Charlevoix county herald., 1921-06-10

and kill you, and / started to do 1t.
Do you know why didn't do it?"
NO" said the chief, mighty quietly.
'Well, I'll tell you. One night last
spring up at the Billiard you slammed
me one In the face and dragged me off
to my room to keep me from making
a bigger ass Of myself than I'd al
ready made. haven't forgotten that.
In all these crooked years, nobody else
has even taken the trouble to chuck
me decently out of sight and give me
a chance to brace. Drunk as I was,
l remembered 1t that night when I
was climbing up to window In the
majors house and trying to get shot
at you"
Mr.. Norcross shook his head, more
than half alphabetically, thought.
LET that part Of II go and tell me
about this other trouble" he said.
'How badly are you tangled up in
this political businessr
''I've given 1t to you straight on the
bribing proposition. Uncle Brock used
me as money carrier because-well,
maybe II was because he couldn't
trust Bullock. l didn't know definitely
what Bullock was doing with the
checks cashed for him, though sup
posed, of course, 1t was something that
wouldn't stand daylight. It was only
a side Issue with me. I was coming
out here anyway. knew Sheila had
made up her mind-God knows she's
had cause enough; but / had crazy
notion that I'd like to be on the same
side OF the earth with her again for
just a little while. Then this" he
trailed off In babble Of maledictions
poured out upon the man who had
trapped him and used him.
The boss Strengthened himself In his
chair. but he still was speaking gently
when he said:
"You are not asking my advice, and
I don't owe you anything personally,
Mr.. Collingwood. But I'll say to you
what might say to a better man IN
like circumstances. You have done all
the harm you can, but, as l see 1t,
there doesn't seem to be any need Of
your staying here to suffer the con-
sequences. Why don't you go back to
New York, taking your wife with you,
IL she will go?"
COllingwood's smile was a mere
teeth-baring grimace.
"Sheila made her wedding Journey
with me once, when she was just
eighteen. The next time she rides
with me 1t will be at my funeral Oh,
I've earned 1t, and I'm not kicking.
And about this other thing: I can't
duck. You know what Hatch is hold
ing me for. He told me just little
while ago that If stepped aboard Of
a train, I'd be arrested before the
train could pull out"
It was handsome little precaution
on the part of the chief Of the graft
ers. If a fight should be precipitated-
If the boss should try to checkmate
the G. s. & w. gobble-the arrest and
indictment Of President Dunton's
nephew would serve bully good and
well as a dramatic bit Of side play
to keep the newspapers from print
Ing too much about the other thing.
IF you really want to go, l think
1t can be arranged In some way, in
spite of Hatch and his bluffing," Mr..
Norcross put in quietly. $50 far as
our railroad troubles are concerned 1t
will neither help nor hinder for you
to stay on here, now"
AS II the helpful suggestion had been
lighted match to fire a hidden mine
Of rage Collingwood sprang to his feet
with his dull eyes ablaze.
mo, by God!" he swore. I'm go
ing to make him come across with
those affidavit papers first You wait
right here, Norcross. You think I'm
all cur, but I'll show you. There isn't
much left Of me but hound dog, but
even hound dog will bite II you kick
him hard enough. Lend me a gun,
If you've got one and PHI"
Hold on-none Of that |" the boss
broke in sternly, jumping out Of his
chair to enforce the command. But
before he could make the grabbing
move the corridor door slammed noisily
and the mailman was gone.