The Lamar register., 1919-01-29
Copyright By chas. scribnsr's Sons

desk end at MIN anu salu.
''Win you forgive me II ask you a
perfectly ridiculous question:"
"Certainly. Other people ask them
every day."
Isis your name really and truly
John SMITH"
"Why should you doubt itf"
1t was just here that Smith was
given to see another one of Miss Co
rona's many mOods-or tenses-and 1t
was n new one to him. She was visibly
embarrassed.
IL don't want to tell you" she
stammered.
"All right; you needn't"
''If you're going TO take 1t that easy.
will tell you" she retorted. "Mr.
Williams thought your name was an
alias; and I'm not sure that he doesn't
still think So"
"The Smiths never have to have
aliases. It's like John Doe or Richard
Roe you know"
Haven't you any middle name?'
81 have a middle initial. II is M"
He was looking her fairly in the eyes
as he said II, and the light in the new
Offices was excellent. Thanks to her
horseback riding. Miss Coronas small
oval face had touch of healthy out
door tan; but under the tan there
came. for just fitting instant, flush
Of deep color. and nt the back OF the
gray eyes there was something that
Smith had never seen there before.
'Tt's-it's just an initialr' she
querIed.
Yes; it's Just an initial, and don't
use 1t ordinarily. Tn not ashamed of
the plain john
Il don't know why you should be-"
she commented, half absently. he
thought. And then: How many John
NJ. Smiths do you suppose there are
In the United StatesT'
"Oh. don't know; million or 50. /
guess"
81 should think you would be- rather
glad OF that" she told him. But when
he tried TO make her say why he should
be glad. she talked poIntedly of other
things and presently went back TO her
fathers office.
There We're fine little headings OF
persplration standing on the fugtlye's
forehead when she left him.
After the other members Of the Of
fee force had taken their departure,
he still sat at his desk striving TO bring
himself back with some degree Of clear
hendedness TO the pressing demands of
his job. Just as he was about TO give
II up and go across to the Hophra
House for his dinner, William Starbuck
drifted in to open the railing gate and
to come and plant himself In the chair
of privilege at Smiths desk end.
swell, son; you've got the animals
stirred up good and plenty, at last"
he said. when he had found the "mak-
ings" and was deftly rolling a cigar
ette-his one overlapping habit reach
Ing back to his range-rldlng youth.
"Dick Maxwell got wire today from
his klddie's grandpaw-and my own
respected daddy-in-law-Mr. Hiram
Fairbairn; you know hlm-the lumber
king"
I'm listening" said Smith.
''DIck's wire was an order; instruc-
tlons from headquarters to keep hands
or Of your new company and to work
strictly in cahoots-'harmony' was the
word he used-wlth Crawford Stanton.
How does that fit you7'
The financial secretary's smile was
the self-congratulatory -face-wrinkling
of the quarry foreman who has seen
his tackle hitch hold to land the big
stone safely at the top Of the pit.
what is Maxwell going to do about
IT." he asked.
''Dick is all wool and a yard wide
and what he signs his name to Is what
he is going to stand by. You won't lose
him, but the wire shows US Just about
where we're aiming to put our leg into
the gopher hole and break 1t, doesn't
It?"
"Tm not borrowing any trouble. Mr..
Fairbairn and his colleagues are Just
few minutes too late. Starbuck.
We've got our footing-inslde Of the
corral"
The ex-cowpuncher, who was now
well up on the middle rounds Of for
tunes ladder, shook his head doubt
fully.
Don't you make any brash breaks,
John. Mr.. Hiram Fairbairn and his
crowd can swing twenty millions to
your one little old dollar and balf,