The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-08-25

10 tell Der about the Hatch visit and
what had come of II how the graft
ers had 3 new claw hold on him. noV.
made possible by an unwarranted piece
of meddling on the pau Of the New
York people IN the political game
II was while be was talking about
this that Maisie Ann grabbed me by
the wrist and dragged me bodily into
/ the darkened front parlor. the door 20
which was Just on the other side of
,he coat rack thought she had
come 20 her right senses, AZ last. and
was making the shift TO break on the
eavesdropping. That being the case.
! was simply horrihed when found
that she was merely fixing II 80 that
We could both see and hear. The slid
ing doors between the two parlors
were cracked open about an inch, and
before I realized what she was do
Ing she had pulled me down on the
floor beside her. right IN front Of that
crack.
III you move or make a noise, I'll
scream and theyll come In here and
find us both" :" she hissed ln my ear;
and because ! didn't know what else
70 do with such kiddish little terma-
CANT. I sat stlll. II was dastardly, !
know but what was | 20 dor
When the boss finished telling her
about the Hatch talk, Mrs. Sheila
said. "You mean that Mr. Dunton
and his associates sent somebody out
here 20 influence the electioni"
"Yes: that is IL, precisely. But how
did you known"
"You made the Inference perfectly
plain" she countered. II have rea-
sonlng mind. Graham; haven't you
discovered II before thisf"
The boss nodded soberly. II have
discovered a good many things about
you during the past six months one
OF them is that there was never an
other woman like you since the world
began"
Knowing. as | did. that she had a
husband alive and kicking around
somewhere, IL seemed as II I Just
couldn't stay there and listen TO what
a break OF that kind on the boss part
was likely TO lead up TO. But Malsie
Ann gripped my wrist until she hurt.
"You must listen" she whispered
flercely. you're taking care OF him,
and you've got TO know !"
As on many other earlier occasions,
Mrs Sheila slid away from the senti-
mental side OF things just as easy as
turning your hand over.
you are too big man TO let an
added difficulty defeat you now" she
remarked calmly, going back to the
business field. "You are really max
ing q miraculous success have Just
spent two weeks In the capital as
you kaow. and everybody Is talking
about you rhey say YOU are In a
fair way to solve the hlg problem-the
problem OF bringing the railroads and
the people together In a peaceable and
profitable partnership-which is as II
should be"
'It can be done: and ! could do II
right here on the Pioneer Short Line
II / didn't have TO fight so many diff
ferent kinds of devils at the same
time" said the boss. scowling down at
the fire In the CRATE And then with
a quick jerk Of his head TO face her:
you sent the major a wire from the
capital last night, telling him to per-
suade me not TO 90 to Strathcona.
Why did you do III And how did you
know | was thinking Of goingf"
For the first time In the whole six
months saw Mrs Sheila get a little
nustered, though she didn't show II
much. only little more color In her
cheeks.
Some day, perhaps. ! may tell you,
but can't now" she said sort Of hur-
riedly. And then: "You mustn't ask
me-"
"But you did send the wireT'
Yes"
"And you also sent another to Upton
Van BritT
II did"
The boss smiled. THAT second mes
sage was an sfter-thought. You were
afraid I'd be stubborn and 60 any
way That was some more OF your I
innner reasoning. Tell me |
Shells, did you know that there was
going 10 be a broken il-joint set to
kin me on that tripT
That got her in spite Of her heaven
ly calm and could see her press her /
pretty lips together hard.
WAS that what they didT' she
asked, a BIT trembly.
He nodded. "van Britt was on the
pilot engine ahead of my car, and he
found II. There was no harm done i
II was bad enough. God knows. 10 1
SCI a trap that would have killed ey-
srybody on my train; but this other ,
thing that has been pulled OF tonight .
Is even worse Mr.. Dunton and his 4
followers have set a thing
On foot here which Is due 70 grind 4
1s all 70 powder. Past that they have .
,outrived 20 hsndcuf me so that .
can't make a move without pulling
down consequences of q personal ma
- Fs--9fas-s