The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-05-13


he had fallen IN love, first with the
back of her neck and then with her
pretty face and then with all Of her;
and that the one big reason why he
had let Mr.. Chadwick persuade him
to stay In Portal City was the fact
that he had wanted to be near her and
to show her how he could make per-
fectly good spoon out Of the spoiled
horn of the Pioneer Short Line.
When began to get my grip back
a little was right warm under the
| collar.
"She oughtn't to be going around
telling people she is a widowlr
blurted out.
"She doesn't" was the calm reply.
They've separated, you know--years
ago-and Cousin Shella has taken her
mothers maiden name, Macrae. IL
we were going to live here always It
| would be different. But we are only
visiting Cousin Basil, or l suppose we
are, though we've been here now for
nearly year."
There wasn't much more to be said.
and pretty s0cn I had staggered of
with my load and gone back to the
Office. And this was why / couldn't
get very deep into the Hatch business
with Mr.. Norcross when he told me
what he had been obliged to do about
the Sand Greek hold-up.
If he had been like other men it
wouldn't have been so hard. But 1
had feeling that he had gone into
this love business just as he did into
everything or nothing burning
his bridges behind him, and having no
notion Of ever turning back. The boss
had never been beaten. What was 1t
gong to do to him when he learned
the truth about Mrs. Sheila?
Z On top of this came the still; harder
knock when saw that it was up to
me to tell him. / remembered all the
stories I'd ever heard about how the
most c0ld-blooded surgeon that ever
lived wouldn't trust himself to stick
knife into member of his own fam
lily, and | knew now just how the
surgeon felt about it.
While l was still sweating under
the big load Maisie Ann had dumped
upon me, the night dispatcher's boy
came in with message 1t was from
Mr.. Chadwick, and read it with my
eyes bullying out. This is what it said:
ITO G. Norcross, G. NJ,
PORTAL City.
"P. S. L. Common dropped to thirty
four today, and banks lending on short
time notes for betterment fund are
getting nervous. Wire from New York
says bondholders are stirring and talk
ing receivership. General opinion in
financial circles leans to idea that new
policy is foregone failure. Are you
still sure you can make it VIM
Chadwick"
Right on the heels Of this, and be-
fore / could get my breath, in came
the boy again with another telegram.
1t was hot wire from President Dun
ton, one Of series that he had been
shooting in ever since Mr.. Norcross
had taken hold and begun firing the
cousins and nephews.
10 u. NOrcrOss, q. NJ,
PORTAL City. RUSH.
''See stock quotations for today.
Your policy is failure. Am advised
you are now fighting Red Tower. Stop
1t Immediately and assure Mr.. Hatch
that we are friendly, as we have al
ways been. If something cannot be
done to lift securities to better figure,
your resignation will be in order.
'Dunton."
They say that misfortunes never
come singly. Here were two new
griefs hurting themselves in over the
wires all In the same quarter-hour, be-
sides the one i had UP my sleeve. But
there was no use dallying. 1t was up
to me to find the boss as quickly as
could and have the three-cornered sur
gical operation over with l knew the
kilograms wouldn't kilt him-or 1
thought they wouldn't. thought they'd
probably make him take fresh strange
hold on things and be fired--if he had
to be fired-fighting 1t out grimly on his
own line. But wasn't so sure about
the Mrs. Sheila business. That was q
horse of another color.
had just reached for my hat and
was getting ready TO snap the electrics
off when heard footsteps in the outer
office. When / looked up a stocky,
hard-faced man In derby hat and q
short oyercoat was standing In the
doorway and scowling across at me.
1t was Mr.. Rufus Hatch, and / had
notion that the hot end OF his black
cigar glared at me like baleful red
eye when he came In and sat down.