The Lamar register., 1919-02-05


drifted on TO the other things in the
course of time. simply because nei her
If us might have known any better
than to let 1t drift. But that's all
Dack number, now"
Just the same, her coming shocked
you"
ut certainly did" he confessed sober
Iy; and then: ''Have you forgotten
what told you about the circumstances
under which left home?"
"Oh," she murmured. and as once
before. there was little gasp to go
with the word. Then: "She wouldn't
she wouldn't"
"No." he answered: "she wouldn't;
but her father would"
$50 her father wanted her to marry
the other man, did he?"
Smiths laugh was an easing of
strains. you've pumped me dry" he
returned. the sardonic humor reassert-
ing itself.
A motorcar was coming up the drive
way. II was high time that an inter
ruption of some sort was breaking ln
and when the colonel appeared and
brought Stillings with him to the loung-
ing end of the porch, business confer
ence began which gave Miss Corona nn
excuse to disappear, and which ac-
counted easily for the remainder of the
evening.
Smith returned to Brewster the next
morning by way of the dam, making
the long detour count for as much as
possible in the matter OF sheer time
killing. II was II little before noon
when he reached town by the round
about route. and went to the hotel to
reconnoiter. The roomclcrk who gave
him his key gave him also the informa-
lion he crnved.
"Mr. HIGHLANDER? Oh, yes; he left
carly this morning by the stage. He IS
Interested In some gold properties up
In the range beyond Topaz. Fine old
gentleman. Do you know him. Mr..
Smlth?"
"The name seemed familiar when I
saw 1t on the register last evening"
was Smiths evasion; "but 1t Is not
such very uncommon name. He
didn't say when he was coming backf"
"No."
Smith took u fresh hold upon life
and liberty. While the world is peril
ously narrow In some respects, IL Is
comfortably broad in others. and a
danger once safely averted Is Il danger
lessened. Snntching a hnsty luncheon
In the grillroom, the fighting manager
of Timanyoni High Line hurried across
TO the private suite In the Kinzie build
ing offices into which he had lately
moved and once more plunged into the
business battle.
Notwithstanding new trouble
which Stillings had wished to talk over
with his president and the financial
manager the night before-the claim
set up by the dead-and-gone railroad
to a right Of way across the Timanyoni
at the dnm-the battle was progress
Ing fayorably. Williams was accom-
pllshlng the incredible In the matter
Of speed. and the dam was now nearly
ready to Withstand the high-water
stresses when they should come. The
powerhouse was rising rapidly. and
the machinery was on the way from
the East. Altogether things were look
ing more hopeful than they had at any
period since the hasty reorganization.
Smith attacked the multifarious details
OF his many sided job with returning
energy. If he could make shift to hold
ON for few days or weeks longer.
While Smith was debating the final
batch Of letters to the second stenog-
rapher young man with sleepy eyes
and yellow creosOte stains on his fin
gers came In to ask for job. Smith
put him of until the correspondence
was finished and then gave him hear
Ing.
"What kind OF work are you looking
forf'' was the brisk query.
shorthand work. If l can get It,"
said the man out Of job.
Smith was needing another stenog-
rapher and he looked the applicant
over appraisingly. The appraisal WAS
not entirely satisfactory. There was a
certain shifty furtlveness In the half
opened eyes, and the rather weak chin
limited at possible lack OF the DIS
creetness which Is the prime requisite
in confidential clerk.
"Any business experienced"
"Yes; I've done some railroad work"
Here In Brewsterf
Shaw lied smoothly. "No; In
Omaha" q.
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