The Lamar register., 1919-02-05


immediate family on either side has
ver moved out of It,"
Stanton gave It up for the time be-
ng, and was convinced upon two points.
Smith might have business reasons for
ecrecy-he might have hackers who
Wished to remain completely unknown
their fight against the big land
rust; but IL he had no hackers the
'ther hypothesis clinched itself instant
y-he was In hiding: he had done
something from which he had run
tway.
1t was not until after office hours
hat Stanton was able TO reduce his
.quation to Its simplest terms, and 1t
vas Shaw. dropping In to make his re-
port after his first days work as clerk
md stenographer In the High Line
headquarters. who cleared the air of at
east one fog bank of doubts.
1--WE been through the records and
he stock-books," said the spy. when.
N obedience to orders. he had locked
he Office door. smith Is playing n
one hand. He fiimfiammed Kinzie for
his first chunk Of money, and after that
was easy. Every dollar invested In
High Line has been dug up right here
n the Timanyoni. Here's the list of
stockholders"
Stanton ran his eye down the string
If names and swore when he saw Max
wells subscription of $4,000. 'Damn
~" he rasped; "and he's Fairbairn's
own son-in-lawr'
$50 is Starbuck. for that matter;
and he's in for twenty thousand" said
Shaw. "And. by the way, Bill is
man who Will bear watching. He's
hand-In-gIove with Smith. and he's onto
al of our little crooks and turns. 1
heard him telling Smith today that he
owed II to the company to carry a
rum
Stanton's smile showed his teeth.
II wish he would; carry one and kill
somebody with II. Then we'd know
what to do with him."
The spy was rolling q Cigarette and
his half-closed eyes had D murderous
CLINT In them.
Me. for lnstancef" he inquired Gym
ically.
Anybody" said Stanton absently.
He was going over the list Of stock
holders again and had scarcely heard
what Shaw had said.
THAT brings us down to business.
Mr.. Stanton" said the ex-railroad clerk
slowly. "rm not getting money enough
out Of this to cover the risk-my risk"
The man at the desk looked up
quickly.
whats that you sayf By heavens.
Shaw. I've spoken once. and I'll do
1t Just this one time more: you sing
small II you want to keep out Of jail !"
Shaw had lighted his cigarette and
was edging toward the door.
"Not this trip, Mr.. Stanton" he said
coolly. III you've got me. I've got
yon. can find two men who Will go
into court and swear that you paid
Pete Slmms money TO have Smith sand
bagged. that day out at SiInms' place
at the dami l may have to 20 to Jail.
as you say; but III bet you i've to one
that you'll beat me to itI' And with
that he snapped the catch on the locked
door and went away.
Some three hours after this rather
hostile clash with the least trustwor-
thy but by far the most able OF his
henchmen. Crawford Stanton left his
wife chatting comfortably with. Miss
Richlander In the hotel parlors and
went reluctantly to keep an appoint
ment which he had been dreading ever
since the early afternoon hour when
a wire had come from Copah directing
him to meet the Nevada Flyer" upon
Its arrival at Brewster. The public
knew the name signed to the telegram
as that OF u millionaire statesman; but
Stanton knew II best as the name of
a hard and not overscrupulous master.
The train was whistllng for the sta
tion when Stanton descended from his
cab and hurried down the long plat
form. A white-jacketed porter was
waiting to admit him to the presence
when the train came to a stand, and as
he climbed Into the vestibule Of the
luxurious private car. Stanton got what
comfort he could out of the thought
that the interview would necessarily be
limited by the ten minutes engine
changing stop of the fast train.
Stanton, ten minutes later, made q
ayins leap from the moving trsia. ~