Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-07-07

Paper.
stare at the slip and heard him say.
half to himself, Howard Colling-
woOd:''
Hatch followed up his advantage
promptly. He was afoot and strug-
Cling into his overcoat when he said:
you've got what you were after, Nor
cross, and it has got your goat. We've
known all along that you were only
bluffing and sparring to gain time.
We've nailed you to the cross. You
let this deal with Marshall and his
people stand as it's made, or we'll
show you up for what you are. That's
the plain English of It,"
"You mean that you will 20 to the
newspapers with this?" said the boss,
and it was no wonder that his voice
; was bit husky.
"Just that. Wen give you plenty
Of time to think 1t over, The joint
deal with G. S. ( w. goes into effect
tomorrow, and it's up to you to sit
tight in the boat and let us alone. If
you don't-if you butt In with the
ground-leases, or in any other way
the story will go to the newspapers
and every sucker on the line Of the
p. S. L. will know how you've been
pulling the wool over his eyes with
all this CUFF about Justice first and
the public be pleased You're no
fool, Norcross. You know they won't
lay it to Dunton and the New Workers..
) You've taken pains to advertise it far
d. and wide that you are running this
, railroad on your own responsibility,
and the people aHe going to take you
at your word"
Dedmon, ana the lawyer who
hadn't spoken single word in all the
talk-were edging toward the door.
The boss didn't make any answer to
Hatch's wtnd-up except to say, SIS
that all?'
| The other two were out, now, and
Hatch turned to stick Ills ugly jaw out
/, at the boss. and to saw. i.,s+ "a If I
hadn't been there to look on ana near
him:
mo, by Jupiter-it isn't all! In the
! past six months you've made Gus
Henckel and me lose cold half-mil-
J lion, Norcross. For less provocation
than that, many a man in this neck
of woods has been sent back east in
the baggage-car, wearing wooden
overcoat. You climb down, and do It
while you can stay alive!"
For some time after the three men
went away the boss sat staring at the
slip of paper on the desk slide. At
last he got up, sort Of tiredlike,
thought, and said to me: "Jim-
mic, you go down and see If you can
find taxi, and we'll drive out to
Major Hendricks. I promised him
I'd go out to the house, you remem-
/, ber." !,
When our taxi stopped at the ma
jor's gate, somebody was coming out
just as were getting ready to go in.
The man had the visor Of his big fiat
golf cap pulled down well over his
eyes, but knew him just the same.
1t was Collingwood!
This looked like more trouble. What
was the presidents nephew doing
here? I wondered about that, and
also, If the boss had recognized Col
lingwood. If he had, he made no
sign, and a moment later had pushed
the bell-push and Maisie Ann was
opening the door for us.
Both Of you? oh, how nice!" she
said, with smile for the boss and q
queer little grimace for me. Come
in. This is our evening for callers.
Cousin Basil is out, but he'll be back
pretty soon, and he left word for you
to wait If you got here before he did =
/ That message was for the boss, and
1 I Jagged behind in the dimly lighted
hall while she was showing him into
the back parlor. had dropped down
] on the hall settee. In the end Of II
next, to the coat-rack, and when Mrs.
i..s<> $780, = HI