The Dolores star., 1921-12-09

her hand on the door-knoh she shot
quick question at the boss.
How much will you tell Cousin
Hasilf"
Nothing OF what you have told
me-"
Thank you" she whispered back:
"you are as big in your friendship as
You are In other ways" And with
that size was gone.
II was right along in 'he same half
minute. while the boss was standing
with his back 10 the fire and the ma
ior was going In 10 talk 10 him. that
| lost MaiSie Ann. don't know where
She went. or how. Size had lei 20 of
my wrist. and when eropcd for her
She was gone. Since | didn't see any
good reason why rhould stay and
spy upon The boss and the major, !
slipped out TO the hall and curicd up
on the big settce beyond the coat
rack: curled up. and after listening
u while to the drone of voices in the
farther room, went to sleep.
I, was away deep In the night when
the boss took hold Of me and shook me
awake. The long talk was just get
ting Itself finished. and the major had
come TO the door with his guest.
I'VE must manage to pull Colllng-
wood ont of II In some way" the ma
Ior was saying. 81 don't love the
d-n' scoundrel any hetteh than you
do. Graham: but that's reason-a
family reason, as you might say"
Then lie switched of quickly. You
haven't asked me yet why | ran away
from home this eyenin' when | was
expecting you"
NO" said the boss. "Sheila told
me that you had Il telephone call to
the Bullard."
The old Kentuckian chuckled.
"Yes. sub: and you'd newell guess
IN thousand yeahs who sent the
call or what was wanted II was Duh
friend Hatch. and no otheh. And he
had the face TO offeh me ten thousand
dollahs yeah to act as consulting
counsel for him against the railroad
company"
"Of course you accepted" said the
boss. meaning just the opposite.
The major chuckled again. 81
talked with him long enough to find
out about where he stood. He thinks
he's got you by the neck. but, like
most men o. his breed. he's a paltry
coward. subj at heart"
The boss laughed. what Is he
afraid of"
fu of af Ia 10 10 In. t.,1. 4
me. with his eyes buggin out. that
thah was one man heah in Portal
City who would kill him to get pos
session of certain papehs that were
locked up In the cash vault OF the
Security National"
The boss was pulling on his gloves.
81 didn't give him any reason to
think that I was anxious TO murder
him." he said.
"Oh. no. my deah boy; It isn't you,
at all. It's HOwlc ColIinswOod. That's
where we land ufteh all Is said and
done. You'll hands are tied, and we've
got this heah young maniac to deal
with. Ii Colllngwood gets about three
tingehs Of red likkeh under his belt.
why, thah's one murder In prospect.
And II Hatch hns any reason to think
that you can still get the underl,olt
OH him. why. thah's another. I'm glad
you've seen fit to take Itipley's advice
at last. and got you q bOdyguard.'
"What's that?" queried the boss.
But the query was answered a minute
later when we hit the sidewalk for
the tramp back to town and TarbeIl
fell In to walk three steps behind us
all the way to the door Of the rail-
road club.
1t sure did look as If things were
just about as bad as they could ever
he. now. Hatch once more on ton.
the whole bottom knocked out of the
railroad experiment. our good name
for political honesty gone gIimmerIng.
anu. worst of all. perhaps. the boss
big heart broken right In two over
those four little words that nothing
| could ever rub out-"he is nv hus-
band" ] didn't wonder that the boss
said never word in ull that long
walk downtown. or that he forgot to
tell me goodnight when he locked
himself up in his room at the club.