The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1921-04-15

III "
"You Are Sparring With Me, Jimmie"
enough to say that helped him make
them. That is why cannot under
stand why he should do as he has
done-or ct least as everybody be-
lieves he has done"
saw how it was. She was trying
to find some explanation that would
clear the boss, and perhaps implicate
the Hatch crowd / couldn't tell her
the real reason why he had run away.
Maisie Ann had been right as right
about that; we must keep it to our
two selves. But / tried to let her
down easy.
"Mr. Van Britt has told you about
those two kilograms that came after
Mr.. NOrcross left the Office" | said,
still covering up the fact that the tele-
grams hadn't been delivered-that they
were probably in the pocket of my
coat right now, wherever that was.
"They were enough to make any man
throw up his hands and quit, | should
say"
mo-" she insisted, looking me
straight in the eyes. "You are not
telling the truth now, Jimmie. You
know Mr.. Norcross better than any
of us, and you know that it isn't the
least little bit like him to walk out
and leave everything to go to wreck.
Have you ever known of his doing
anything like that before?"
had to admit that l hadn't; that,
on the other hand, it was the very
thing you'd least expect him to do.
But at the same time l had to hang
on TO my sham belief that it was the.
thing he had done: either that, or
tell her the truth.
Every man reaches his limit, some
time!" / protested. what was Mr..
NOrcross to do, I'd like to know; with
Mr.. Chadwick getting scared-out, and
Mr.. Dunton threatening to fire him.?
1.-THE thing he wouldn't do would
be to go off and leave all of his
friends Mr.. Van Britt and Mr.. Hor-
mack, and all the rest, to fight 1t out
alone. You know that as well as L
do, Jimmie Dodds!'
IF YOU won't take my theory, you
must have one of your own" l said ;
not knowing what else to say.
II have" she flashed back, "and
/ want you to hurry and get we'll so
that you can help me trace it 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 go 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 l saw sort of
frightened look come into her eyes.
ButSall she said was Il want you to
hurry up and get well, Jimmie, so you
can help"
"Ph well enough now, If they'll let
me get up"
'Not tonight; tomorrow, maybe
Then: "lIr. 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 send
him up?"
OF course l said yes; and pretty
soon after she went away, our one
and only millionaire came in. He
looked as he always did; just rs If
he had that minute stepped out of Il
Turkish bath where they shave and
scrub and polish man till he shines.
"How are you, Jimmie?" he raped
out. "Glad to see you on earth again.
Feeling a little more fit, tonight?"
/ told him l didn't think it 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. l gave him
ali had-except that thing about the
undelivered kilograms and two or three
others that l couldn't give him or any
body.
! ''We're in pretty bad shape. aren't
WEI" I suggested.
ave couldn't be in worse shape"
was the way he put it. Then he told
me a little more than Maisie Ann had :;
how President Dunton had wired to