The Elbert County tribune., 1919-03-14
CHAPTER v-continued.

The door opened and Rickard came
In. 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 checkerboard.
pretending not to see them. Confu-
sion, embarrassment was on every
face. Nobody spoke. Hardin was
coming closer.
Hello, Hardin
Hello, Richard"
II 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 is satisfied with them"
The men rather overdid the laugh.
Finding the dust pretty tough?" In
quired Hardin.
81 spent month in San Francisco
last summeri" was the rejoinder
This is a haven, though, from the
street. Thought I'd loaf for today"
Was Barain game to do the right
thing. introduce HIN as the new chief
to his subordinates? 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. 1t
was clearly not Richards move. The
checker players fdgeted. Richards
silence was interrogative. Hardin
still smiled.
The outer door opened.
The newcomer. evidently a favorite,
walked tnto noisy welcome, the
boys" embarrassment OVERRIDING It,
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. gentlemen" The
Mexican's greeting paused at Richard
"Mr. Estrada, Mr.. Rickard.''
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 u 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 i'm
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 general" The new
manager held out his hand. General
Estrada, friend of Mexican liberty
founder of steamship companies and
father Of the Imperial valley2"
THAT makes me n brother OF the
valley''-Estrada's smile was sensitive
and sweet.
Estrada looked at Hardin, hestated.
then passed on to the checker players
and addressed MacLean:
81 saw your father in Los Angeles.
He has been chosen to fill the vacancy
made oy Maitland's death.
MacLean's eyes wnvered toward
Hardin, whose nonchalance had not
faltered Had he not heard. or did
he know, already?
"Td like to have meeting, con-
ference. tomorrow morning." Rickard
was speaking. "Mr. Hardin, will you
set the hour at your convenience"
Because 1t was so kindly done, Har-
din showed his first resentment. ut
will not be possible for me to be there.
I'm going to Los Angeles in the morn
ing. He turned and left the office,
Estrada following him.
4 'Oh. Mr.. Hardin, you mustn't take it
tthnt way" he expostulated, concern in
leach sensitive feature.
i$"I'll take orders from him, but he
.kave me none" growled Hardin. 'Tt's
dot what you think. I'm not sore. But
III don't like him He's a fancy dude.
He's not the man for this job
''Then you knew him beforeT 1t
ahs n surprise to Estrada.
AT college. He was my-er--in-
rructor. Marshall found him In the
cisxsroau theory Singer"