The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-04-07

the same two that ! had overheard
the following morning.
| I'VE are going to have sharp trouble
with gentleman by the name of
Hatch before very long. Jimmie" was
the way he began. ''You remember
what you told me about that Monday
morning talk between Hatch and
Henckel In the Bullard lobby. Would
you be willing to 60 into court as a
witness and swear to what you
heard?'
Sure ! would" said
"All right. ! may have to pull that
little incident on Mr.. Hatch before I
get through with him. The train hold
up was criminal act, and you are
the witness who can convict the pair
OF them. OF course, well leave Mrs.
Macrae and the little girl entirely
out of 1T. Nobody knows that they
were there with US, and nobody need
know
agreed to that, and this mention
of Mrs. Sheila and Maisie Ann makes
me remember that I've been leaving
them out pretty severely for a good
long while. They weren't left out in
reality-not by a jugful. In spite Of
all the rush and hustle. the boss had
found time to get acquainted with
Major Basil Kendrick and had been
made at home in the transplanted
Kentucky mansion in the northern SUBJ
urb.
But to get back on the firing line.
l wasn't around when Mr.. Norcross
had his "declaration of war" talk W ith
Hatch. Mr.. Norcross, being pretty
sure he wasn't going to have that
evening off. had sent me out to Ken
wood" with note and box of roses,
and when got back to the office about
eight O'Clock. Hatch was just going
away. I met him On the stair.
The boss was sitting back in. his
broke in. He looked as if he'd been
mixing 1t up good and plenty with Mr..
Rufus Hatch--and enjoying it.
We've got 'em going. Jimmie" he
chuckled; and he said it without ask
ing me how l had found Mrs. Sheila.
or how she was looking, or anything.
! told him l had met Mr.. Hatch on
the stair going down.
He didn't say anything to you. did
he?" he asked.
mot word"
II had to pull that Sand Creek bust
ness on him, and I'm rather sorry"
he went on. "He and his people are
going to fight the new company to a
finish, and he merely came up here to
tell me so-and to add that l might
as well resign first as last, because,
in the end, he'd get my goat. When
laughed at him he got abusive. He's
an ugly beggar, Jimmie"
That's what everybody says of
him.
ITS true. He and his crowd have
plenty of money-stolen money a
good deal of it-and they stand in
with every political boss and gangster
in the state. There is only one way to
handle such a man, and that is with
out gloves. l told him we had the
| goods on him in the matter of Mr..
| Chadwick's kidnapping adventure. At
first he said couldn't prove it. Then
he broke out cursing and let your
name slip. l hadn't mentioned you at
all, and so he gave himself away. He
knows who you are. and he remem-
bered that you had overheard his talk
with Henckel in the hotel lobby"
! heard what he was saying, but 1
didn't really sense 1t because my head
was ram jam full Of a thing that was
SO pitiful that II had kept me swal-
lowing hard all the way back from
Major Kendrick's. II was this way.
When had jiggled the bell out at the
house It was Maisie Ann who let me
| in and took the box Of flowers and the
boss note. We sat In the dimly lighted
hall and talked for a few minutes.
One thing she told me was that Mrs.
Sheila had company and the name Of
1t was Mr.. Van Britt, That wasn't
strictly news because had known
pretty evenly with the boss in the
Major Kendrick house visits. That
wasn't anything to be scared up about.
But my chunky little girl didn't stop
at that.
II think we can let Mr.. Van Britt
take care Of himself" she said. He
has known Cousin Sheila for long
time. and guess they are only just
good friends. But there is something
you ought to know. Jimmie-for Mr..
Norcross' sake. He has been sending
lots of flowers and things. and Cousin
Sheila has been taking them because
well. I guess it's just because she
doesn't know how not to take them"
go on" 1 said, but my mouth had
suddenly grown dry.
"Such things-flowers, You know
don't mean anything in New York,
where we've been living. Men send
them to their women friends just as
they pass their cigar-cases around
among their men friends. But Pm
afraid it's different with Mr.. Nor
cross"
'It is different said.
Then she told me the thing that