The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-03-07
CHATTER v-coutInued.

AHt uuDf NpfHtu anu fhChNIu tuiHt
Ia, Almost simultaneously the outer
door opened 10 admit Hardin. Who
would Introduce the now general man
ager 10 the dismissed one? The
thought flashed from MacLean 10 ST.
ient, 20 the telegraph operator Bode-
feldt doubled over the checkerboard.
pretending not TO see them. Confu.
zion, embarrassment was on every
face. Nobody spoke. Hardin was
coming closer
'EIello, Hardin"
sifello. Rlcknrd."
X appeared friendly enough 10 the
surprised Office. Both men were glad
that II was over.
nice Offices" remarked Hardin. his
legs ouispread his hands In his peck
cts
.Ogilvlc y satisfied with them
The men rather oyerdid the laugh.
Finding the dust pretty toughfp In.
auired Hardin,
n spent month In san Francisco
last summerf was the rcioinder.
'srhis IL haven. though. from the
street. Thought I'd loaf for today
Was Hardin game 70 do the right
thing. introduce him as the new chief
to- bis subordinateA3 Nothing, II ia.
yeluped. was further from his inten,
ton. Hardin, his legs outstretched.
kept before his face the bland, I'M
penetrabis smile Of the oriental. ID
WAS clearly not Richards move. The
checker players tidgeted. Richards
sllence was interrogative. Hardin
atill smiled
The outer door opened.
The newcomer, evidently fayorite.
walked into a noisy welcome, the
boys embarrassment OVERRIDING II.
Tie WIS Of middle height. slender---a
Mexican with CnstIllan ancestry writ
ten 10 his high.bred features. his grace
and his straight dark hair"
Good morning. Estrada" said Har-
AIN with the same meaningless smile.
'Good morning. gentlemen The
McxleaH's greeting paused az Richard.
"Ar. Estrada. Mr.. IIckard"
Everyone IN the office saw Hardin
snub his other opportunity. He had
betrayed 10 everyone hts deep hurt,
hts raw wound. When he had
stepped down, under cover OF reslg-
nation. he Ind saved hts face by tell.
lng everyone that rupture with
Maitland, enc Of the directors Of the
reorganiEed company. hnd made II
impossible for them 10 serve together,
and TINT Maitlands wealth and Inn
portancc to the company demanded his
own sacrifice. Two months before
Ricknrd's appearance Maitland had
been discovered dead IN HIS bath In q
Los Angeles hotel, Though no one
had been witless enough 20 speak OF
their hope to Hardin, he knew that
all las force was daily expecting his
reinstatement. Richards entrance
was another stab 10 their chief,
"rhe son ~ the gcnernlr The new
manager held out his hand. General
Estrada, frlend Of Mexican liberty.
founder of steamship companies aud
father Of the Imperial yalleyf
srhut makes me brother Of the
valley Estrnda's smile was sensitive
and sweet.
Estrada looked at Hardin, hcsltated,
then passed ON 10 the checker players
and addressed MacI.ean
II saw your father In Los Angeles.
lie has been chosen 20 an the vacancy
made by Maltiand's DEATH
MacIean's eyes waversd toward
Ilsrdln. whose nonchalance had not
fnlteFed Had he not heard, or ala
no know, plreadyT
sid like 10 have a meeting, con-
ference. tomorrow morning" Richard
was speaking. "Mr. Hardin. will you
set The hour at your eonyenisncer
Because Il was so kindly done, Har,
din showed his arst resentment. ut
win not he possible Tor me TO be there.
I'm going 10 Los Angeles in the morn,
Ing He turned and left the office,
Estrnda following him,
"oh Me- Hardin. you mustn't take Il
that way he expostulated. concern In
each sensitive feature
eFil take orders from him. but he
gave me none. growied Hardin. 'It's
not what you think I'm not sore. But
/ don't like him. He's fancy dude
He's not the man FOR this job"
'sThen you knew him befOreT II
was a surprise 70 Estrada.
AT college. He was my-er--in
structor Marshall found him in tn,
elassroom. A theory singer"