The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1921-06-18

ly, Graham, / doubt it-doubt 1t right
much"
The boss didn't seem to be much
scared up over the doubt. He just
smiled and said we'd be likely to find
out what was in the wind. and that
before very long. Then he spoke of
Hatch's afternoon call at our offices.
and mentioned the fact that the Red
Tower president would probably try
again. later in the evening.
The major let the business matter
drop. and he was working his way
patiently through the salad course
when he looked up to say:
"Was there anything in youh trip
to Strathcona to warrant Sheila's lit
tie telegraphic dangeh signal. Gra-
ham?"
Nothing worth mentioning" said
the boss. without turning hair: do.
ing it, as I made sure, because he
didn't want Mrs. Sheila to be mixed
up in the plotting business, even by
implication.
The major didn't press the inquiry
any farther. and when he spoke again
1t was Of an entirely different matter.
away along in the beginning, some
body-I think it was John Chadwick
spoke of you as man with a sawt
of raw-head-and-bloody bones tempeh.
Graham: what have you done with
that tempeh in these heah latch
days?"
The boss smile was good-natured
grin.
"Temper is not always a matter of
temperament, major. Sometimes 1t is
only means to an end. Much Of my
experience has been in the construc-
tion camps. where I have had to deal
with men in the raw. Just the same,
there have been moments within the
past six months when have been
sorely tempted to burn the wires with
a few choice words of the short and
ugly variety and throw up my job"
(which. as you may say, brings us
around to President Dunton.' put in
| the old lawyer shrewdly. "He is still
opposing youh policies?"
still bounding me to do something that
would boost the stock. regardless of
what the something should be. or of
its effect upon the permanent value of
the property"
did understand you to say that
| these-ah-suggestio from Dunton
had stopped?" the major inquired.
Temporarily, at least. haven't
heard anything from New York-not
lately"
"Then Dunton's nephew hasn't made
himself known to you?"
"Collingwood? Hardly. I'm not IN
Mr.. Howe Collingwood's set-which Is
one Of the things have to be thank
| full for. But this Is news: l didn't
know he was out here"
The news-giver bent his head grave
| ly In confirmation of the fact:
"He's heah, I'm sorry to say Gra-
ham. He has been heah quite some
| little time, vibratin' round with the
| Grigsbys and the Gannons and lot
| mo- of the new-rich people up at the
| capital"
| It was the boss turn to go silent.
and could guess pretty well what he
was thinking. The presence of Presi-
dent Dunton's nephew In the West
might mean much or nothing. But I
could imagine the boss was thinking
that his own single experience with
| Colingwood was enough to make him
wish that the nephew OF Big Money
| would stay where he belonged-among
the high-rollers and spenders Of his
| own set In the effete East.
II can't quite get the proper slant
on men of the Collingwood type" he
remarked, after the pause. "The only
time / ever saw him was on the night
before the directors meeting last
spring. He was here with his uncle's
| party In the special train. and that
| night at the Bullard he had been drink
| ing TOO much and made braying ass
| of himself. I had to knock him silly
before l could get him up to his ROOM
| "You did that, Graham?-for a
strangeh?"
| "I did it for the comfort of all con-
cerned. AS I say, he was making an
ass of himself"
| There was another break, and then
the major looked up with a little
| frOwn.
"That was befo' you had met
Sheila?" he asked, thoughtfully.
"why, no; not exactly. 1t was the
same night-the night we all dropped
off the Flyer and got left behind at
Sand Creek. You may remember that
we came in later on Mr.. Chadwick's S
special"
The major made no reply to this
| and pretty soon the boss was on his
feet and excusing himself once more
on the after-dinner smoking stunt say
ing that he was obliged to go back to
the office. The major got up and shook
hands with him as II he were BID
ding him good-by for long journey.
"You are going down to keep that ap-
nointment with Misteh Rufus HatchY'
he said. "You take an old mans ad-
vice. Graham, my boy, and keep youh
hand-figuratively speaking. of cou'se
on youh gun. It runs TN my mind,
somehow, that you are going to be
hit-and hit right hard. No, don't
ask me why. Call It Rotten suspi-
cion. and let 1t 60 at that Come up