Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-06-17

ing, shifting the dead cigar from one
corner Of his mouth to the other.
! $50 that's the way Of 1t. Is til" he
| commented. HE was working for his
own pocket all the time, and Uncle
Breck stands pat and slips him the
I ace he was needing to make his hand
a winner. Between you and me, Nor
cross, | believe this ID piker needs
killing Il few times, himself"
The boss sat nack i'll his swing chair
ard | could just imagine that he was
trying to get some sort OF proper angle
on this yong fellow VITO. in addition
to his other scoundrelisluS big and
little, had wrecked the life of Sheila
Macrae. | knew what he was think
ing. He had theory that no man
that was ever born was either all
angel or all devil, and he was hunting
for the redeeming streak in this one.
When you looked right hard at the
haggard face you could see something
sort Of half-appealing in 1t; something
to make you think that perhaps. away
back yonder before the spelling be-
gan. there used to be man: never a
strong man, l guess. but one that might
have been generous and free-hearted,
maybe. I got fleeing little glimpse
of that back-number man when he
turned suddenly and said:
zone night few weeks ago when
I was full up, Hatch got hold Of me
and told me you were out at the Ken
drick place with Sheila. He made me
believe that ought to 60 out there
and kill you, and I started to do 1t.
Do you know why l didn't do it?"
mo" said the chief, mighty quietly.
swell, 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
bigger ass Of myself than I'd al
ready made. I 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,
I remembered it 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. I thought
"Let that part Of 1t go and tell me
about this other trouble" he said.
'How badly are you tangled up in
this political business?"
1--WE given 1t to you straight on the
bribing proposition. Uncle Brock used
me as a money carrier because-well.
maybe 1t was because he couldn't
trust Bullock. didn't know definitely
what Bullock was doing with the
checks I cashed for him, though I sup
posed. Of course, 1t was something that
wouldn't stand daylight. II was only
a side issue with me- was coming
out here anyway. knew Sheila had
made up her mind-God knows she's
had cause enough: but I 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 a 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 I might say to a better man In
ike circumstances. You have done all
the harm you can, but, as see It.,
there doesn't seem to be any need Of
your staying here to suffer the con-
sequences. Why don't you 60 back to
New York, taking your wife with you,
If che will GOT"
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: l can't
duck. You know what Hatch is hold
ing me for. He told me Just little
while ago that II I stepped aboard Of
a train. I'd be arrested before the
train could pun out"
It was handsome little precaution
on the part Of the chief Of the graft
ers. If a fight should be precipitated-
II the boss should try to checkmate
the C. s. & w. gobble-the arrest and
indictment Of President DuntOn's
nephew would serve bully good and
we'll as a dramatic bit Of side play
to keep the newspapers from print
ing too much about the other thing.
III you really want to 60, l think
it can be arranged In some way, in
oite 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 If the helpful suggestion had been
lighted match to fire hidden mine
Of rage. Collingwood sprang to his feet,
with his dull eyes ablaze.
mo, by Godw he swore. I'm 60
ing to make him come across with
those affidavit papers first You wait
right here, NOrcross. You think I'm
all orr hut Til show Won There isn't