The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-07-14

1t was pretty nearly nine O'Clock
when the editor went away, and Mr..
Norcro$ was just saying to me that
he guessed we'd better knock OF for
the night, when we both heard step
in Mays room. A second later the
door was pushed open and a man
came in, making for the nearest chalr
and tlinging himself into it as If hed
reached the limit. 1t was Colllns-
wood. He was chewing on a dead
cigar and his face was like the face
of a corpse. But he was sober.
Naturally, supposed he had come
to make trouble with the boss on Mrs.
Sheila's account, and I quietly edged
open the drawer of my desk where
kept Fred Mays automatic, SO as
to be ready. He didn't waste much
time.
Il saw you as was coming away
from Hendricks last night" he be-
gan, with a pickering rasp in h.. voice.
did you 60 up against the Gun mao
loaded for you?"
Mr.. NorcrOss cut straight through 10
the bottom of that little compllca'
ton at a single stroke.
"What Mrs. COllingwood said to me
or what | said to her, can nave III
possible bearing upon anything ina
you may have to say to me- or Una
), 7 can consent to listen to, Mr.. Colllng
}. wood"
J, The derelict sat up in his chair.
v But you've got to keep hands OIL
h lust the same; at Hendricks, ana
it this other business, too. If you doh
e there is going to be blo'd on III
e moon! Get me-"
e The boss never batted an eye i
p taking it for granted that you al
sober, Mr.. Collingwood,' he said.
re you are, you must surely know I'LL
n. threats are about the poorest posslp
ne weapons you can use just no"'
IT It's plant, from start to hniSh
is grjtted the man in the chair. Il haVel
of done a ID thing more than to ca
ir. a few checks for-for expen>es' u
IT. turn the money over to Bullock NJ
yn Hatch tells me that I was WORK.
ne with a spotter-his spotter-and u
op he can send me up for bribery.
be a lie. I don't know what Bullock
the with the money, and ! don't want
ose know"
the "But you had orders to give II
tn him when he required 1t, dloh So'
way Mr.. NorcrOss cut in.
dis "That's none of your BUSINESS
} it want YOU to choke this man Hatch
of me-"
the Tho boss had picked IN his pal
day knife 81 don't know why you shC
Don come to me for help" he said. "
hen have been hand-in-gove with II
can constructors ever since you came
was here. Two days ago you khe"
and tbev had set trap for my spe
train on the Strathcona branch-a
that that was meant to kill me-"
? in # was random shot, and l X
and that Mr.. Norcross was just CUES
leral at where it might land when ne
1t in It. But it went home; oh, you D
et " went home! ,
talk. oh you" gurgled the bou'
it half starting to his feet. "Why shou
try 7 want to see you killed? Haven
owa- done enough to me?"
"N'ow the word was slamme
my him like a bullet. And then:
they told YOU in the beginning, we
knew 90 into any phase Of it that INV
'alled Mrs Collingwood. Get back into
that own boat. Are you trying TO te
wire now that Hatch is threatening
were "He's played me for come-on
'ovide says he's got the whole business s.
ppers in black and white, with aho
were and all that. He had the ner
com. tell me less than an hour ago
should he'd burn me alive If l didn't L
THESE mark"
"what does he want you to
they "He wants me to stick aroun'
hadn't On that he can use me agalhs
md he He knows how you're mixed W