The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-06-14
CHAPTER v-Continued.

The door opened and Richard came
IN Almost simultaneously the outer
aoor opened To admit Hardin. Who
,ould introduce the new general man.
,ser TO the dismissed one? The
,hougbt flashed from MacLean to ST.
eot to the telegraph operator. Bode-
,e,dt doubled over the checkerbOard,
metendlng not to see them. Confu-
don. embarrassment was on every
hce. Nobody spoke. Hardin was
Uming closer.
Hello. Hardin"
Hello, Richard"
II appeared friendly enough to the
mrprised office. Both men were glad
that II was over.
Nice Offices" remarked Hardin, his
les outspread, his hands in his peck
eta
aOglvie is satisfied with them"
me men rather overdid the laugh.
Finding the dust pretty tough?" in
CURED Hardin.
Il spent a month in San Francisco
last summer" was the rejoinder.
This Is haven, though, from the
street. Thought I'd loaf for today"
Was Hardin game to do the right
Ting, Introduce him as the new chief
10 his subordlnates? Nothing. it de-
veloped, was further from his inten-
ton Hardin. his legs outstretched,
kspt before his face the bland, i'm
pnetrable smile Of the oriental. 1t
vas clearly not Richards move. The
checker players fidgeted. Richards
dlence was interrogative. Hardin
aill smiled.
The outer door opened.
The newcomer, evidently a favorite,
walked into a noisy welcome, the
boys" embarrassment OVERRIDING it.
BE was Of middle height, slender-a
Mexican with Castilian ancestry writ
ten In his high-bred features, his grace
and bis straight. dark hair"
Good morning, Estrada" said Har-
DIN with the same meaningless smile.
Good morning, gentlemen" The
Aerican's greeting paused at Richard.
Mr.. Estrada. Mr.. Richard"
Everyone in the office saw Hardin
nub his other opportunity. He had
Aetrayed to everyone his deep hurt.
hs raw wound. When he had
Stepped down. under cover of resig-
anon, he had saved his face by tell
ing everyone that rupture with
Maitland, one Of the directors of the
iecrganized company, had made 1t
impossible for them to serve together,
md that Maitland's wealth and i'm
porfance to the company demanded his
esn sacrifice. Two months before
nckard's appearance Maitland had
wen discovered dead in his bath In a
Los Angeles hotel. Though no one
I'D been wltIess enough to speak of
neir hope to Hardin, he knew that
u bis force was daily expecting his
rnstatement Richards entrance
vas another stab to their chief.
The son of the general?" The new
nanager held out his hand. General
nrada, friend of Mexican liberty.
nunder of steamship companies and
nther Of the Imperial valleys"
That makes me a brother of the
nley"-Estrada's smile was sensitive
nd sweet.
Estrada looked at Hardin, hesitated,
oen passed on to the checker players
@ addressed MacLean:
I saw your father in Los Angeles.
@has been chosen to fill the vacancy
sade by Maitland's DEATH"
AacLean's eyes wavered toward
aafdin, whose nonchalance had not
sered. Had he not heard, or did
NOW, already?
ia like to have a meeting, con-
|eaence tomorrow morning." Richard |
~ speaking. "Mr. Hardin, will you
r. me hour at your convenience"
seeause 1t was so kindly done, Har-
VA tho~ed his first resentment. "It |
~ ROT be possible for me to be there. |
eeng to Los Angeles in the morn
- de turned and left the office,
'14aoa following him.
W Mr.. Hardin, you mustn't take It
say," he expostulated. concern in
20 sensitive feature.
~ Jake orders from him. but he
me none" growled Hardin. "Its
sent you think. I'm not sore. But
~ IKE him. He's fancy dude.
not the man for this Job"
men you knew him before? 1t
surprise to Estrada.
couege. He was my-er-in-
Marshall found him in the
.oom. A theory singer"
"a. thoughtful glance rested
@s angry face. Was this genuine.
Ia not Hardin know of the wears
io had served on the road; of
srso IN the heat-baked barrancas
N, = where Marshall had found"
But he would not try again 70
~ Hardin to give up his trip
II, IN angeles. 1t might be better,
0s,,s LOT the new manager to take
WIN his predecessor out of
neLean's coming down tonight -"
Ia aw, out. still watching Hardin's