The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-04-28
CHAPTER v
And sasan Came Also

II saw your office lights from the
street" was the way the Red TJwer
president began on me. and his voice
took me straight back TO the Oregon
woods and lumber camp where the
saw-filers were at work. "Where is
Mr.. NorcrossT'
told him that Mr.. Norcross was
uptown. and that | didn't suppose he
would come back 10 the office again
that night, now that II was so late.
'My name is Hatch. OF the Red
Tower company" he grated, after a
minute or two. you're the one they
call Dodds, aren't your
admitted It, and he went ON.
"Norcross brought you here with
him from the West, didn't he? What
pay are you getting heref'
1t was on the tip OF my tongue to
cuss him out right there and then
and tell him II was none OF his bust
ness. But the second thought (Which
isn't always as good as it's said to
bel whispered to me TO lead him on
and see how far he would 20. So |
told him the figures II my pay check.
'I'm needing another shorthand
man, and | Gun AFFORD TO pay good
bit more than that" he growled.
''They tell me you are well up at the
top In your trade. Are you open to an
offerf"
let him have II straight then. "Not
from you" I said.
"And why not from me?"
Here was where ! made my first
bad break. All OF sudden | got so
angry at the thought that he was ac-
tually trying TO buy me that couldn't
see anything but red. and blurted
out, Because don't hire out TO work
for any strong-arm outft--not II /
know III"
For little while he sat blinking
at me from under his bushy eyebrows.
and his kard mouth was drawn into
straight tine with a mean little
wrinkle coming and going at the cor
ners OF IL.
When he got ready to speak again
he said, you're only boy. You want
20 get on in the world. don't you?
I'm offering you good chance: the
best you ever had. You don't owe
Norcross anything more than your
Job, do your
Maybe not"
That's better. Put on your hat
and come along with me want to
show you what can do for you in a
better field than railroading ever was.
or ever will be. TN pay you" and
he named n figure that very nearly
made me fall dead out Of my chair.
OF course, II was all plain enough.
The boss had him on the hip with that
kidnapping business, with me for
witness. And he was trying TO fix the
witness
II guess we needn't beat about the
bushes any longer, Mr.. Hatch" said,
hracing up to him. 81 haven't told
the sheriff, or anybody but Mr.. Nor
cross, what know about a certain
little train hold-up that happened
few weeks ago down at Sand Greek
siding; but that isn't saying that I'm
not going to-"
II ! had had the sense OF a field
mouse, ! might have known that
was no match for such man; hut
l lacked the sense-lacked II good and
hard.
You're Ike your boss" he said
shortly. you'd go a long distance out
OF your way 10 make an enemy when
there is no need OF Il. That hold-up
business was joke, from start To
finish. ! don't know how you and Nor
cross came TO get in on IL; the joke
was meant TO be on John Chadwick.
The night before, at n little dinner we
were giving him az the railroad club,
he said there never was a railroad
hold-up that couldn't have been stood
of. A few Of us got together after
ward and put up a job on him; sent
him over to Strathcona and arranged
10 have him held up on the way back"
"Mr. Chadwick didn't take 1t as a
Joke !" / retorted.
II know he didn't; and that's why
we're all anxious now 20 dig hole
and bury the thing decenty. Perhaps
we had all been taking drop too
much az the club dinner that night"
At that swelled up man-size and
kicked the whole kettle Of fat into
the fire.
'of course. II was a jokel" l rip
ped out. "And your coming here to-
night TO try 10 hire me away from Mr..
N,rcross is another. The woods are
full of good shorthand men, Mr.. Hatch.
but for the present think shall
stay right where anywhere a court