Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-05-05
PAGE SEVEN

ing your way to the end like a strong
man, and that was right. But you
have been more or less reckless-and
that isn't right or fair or just to a lot
Of other people"
The tramping stopped and I heard
him say: 81 don't know what you
mean
Il mean that matters have come to
such q pass now that you can't afford
to take any risks-personal risks. II
the plan the enemy is trying doesn't
work, it will try another and a more
desperate one"
you've been talking to Ripley" he
laughed. Ripley wants me to become
a g%un-toter and provide myself with
a body-guard. I'd look well, wouldn't
I? But what do you mean by the plan
the enemy is now trying'T'
She hesitated a little, and then said:
Il shall make no charges, because 1
have no proof. But I read the news
papers, and Mr.. Van Britt tells me
something, now and then. You are
having a terrible lot Of wrecks"
THAT is merely bad luck" he re-
joined easily.
"Rashness is no part of true cour-
age" she interpolated, calmly. Gas a
private individual you might say that
your life is your own, and that you
have a perfect right to risk it as you
please. But as the general manage
~ fhn roiIrnaG with N lnt nf 1-pr,t
friends holding office Under YOU you
can't say that. Besides. you are fight
ing for a cause, and that cause will
stand or fall with you"
"You ought to be a member "f<his
new reform legislature tllar some c.
our good friends think is coming NJ
the pike" he chuckled hut she ignored
the ~good-natured gibe and made him
listen.
81 was visiting n day Or Two at the
capital last week, and there are in
fuences at work that you don't know
about. If the opposition can't mak,s
your administration a failure, it won't
hesitate to get rid of you in the easiest,
way that offers"
There was silence in the majors
den for a minute OF so, and then the
boss said:
"As usual. you know more than you
are willing to tell me"
'.rerhaps not" was the prompt IN
swer. perhaps I am only the on
looker-who can usually see things.
rather better than the persons actual
ly involved. Hitherto I have urged
you to be bold, and Their again to be,
bold. Now l am begging you to be
prudent"
"In what wayY"
Careful for yourself. For example,:
you walked out here this evening;
don't do that any more. Come In q
taxi-and don't come alone"
l couldn't see his frown of disagree
ment. but l knew well enough it was
there.
'Tfere spoke the woman in you,"
he said. "If 1 should show the white
feather that way, they'd have some ex-
cuse for potting me-"
There was a silence again. and I
SOt uP 4ulCLAS LIZ SAOSSCu lAS ululu6-
room to the big recessed window where,
I stood looking out into the darkness
of the tree-shaded lawn. 1t was pretty
evident that Mrs. Sheila KIN W a heap
more than she was telling the boss,
just as he had said, and | couldn't
help wondering how she. came to know
it. What she said about the increased
number of wrecks looked like a pointer.
Was she in touch with the enemy in
some way?
Then my mind went back in a flash
to what Maisie Ann had told me. Was
the husband who ought to be dead, and
wasn't. mixed up in it in any way2
Could it be possible that he was u
of those who were in the fight on the
other side, and that she was still keep
ing in touch. with him?
sm>-ee~,.~1 MA 800.