Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-03-10

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Of the clerk for n second or 80 be-
tween cusspS. he asked what WaS the
matter with the lunatic. | caught
only broken bits OF the clerks half.
whisper: "loung CollIngwOOd =.
President Dunton's nephew . saw
lady mc22anine . . wants TO go
up TO her"
The boss scowlcd at III" young fell
low, who was now handing himself
around the corner Of the counter 70
get nj the clerk again, and said; "Why
don't YOU ring for an officer and have
him run in?"
The night clerk was evidently scared
Of hls job. II wouldn't dare to do
that" he chittcred. Hes one Of the
New York crowd--the railroad neo-
pie President DmtrH's nephew -
guest of the house"
The Young fellow had pulled him
self around TO our side Of the counter
b. this time and was hooking his arm
TO make pass at Mr.. Norcross, trim
ming things up ms he came with Il lot
more language. The boss said, right
short and sharp. to the clerk, 'Gct
his room key and give il to hoy who
can show me the way" and the next
thing We knew he had dashed that
lunatic square in the face and was
cutting him along to the nearest cleya-
tor
He came back In few minutes,
looking as cool as cucumber.
"WLat did YOU do with him. asked
the clerk, Kind Of awod and half
scared
Got a couple of the corridor sweep
erS to put him in a bath and turn the
cold water on him. Thatll take the
whisky out of him. Now, if you have
a minute 10 spare, ia Ike TO get my
assignment"
We hadn't more than got our rooms
marked Off for us when | saw Mr.
Chadwick coming across from the
farther of the three elevators He was
smiling sort Of grim, as if he'd made
killing Of some sort with Mr.. Dun
ton. and instead of heading back for
his car he took the boss over to a
corner of the lobby and sat down TO
smoke with him.
They didn't seem to he talking any
thing private. SO | sat down just be
yOnd them 50 sleepy that could
hardly see straight. Mr., Chadwick was
telling about his early experiences in
Portal City. how he blew in first on
top Of the Strathcona gold boom and
now he had known mighty near every.
body in the region in those days,
While he was talking. II taxi drove
up and one Of the old reSidcntNrS came
in from he street and crossed to the
elevators; a mighty handsome, stately
old gentleman, with fierce white mus
taches and a goatee. and "SoUthern
Colonel written all over him.
"Theres one Of them now; Major
Basil Observation-Disclosures born and
raised, as you might guess Mr.. Chad
wick was saying
] grabbed at the name, Basil right
away: 1t isn't such very common
name, aud Mrs. Sheila had said some
thins-under the water tank, YOU rec
OlleCt-ahout Cousin Basil who
was to have met her at the train. |
was putting two or three little private
gueSSeS Of my own together, when one
OF the elevators came down and here
came our two. the young lady and
the chunky little girl. with the major
chuckling and smiling and giving an
arm to each. They had apparently
stopped At the Billiard only TO wait
until he could come after them and
take them home.
| saw the boss sit up in his chair
and stare at them. Then he said:
That's Mrs Macrae with him now.
Is she a member Of his family"
"A second cousin, or something Of
that sort" said Mr. Chadwick. u met
her once at the majors house ont in
the northern suburb last summer"
Mr.. NorcroSS let the three of them
get out and away. and We heard their
taxi speed M and trumdle off before
he said "She is married, I'm told
Where is her hu>band?'
Mr. Chadwick looked up as If he'd
already forgotten the three who had
just crossed the lobby.
"Who-Shcia Macrae? Yes, she
has been married But there isn't any
huShaud-shc'S widow
For quite while the boss sat star
ing at his cigar in way he has when
ne is thinking right hard and Mr..
Chadwick let him alone Then, all Of
sudden, the boss got up and showed
his hands into his coat pockets.
I've changed my mind, Uncle John
he said, looking sort Of absent-Iike out
of the window TO where the majors
taxi had been standing If YOU can
pull me into that deal tomorrow NOR
ning-with an absolutely free hand to
do as think best. mind you-l'il take
the job"
fTO BE CONTINUED