The Dolores star., 1921-10-14

telling the truth now, Jimmie. 1ou
know Mr.. Norcross better than any
of us. and you know that 1t isn't the
least little bit like him to walk out
and leave everything TO so to wreck.
Have YOU ever known OF his DONG
ANYTHING like that beforef
had 10 admit that | hadn't; that'
on the other hand, 1t was the very
thing you'd least expect him TO 90.
But at the same time l had 10 hans
on to my sham belief that 1t was the
thing he had done: either that. or
tell her the truth.
Every man reaches his limit. some
timer I protested. What was MI
Norcross to do, I'd like TO know: with
Mr.. Chadwick getting scared out. ana
Mr.. Dunton threatening TO fire him
THE thing he wouldn't do would
he TO 20 Off and leave all or his
friends, Mr.. Van Britt and Mr. Hor-
mack, and all the rest, to fight 1t ont
alone, You know that as well as
do, Jimmie Dodds"
"If you won't take my theory. you
must have one OF your own,' said !;
not knowing what else 10 say.
81 have" she flashed back, and
| want you to hurry and get well 50
that You can help me trace 1t out.
"Me?" ! queried.
"Yes, you. The others are all so
stupid! even Mr.. Van Britt and Mr..
Ripley. They insist that Mr.. Norcross
went east to see and talk with Mr..
Chadwick. They have found out that
Mr.. Chadwick left Chicago the day
after he sent that telegram. to 60 up
into the Canadian woods to look at
some mines. or something. They say
that Mr.. NorcrOss has followed him,
and that is why they don't hear any
thing from him"
What do you Think" ! asked.
She didn't answer right away. and
in the little pause ! saw sort of
frightened look come into her eyes.
But all she said was, Il want you to
hurry up and get well, Jimmie, so you
can help"
I'm well enough now, II theym let
me get up"
Not tonight: tomorrow, maybe"
Then: "Mr. Van Britt is downstairs
with Cousin Basil. He has been very
anxious to talk with you as soon as
you were able to talk. May 1 send
him up?'
OF course I said yes; and pretty
soon after she went away, our one
and only millionaire came in. He
looked as he always did; just as If
he had that minute stepped out of
Turkish bath where they shave and
scrub and polish a man TIL he shines.
How are you, Jimmie?" he raped
out. Glad to see you on earth again.
Feeling little more fit, tonight?
l told him l didn't think 1t would
take more than half dozen fellows
of my size to knock me out, but l was
gaining. Then he sat down and put
me on the question rack. I gave him
all l had-except that thing about the
undellvered kilograms and two or three
others that 1 couldn't give him or any
body.
Were In pretty bad shape. aren't
We" l suggested.
1--WE couldn't be in worse shane"
was the way he put It. Then he told
me little more than Maisie Ann had;
how President Dunton had wired to
stop all the betterment work on the
Short Line until the new general man.
ager could get on the ground; how the
local capitalists at the head of the
new Citizens Storage & Warehouse
organization were scared plumb out of
thelr shoes and were afraid to make q
move and how the newspapers all
over the state were saying that 1t was
Just what they had expected-that the
railroad was crooked in root and
Dranch, and that good man couldn't
stay with 1t long enough to get his
breath.
Then the new general manager has
been appointed?" | asked.
lie nodded. "Some fellow by the
name Of Dismuke. don't know him,
ana neither does Hornack. He is on
MS way west now, they say"
MT. Norcross hasn't shown up at
Air. Chadwick's Chicago ofiices?" l
ventured.
NO The telegraph people have
been wiring everywhere and can't get
any trace of him."
Ieii them to try Galesburg. That's
where his people live"
i know" he said; and he made a
note of the address on the back Of an
envelope. Then he came at me again.
on the direct" as a lawyer would
say.
You've been closer to Norcross in
an intimate way than any of us. Jim
mie: haven't you seen or heard some
thihs that would help to turn n little
more light on this damnable blow-uny p,
hadn't-outside of the one thing
l couldn't talk about-and 1 told him
So and at this he let me see a little
more Of what was going on in his
own mind.
You're one Of US, In a way Jim.
ME, and ] can talk freely to ,,,,