The state herald., 1918-05-24

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the compulsion Of his forceful silence
Wally stumbled on helplessly.
@They got on here. Course
didn't know whether you'd sent for
her or not, 20 l stopped and kinder
gave her the glad hand just to size
things up"
"Yes."'
"She had the address Of Miss O'Neill.
that Irish girl staying at the Pagets',
the one thnt came in"
"Go on" snapped his chief.
$50 I directed her how abe could
get there and
wally found himself lifted from the
chair and hammered down into II
again. His soft flesh quaked like .
Jelly. As he stared pop-eyed at the
furious face above him, the fat chin
of the little man dropped.
my God, Mac. don't do thati" hs
whined.
Macdonald wheeled abruptly away.
crossed the room In long strides, and
came back.
"What's the user he said aloud.
"You're nothing but spineless put
terer. Haven't you enough sense even
to give me chance to decide for
myself7 Why didn't you keep the
woman with you till you could send
for me. you daft monkey7"
"1f had known"
'D'ye think you've got sense enough
to take plain. straight message as
far us the hotel? Because If you have,
I've got one to send"
Wally caressed tenderly his bruiseS
flesh. He had a childlike desire to
weep. but he wns afraid Macdonald
would kick him out Of the office.
"'Course I'll do whatever you say.
Mac" he answered humbly.
The Scotch-C Canadian brushed the
swivel chair and its occupant to one
side. drew up another chair in front
Of the desk, and faced Selfridge
squarely. The eyes that blazed at the
little man were the grimmest he had
ever looked into.
go to the hotel and see this man
Elliot alone. Tell him he's gone too
far-butted into my affairs once too
often. There's not man alive I'd
stand 1t from. My orders are for him
to get out on the next boat. II he's
here after that, I'll kill him on sight"
The color ebbed out Of the fiorid
face Of Wally. He molstened his lips
to speak. "Heavens, Mac, you can't
do that. He'll go out md report"
Let him say what he likes. Put this
to him straight: that he and I can't
stay In this town-and both of US
live"
Wally had Tapped up too many high.
balls In the past ten years to relish
this kind of mission. His nerve was
gone. He had not the punch any more.
Yet Mac was always expecting him to
help out with his rough stun. he re.
flected fretfully. Take this message,
now. There was no sense In 1t. Self.
ridge plucked up his courage to say SO.
THAT won't buy US anything but
trouble. Mac. In the old days you
could put over"
The little man never guessed how
close he came to being flung through
the trnnsom over the door. but his In.
stinct warned him to stop. His OBJ
lection died away In a humble.
10 course I'll do whatever you say
he added second time.
"See you do" advised his chief, an
ugly look in his eyes. "Tell him he
gets till the next boat. II he's here
after that. he'd better go heeled, for
I'll shoot ON sight wherever We meet"
Selfridge went on his errand with
tagging feet. He found Elliot sitting
moodily alone on the porch Of the
hotel.
In Gordon's pocket there was note
to Macdonald explaining that he had
nothing to do with the coming Of Me-
teetse. He had expected TO send II by
the hotel porter that evening. but che
curt order to leave town filled him
with chill anger. The dictator Of
affairs at Kusiak might think what he
pleased for all the explanation he
would get from him.
Tell your master don't take or.
ders from him." he told Wally quietly.
"ril stay till my work here is DONE"
They hnd moved few yards down the
street. Now Gordon turned. lean
loined and active. and trod with crisp,
confident step back to the hotel. He
had said NIL that was necessary to say.
Two men standing on the porch
nodded a good evening to him. Cor.
don. about to pass. glnnccd at them
again. They were Northrup and Ire
lnwney. two Of the miners who had had
trouble with Macdonald on the bont.
On impulse he stopped. "Found
work yetf' he asked.
"Found a Job and lost It again"
Northrup answered sullcnly.
'sToo bad"
Macdonald passed the word along
that We weren't to get work. 30 our
boss fred us. The whole district 10
closed to NJ. We been blacklisted."