing you talk. that you haven't stuff