The Ordway new era., 1921-06-17

up whatever mystery there was about
that. The wall switch for the electric
light in the lower hall at the head
quarters was right beside the outer
door jamb-as l knew. 1t had burned
out in some way. and that was why
there was no light on when 1 went
downstairs. And in burning out it
had short-circuited itself with the
brass lock of the door; Fred didn't
know just how, but Grimmer had ex-
planned it. l asked him if Grimmer
had explained how ITO volt light cur
rent could cook me like fried potato,
and he said he hadn't.
The afternoon at the office was a
sort of cut-and-come-again repeat Of
the morning, with lots of people mill
ing around and things going crooked
and cross-ways, as they were bound
to with the boss gone and new boss
coming. Nobody had any heart for
anything, and along late in the after
noon when word came of a freight
wreck at Cross Creek Gulch, Mr.. Van
Britt threw up both hands and yipped
and swore like a.pirate. 1t just showed
what raw edge the headquarters
nerves were taking on.
Though it wasn't his business, Mr..
Ven Britt went out with the wreck
ing train, and Fred May and 1 had it
all to ourselves for the remaining hour
or so up to closing time. Just before
five, Mr.. Cantrell, the editor of the
Mountaineer, dropped In. He looked
bit disappointed when he found
only us two. Fred turned him over
to me, and he came on in to the priv
ate Office when l asked him to, and
smoked one of the boss good cigars
out of a box that found in the big
desk.
l liked Cantrell. He was just the
sort of man you expect an editor to
be; tall and thin and kind of mild
eyed, with an absent way with him
that made you feel as If he were
thinking along about mile ahead of
you when you were striking the best
think-gait you ever knew of.
"No word yet from Mr.. Norcross, 1
suppose? he said.
told him there wasn't.
Its very singular to me, and to
all of us. as it is to you," l threw in.
The editor smoked on for a full
minute without saying anything more,
and he seemed to be staring absently
at steamship picture on the wall.
When he got good and ready, he be-
gan again.
"You don't need any common plain
clothes man on this job, Jimmie: you
need the best there Is: real, dyed
in-the-wool Sherlock Holmes, if there
ever were such a miracle"
you think it is case for a de-
tective?"
81 do" he replied, looking straight
at me with his mild blue eyes. "If
l were one of Mr.. Norcross' close
friends 1 should get the best help that
could be found and not lose single
minute about It."
Since there was nobody around
who was any closer to the boss than
l was, l jumped into the hole pretty
quick.
Can you tell US anything that will
help, Mr.. Cantrell?" / asked.
Not specifically; 1 wish / could.
But l can say this: / know Mr. Rufus
latch and his associates up one side
and down the other. They are hand
in-glove with the political pirates who
control this state. From the little
that has leaked out, and the great deal
that has been published In the Hatch
controlled newspapers all over the
state during the past few weeks, 1t Is
apparent that Mr.. Norcross' removal
was thing greatly to be desired, not
only by the Red Tower people, but
also by the political bosses. That
ought to be enough to make all of
you suspicious-very suspicious. Jim
mie."
The tall editor got up and made
ready to go. "If were In your place,
or rather in Mr.. Van Britt's, I'd get
an expert on this job-and l shouldn't
let much grass grow under my feet
while I was about 1t. Call ne up at
the Mountafneer Office II / can help"
And with that he went away.
1t was just little while after this
that put on my hat and strolled
across the yard tracks to Kirgan's
office in the shops. Kirgan was an
old friend, as you might say: he had
been on the Oregon building job with
US and knew the boss through and
through. I didn't have anything spe-
cial to say, but kind Of wanted to
talk TO somebody who knew. So ]
loafed in on Kirgan.
He loved TIE boss Ike . brother
A. soon - I cnms d. - Are6 his ~