The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-04-11
CHAPTER v-continued.

SnAF IEh N-SOUtiUuCus
The door opened and Richard came
In. Almost simultaneously the outer
door opened to admit Hardin. Who
would introduce the new general man
.yer to the dismissed one? The
thought flashed from MacLean to ST.
lent, to the telegraph operator. Bode-
teldt doubled over the checkerboard,
pretending not to see them. Confu-
sion, embarrassment was oh every
face. Nobody spoke. Hardin was
coming closer.
"Hello, Hardin"
"Hello, Rickard."
1t appeared friendly enough to the
surprised Office. Both men were glad
that 1t was over.
~ "Nice Offices" remarked Hardin, his
legs Uutspread, his hands In his pock-
cts.
"Ogilvie Is satisfied with them"
The men rather overdid the laugh.
"Finding the dust pretty tough?" in
Qured Hardin.
II spent month In San Francisco
.
'"rhis is n 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
10 his subordlnates? Nothing. 1t de-
veloped, was further from his inten-
tion. Hardin, his legs outstretched,
kept before his face the bland, i'm
penetrable smile Of the oriental. It
was clearly not Richards move. The
checker players ldgeted. Richards
silence was interrogative. Hardin
still smiled.
The outer door opened.
The newcomer, evidently a favorlte,
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
aud his straight. dark hair"
"Good morning Estrada" said Har-
din with the same meaningless smile.
Good morning, gentlemen" The
Mexican's greeting paused at Rickard.
"Mr. Estrpda, 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 resig-
nation, he had saved his face by tell
ing everyone that rupture with
Maitland, one Of the directors of the
reorganized company, had made 1t
impossible for them to serve together,
and that Maitland's wealth and Inn
l,ortance to the company demanded his
own sacrifice. Two months before
Rickard's 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
NIL his force was daily expecting his
reinstatement. Richards entrance
was another stab to their chief.
'@The son of the generals" The new
manager held out his hand General
Estrada, friend Of Mexican liberty.
founder Of steamship companies and
father of the Imperial valley?"
"That makes me brother of the
valley"-Estrada's smile was sensitive
and sweet.
Estrada looked Mt Hardin, hestated,
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 not
faltered. Had he not heard, or did
he know, already?
"Fd like to have n meeting, a con-
ference, tomorrow morning. Rickard
was speaking. "Mr. Hardin, will you
set the hour at your convenlenceT
Because II was so kindly done, Har-
din showed his first resentment. ut
will not be possible for me to be there.
Tn going to Los Angeles In the morn
ing. He turned and left the office,
Estrada following him.
"Oh, Mr.. Hardin, you mustn't take 1t
that way" lie expostulated, concern In
each sensitive feature.
"Tll take orders from him, but he
gave me none.y growled Hardin. ITS
not what you think. I'm not sore. But
don't like him. He's fancy dude.
He's not the man for this job"
"Then you knew him beforer 1t
was surprise to Estrada. = y
@At college. He was my-er-.in-
structor. Marshall found him IN the