The Arvada enterprise., 1919-07-10
CHAPTER v-cent,nusa.

CHAPTER v-centinvsd.
TIE door opened and Rickard came
n. Almost simultaneously the outer
door opened to admit Hardin. Who
would introduce the new general man
ager to the dismissed onei The
thought flashed from NacLean to 81
lent, to the telegraph opsrator. Bode-
feldt doubled over the checkerboard.
pretenting not to see them. Confu-
.sion, embarrassment was on every
face. Nobody spoke. Hardin was
coming closer.
"Hello. Hardin"
"Hello. Richard"
n appeared friendly enough to the
surprised eGBce. Both men were glad
that II was o~ss.
"Nice oiicea," remarked Hardin. his
,0gs outspread. his hands in his pock-
sts.
"Ogilvie 10 satisfied with them"
The men rather overdid the laagh
"Finding the dsst pretty fought" in
asirsd Hardin.
Il spent . month in San Francisco
last ssnmef!" was the rsjoindef.
This y haven. though. from the
street. TAsught I'd loaf for today"
Was HafAla game TO do the risAt
thins. iatrsAses ~ % the new chief
- Ne subordiaatesf Nothing, II d.
vssspsd. was further from his inten-
tiea. Hardin. his legs OutstrsteAed,
kept before his face the bland, I'm.
peuetrabls snals Of the oriental. Il
was clearly not Richards move. The
checker playess 6ageted. Richards
silence was interrogative. Hardin
still smiled.
Ths outer door opened.
The seweomer. evidently Q favorite.
walked iats q noisy welcome, the
'Seys'" embarrassment OVERRIDING Il.
He wss Of middle height. slender-a
Asxieaa with Castilian ancestry writ.
ten 10 bic hixh-bred features. his grace
aad his straight. dark hair"
''Good morning. Estrada" said Har-
din with the same meaningless smile.
GOOD morning. Kentlemen." The
Aexican's greeting paused At Richard.
"Mr. Estrada. Mr.. Richard"
Evesyone In the once saw Hardin
snub Ne other opportunity. He had
betraysd b everyone his deep hurt.
HE raw wound. When he had
steppeA down. under cover Of . rssig-
nation. he he'd aaved his face by tell
ing evssyoos that . rupture with
Maitland. one II the directors Of the
.eorIanixed company. had made II
impossible for them to serve together.
aDd that Maitland'a wealth and Inn.
pesnnee 70 the company demanded his
oWn sacsiAce. Two months before
Richards appearance Maitland had
Aeea dtscovssed dead in his hath in q
La Angsle@ hotel. Though no one
had hsso witlees enough to speak Of
their hspe to Ilnrtiin. he knew that
all bis fore was daily expecting his
reinstatement. Richards entrance
was encther stab to their chief.
'"fhe son Of the GENERALLY" The new
nanaser held out his hand. General
Estrada. frisud of Mexican liberty.
founder Of steamship companies and
father Of the Imperial valleyT
THAT makes me n brother Of the
ealley"-Estrada's smile was sensitive
00A sweet.
Estrada looked nj Hardin. hesitatcd.
then passed on "a the checker players
and addressed MncLcnn:
~ saw your father In Los Angeles.
He hns been chosen TO MI the vacancy
made by Maitlnnd's death"
NacLcAn's eyes Wnvcrcd toward
Hardin. whose nonchnlnncc had not
faltercd. Had he not heard. or did
~ know. aircady7
I'D like 10 have meeting. a con.
ference. tomorrow morning." Rickxrd
was speaking. MIR. Hardin. will you
eet the hour At your convcnIencer
Because II wns ~ kindly done. Har.
1in showed his first resentment. "lt
Will not h. possible for mc to be there.
Tn going to Las Angeles In the morn.
ting. lie turned aud left the ofi,cr.
Estrada following him.
't)h. Mr. Hardin. you mustn't take Il
dat way" he expostulateti. concern In
Nach sensitive feature.
"l1l take ordrr~ from him. but he
gave sne aonr." krowicd Hardin. "lt's
not what scu think. TIM not sore. Hut
] don't like him. He's fancy dude.
Ge's not the man for this Job"
"rhcn you knew him beforrr' II
AS u surprise to Estrada.
AT college. lie wns my-er-ln.
sisIs>as. Arr,hail found him u tAs
AD0DWVa0 . oAsSSy siInSee.s