The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1921-06-24

and the dlspatcherewas instructed 70
work them out on the line during the
night. distributing them TO the towns
that had reported shortages. They
we're not TO be turned over 20 the reg
ular coal yards they were TO be side
tracked and held for emergencies.
Mr.. Norcross came back about eight
o'clock, and | gave him my report Of
how things were going on the line.
A little later Mr. Cantrell dropped In.
and there was a quiet talk about the
situation, and what II was likely to
develop. The Mountaineer editor was
given all the facts, except the one
big one about Hatch's death-grlp on
us. and In turn Mr.. Canuell promised
the help Of his paper 20 the last ditch
though Of course. he had no Idea OF
how deep that last ditch was going 10
be-. l had loi Of filing and lndexlng
10 do. and ! kept at worl. while they
were talking, wondering all the time
n the boss would venture 10 tell the
editor about the depth OF that last
ditch lie didn't guess he thought
he wouldn't until he had TO-
II was pretty nearly niue O'Clock
when the editor went away, aud Mr..
NorcroSs was just saying 10 me that
he guessed we'd better knock OF for
the night, when we both heard a step
I'm MAYS room. A second later the
door was pushed open ana q man
came In, making for the nearest chair
and flinging himself into it rs If he'd
reached the limit II was Collng-
wood. He was chewing on a dcrd
cigar and his face was like the face
Of q corpse. But he was sober.
Naturally, I supposed he had cone
TO make trouble with the boss on Mrs
Shclla's account. and / quietly edged
open the drawer Of my desk where
| kept Fred Mays automatic, so as
to be ready lie didn't waste much
time
81 saw you as / was coming away
from Hendricks last night" he be-
gan, with a pickering rasp in his voice.
"Dd you 90 up against the gun | had
loaded for your"
! Mr.. Norcross cut straight through to
the bottom Of that little compiler
ton at single stroke.
"What Mrs. Colllngwo0d said to me,
or what said TO her, can have no
possible bearing upon anything that
you may have to say to me, or that
! can consent to listen to, Mr.. Colling-
wood
The derelict sat IN in his chair
But you've got TO keep hands OF.
just the same; at Hendricks, and in
this other business, too. If you don't,
there is going to be blood on the
moon Get mef'
The boss never batted an eye I'm
taking il for granted that you are
sober Mr.. CollingWood he said. III
you are, YOU must surely know that
threats are about the poorest possible
weapons you can use just now"
J "I's plant, from start TO finish !"
grtted the man In the chair. 81 haven't
done Il id thing more than to cash
few checks for-for expenses. and
turn the money over to Bullock. Now
! Hatch tells me that ] was working
with Il spotter-hls spotter-and that
lie can send me UP for bribery. It's
lie. don't know what Bullock did
with the money, and | don't want to
know"
"But you had orders TO give 1t to
him when he required it, didn't your
Mr.. Norcross cut in.
"That's none of your business. !
want you 80 choke this man Hatch Off
! of mel"
The boss had picked up his paper
knife. 81 don't .now why you should
come to me for help he said. you
have been hand-in-glove with these
conspirators ever since you came out
here. Two days ago you knew that
they had set trap for my special
train on the Strathcona branch-a trap
that was meant to kill me-
Ii was random shot. and l knew
that Mr.. Norcross was Just guessing
nj where II might land when he fred
e. But IL went home oh, you bet 1t
went home
"D-n your gurgled the bounder,
half starting to his feet "Why shouldn't