The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-05-20
CHAPTER Y
And saran came Also

And Saran Came Also
81 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 lumber camp where the
saw-filers were at work. sWhere Is
Mr.. Norcross?'
told him that Mr.. Norcross was
uptown, and that I 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
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 1t was none of his BUSH
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 60. So
told him the figures ,f my pay check.
I'm needing another shorthand
man, and can afford to pay 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 it straight then. "Not
from you," ! said.
"And why not from meT
Here was where l made my first
bad break. All of a sudden got so
angry at the thought that he was ac-
tualiy trying to buy me that couldn't
see anything but red, and blurted
out, Because don't hire out to work
for any strong-arm outfit-not If I
know It'll"
For, little while he sat blinking
at me from under his bushy eyebrows,
and his hard mouth was drawn into
a straight line with 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?
I'm offering you good chance: the
best you ever had. You don't owe
Norcross anything more than your
job, do your"
Maybe not"
THAT'S better. Put on your hat
and come along with me. want to
show you what can do for you in a
better field than railroading ever was,
cor ever will be. It'll pay YOU" and
he named 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 heat 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 Greek
siding; but that isn't saying thai I'm
not going to-"
If had had the sense OF field
mouse, might have known that
was no match for such man; but
I lacked the sense-lacked it good and
hard.
You're like your boss" he said
shortly. ssYou'd go long distance out
Of your way to make an enemy when
there is no need of it. That hold-up
business was a joke, from start to
finish. Idon't know how you and Nor
cross came to get in on it; the joke
was meant to be On John Chadwick.
The night before. 1t little dinner we
were giving him at the railroad club,
he said there never was railroad
hold-up that couldn't have been stood
on. A few of us got together after
ward and put up a job on him; sent
him over to Strathcona and arranged
to have him held up on the way back
'Mr. Chadwick didn't take 1T as a
Joker / retorted.
II know he didn't; and that's why
we're all anxious now to dig hole
and bury the thing decently. Perhaps
we had all been taking drop too
much st the club dinner that night
At that l swelled up man-size and
kicked the whole kettle of fat into
the fire.
"0f course, 1t was joker RIP
ped out. and your coming here to-
night to try to hire me away from Mr..
Ntrcross is another. The woods are
full of good shorthand men. Mr. Hatch
but for the present / think l shall
stay right where anywhere cour!