Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-05-13
CHAPTER V
And SATAN Came Also


Il saw your Office lights from the
street." was the way the Red Tower
president began on me, and his voice
took me straight back to the Oregon
woods and a lumber camp where the
saw-filers were at work. "Where is
Mr. NorcrossT
/ told him that Mr.. Norcross was
uptown, and that / didn't suppose he
would come back to the office again
that night, now that 1t was so late.
my name is Hatch. of the Red
Tower company" he grated, after a
minute or two. you're the one they
call Dodds, aren't your"
/ admitted it, and he went on.
"Norcross brought you here with
him from the West, didn't he? What
pay are you getting here?"
1t was on the tip Of my tongue to
cuss him out right there and then
and tell him it was none Of his bust
ness. But the second thought (Which
isn't always as good as it's said to
be- whispered to me to lead him on
and see how far he would go. So /
told him the figures Of my pay check.
I'm needing another shorthand
man, and can afford to pay a good
bit more than that" he growled.
"They tell me you are well up at the
top in your trade. Are you open to an
offer?"
let him have 1t straight then. "Not
from you," / said.
"And why not from me-"
Here was where / made my first
bad break. All Of sudden l got so
angry at the thought that he was ac-
tually trying to buy me that couldn't
see anything but red, and l blurted
out, Because don't hire out to work
for any strong-arm outft-not II /
know itw
For little while he sat blinking
at me from under his bushy eyebrows,
and his hard mouth was drawn into
a straight line with a mean little
wrinkle coming and going at the cor
ners of it.
When he got ready to speak again
he said, you're only boy. You want
to get on in the world, don't you?
Tn offering you a good chance: the
best you ever had. You don't owe
Norcross anything more than your
Job, do you?"
maybe not"
"That's better Put on your hat
and come along with me. / want to
show you what / can do for you in
better field than railroading ever was
or ever wild be. It'll pay you" and
he named a figure that very nearly
made me fall dead out Of my chair.
OF course, it was all plain enough.
The boss had him on the hip with that
kidnapping business, with me for a
witness. And he was trying to fix the
witness.
II guess we needn't beat about the
bushes any longer, Mr.. Hatch" / said,
braciDg up to him. II haven't told
the sheriff, or anybody but Mr.. Nor
cross. what / know about certain
little train hold-up that happened a
few weeks ago down at Sand Creek
siding; but that isn't saying that I'm
not going to-"
If had had the sense of a fed
mouse, / might have known that l
was no match for such a man; hut
l lacked the sense-lacked it good and
hard.
you're like your boss" he said
shortly. you'd go a long distance out
Of your way to make ap enemy Wien
there is no need Of II. That holNup
business was a joke, from stare to
finish. don't know how you and fVor-
cross came to get in on it; the 0ke
was meant to be on John Chadwick.
The night before, at a little dimes we
were giving him at the railroad Club,
he said there never was a railroad
aold-up that couldn't have been ~tood
off. A few Of us got together ffter-
ward and put up job on him; sent
him over to Strathcona and arranged
o have him held up on the way l'Nck."
.'Mr. Chadwick didn't take 1t as a
okel" / retorted.
81 know he didn't; and that's why
we're all anxious now to dig hole
nd bury the thing deeently. Perhaps
re had all been taking a drop too
1uch at the club dinner that night"
At that sweIled up man-size and
licked the whole kettle Of fat into
ne fire.
"Of course, it was joker rip
cd out. "And your coming here to-
ight to try to hire me away from hr.
trcross is another. The woods are
Ill of good shorthand men, Mr.. Hatca,
1t for the present / think SHAH
ay right where l am-whese q court