Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-06-16

gray eyes. Just for a second. Be
fore you could count one, it was gone
and she was saying quietly:
"A member of his own family? That
is very singular, isn't it? Was there
was this thing that was done actually
criminal?" she asked, just breathing
it at him.
cit was, indeed. The election laws
of this state have teeth. 1t is a peni-
Tertiary offense to bride either the
electorate or the lawmakers"
There was silence for a little time,
and she was no longer looking at him
she was staring into the heart of the
glowing Goals in the CRATE basket. By
and by she said: "You haven't told me
this mans name-the one who did the
bribing; may I know it?"
l knew just what the boss vas GO
ing to do, and he did it; took the slip
Of paper that Dedmon had written on
from his pocket and passed it across
to her. If there was another shock
for her M Of us could see it. She
had her face turned away when she
looked at the name on the paper.
Pretty soon she said, sort Of drearily:
"Once you told me that the true
test of any human being came when
he was asked to eliminate the per-
sonal factor; to efface himself COM
pletely in order that his cause might
prosper. Do you still believe that?"
"Of course. It's all in the days
work. Any cause worth while is vast
~ bigger than any man who is trying
to advance it."
SsThan any man. yes; but for a
woman, Graham; wouldn't you allow
something for the woman?
81 thought we had agreed long ago
that there is no double standard, either
In morals or ethics-one thing for the
man and another for the woman. That
is your own attitude, isn't it?'
She didn't say whether 1T Was or
not. She was holding the bit of paper
he had given her so that the light
from the fire fell upon it when she
said: Il suppose your duty is quite
clear. In the slang Of the street, you
must beat Mr.. Hatch to it. You must
be the first to denounce this bribery,
clearing yourself and letting the ak
fall where it will"
The boss was shaking his head a
bit doubtfully.
1T isn't quite so simple as that"
he objected. 1T don't know that I'd
have any c~ompunctions about sending
Collingwood to the dump. If the half
of what they say of him Is true, he
is q spineless degenerate and hardly
worth saving. But to do as you sug-
gest would be open rebellion, you
know; while Dunton remains presi-
dent, / am his subordinate, and if /
should expose him and his nephew.
the situation here would become sim
ply impossible
"Wellg' she prompted.
"Such a move would rightly and
properly bring a wire demand for my
resignation, of a nature that couldn't
be ignored-only it wouldn't, because
/ should anticipate it by resigning
first. That is a small matter, intro
ducing the personal element. But the
results to others; to the men of my
staff and the rank and file. and to the
public, which, as you say, is Just be-
ginning to realize some Of the bene-
fits of d real partnership with It's
principal railroad; these things can't
be SO easily ignored
.You have thought of some other
eSpedient?"
mo; I haven't got that far yet. But
i am determined that Hatch shall not
be allowed TO work his graft a second
time upon the people who are trust
Ing me. I believe in the new policy
we are trying out. I'd fling my own
fortune into the gap if I had one. and,
more than that, I'd pull in every friend
| have in the world if by SO doing i
could stand the Pioneer Short Line
! upon a solid foundation of honest own
ership. That is all that is needed in
the present crisis-absolutely all"
He was on his feet now and tramp
ing back and forth on the hearth rug.
AT one Of this back-turnings I saw
Mrs. Sheila reach out quickly and lay
the bit Of paper with its accusing
scrawl on the glowing Goals. Then she
J said, quite calm again:
"In time to come you will accom-
plish wen that, Graham--this change
Of ownership that we have talked of
and dreamed about. 1t is the true
solution Of the problem; not govern
ment ownership, hut ownership by the
people who have the most at stake
the public and the workers. You are
d strong man, and you will bring It
about. But this other man--who is
not strong the man whose name WAS
written upon the bit OF paper ] have
Just thrown into the fire -.
He wheeled quickly. and what he
said made me feel as II a cold wind
were blowing up the back OF my neck,
because ! hadn't dreamed tlat he
would remember collIngwaod well
enough 90 recognize him IN that pass,
Ing moment on the sidewalk.