The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-05-01
CHAPTER v--continued.

The door opened and RIcknrd came
tn Almost simultaneously the outer
door opened to admit Hardin. Who
would introduce the new general man.
ager to the dismissed one? The
thought flashed from MacLean to ST.
lent, to the telegraph operator. Bode-
feldt doubled over the chcckerboard.
pretending not to see them. Confu-
siol, embarrassment was on every
face. Nobody spoke. Hardin was
coming closer.
"Hello. Hardin"
sHello, Rickard."
1t appeared friendly enough to the
surprised office. Both men were glad
that It was over.
mice Offices" remarked Hardin. his
legs outspread. his hands In his pock-
cts.
'Ogilvie 10 satisfied with them"
The men rather overdid the laugh.
"Finding the dust pretty tough?" in
Quired Hardin.
II spent Q month In San Francisco
last summerr' was the rejolnder.
This Is a haven, though. from the
street. Thought I'd loaf for today"
Was Hardin game to do the right
thing. introduce him as the new chief
to his subordinatesf Nothing. It de-
veloped, was further from his inten-
ton. Hardin. his legs outstretched,
kept before his face the bland, i'm
penetrable smile of the oriental. II
was clearly not Richards move. The
checker players fidgeted. Richards
silence was interrogative. Hardin
stI'l smiled.
The outer door opened.
The newcomer. evidently a favorite.
walked Into noisy welcome, the
''boys'" embarrassment overriding 1t.
He was OF middle height, slender--a
Mexican with Castilian ancestry writ
ten In his high-bred features. his grace
and his straight. dark hair"
"Good morning. Estrada" said Har-
din with the same meaningless smile
Good morning. gentleiien." The
Aexicnn's greeting paused Mt Rickard
'Mr. Estrada. Mr.. Richard"
Everyone In the office saw Hardin
snub his other opportunity. He had
betrayed to everyone his deep hurt
his raw wound. When he had
stepped down. under cover Of a reslg-
nation, he had saved his face by tell
ing everyone that rupture with
Maitland. one of the directors Of the
reorganized company, had made II
impossible for them to serve together
nnd that Maitland's wealth and Inn
portance to the company demanded his
own sacrifice. Two months before
Richards appearance Maitland had
been discovered dead In his bath In
Los Angeles hotel. Though no one
had been witless enough to speak OF
their hope to Hardin. he knew that
all his force was daily expecting his
reinstatement. Richards entrance
was another stab to their chief.
''The son OF the generalT The new
manager held out his hand. "Genera'
Estrada, friend of Mexican liberty
founder OF steamship companies and
father Of the Imperial valley3"
"That makes me brother Of the
valley''-Estrada's smile was sensitive
andssweet.
Estrada looked at Hardin. hesitated
then passed on to the checker players
and addressed MacLean:
II saw your father In Los Angeles
He has been chosen to fill the vacancy
made by Maitland's DEATH"
MacLean's eyes wavered toward
Hardin, whose nonchalance had moi
faltered. Had he not heard. or die
he know, already2
I'D like to have a meeting, a con
ference, tomorrow morning." Rickart
was speaking. "Mr. Hardin. will yol
set the hour at your convenience"
Because II was so kindly done, Har
din showed his first resentment. IL
willlnot be possible for me to be there
I'm Eoing to Los Angeles In the morn
Ing. He turned and left the Office
ESTRADA following him.
"Oh. Mr.. Hardin, you mustn't take |
that way" he expostulated. concern II
each sensitive feature.
''Pll take orders from him. but h,
gave me none." growled Hardin. ''It'
not what you think. Tn not sore. Blu
: don't like him. He's fancy dude
He's not the man for this job"
''Then you knew him beforef" !
was surprise to Estrada.
"At college. He was my--er--iu
BtructoY. Marshall found him In tn
classroom. A theory singer"