The Washington times., 1921-03-05
By Jane Mclean.

- sese..s
BY Jane Mclean.
AYow Mr.. barley was not par
IN ticularly anxious to hear an
exposition OF John StoverS
reasons for being thore. but he lis
toned because there was nothing
else 10 do.
"we were talking about selling
Sut 20 the trust the last time ] was
Asre," said Slower conndentially.
'You were talking about It," Oar
-AIi right: I don't care how you
put it--well. I want to hake that
proposition TO you again"
my views on the matter haven't
changed" said barley. -
That's because you think you're
IN the same position you were then
you're not"
barley smiled induigentiy. "oh.
I am not" he remarked sarcastic
you are not" Slower reiterated.
when came here before i had
very advantageous offer-an offsr
I believe any sane business man
would have accepted, but you
turned II down because you hap
pened to have old-fashioned ideas
about business morals. All right,
now I'm going to make the same
I Sffer again, barley, and ! do make
Il and I want your answer to II. -
"And I'm going to say now just
what I said them" said barley. rs
that allr'
.eWait a minute: that's not all.
You refuse to sell; now suppose
that I insist that you sell"
'Tnsist all you like. Stover. but
don't forget that hold the ma
jority of the stock, SO when II
comes to voting your insistence
won't 60 very far"
"That's where you make a mis-
take, barley: you don't hold ma
jority; some one else does-I do
The ex-warden tapped his chest
with significant pride.
mo good, Slower. II won't
work."
NOT HERE TO VOTE.
you don't believe it eh? All
right. seeing is believing. isn't III?
tStover, ! hold . certain amount
Of the stock and my brother holds
n certain amount; between ms we
control-rm telling you this to
save a lot Of unnecessary talking"
You're right up to a certain
point" said Slower. rising with
triumphant air and thrusting one
hand into an inner pocket. Your
brother does hold . certain amount
of the stock, bat he's not here to
vote It."
mo, he happsns to be In Africa"
said Darley drily.
Exactly, and have here
proxy to vote an his stock" and
the ex-warden drew forth a duly
accredited paper and held 1t OF at
arms length for the amazed OAR
ley to see-
.-That surprises you. chr Well
I thought 1t would-a. trip to
Africa by q trusted agent-an
airplane flight, and the thing was
done. Why, my man found your
brother, tho professor, up tree
studying some damned thing or
other. He was so busy he'd have
signed his life away-didn't want
to be bothered;~ and Slower chuck
led at the thought
Darley moved nearer. Slower
close" he warned. IT want you to
zee it's o. K, but you'd better put
your hands behind your back
frst"
To this suggestion Darley made
no reply. He could sec on closer
siGht that his brothers signature
adorned the paper. and he tried
not to show what the knowledge
meant to him and his.
well, what's the verdict nowT'
stover's voice had a new ring of
inso1enco.
~The verdict Is the same. Mr..
Slower. exactly the same" He was
beaten and he knew 1t, and instead
Of dismissing Slower he sank into
q chair and began to think rapidly
II there were any way he might
avert what he considered a catas-
trophe for which he would event
ually receive full blame.
Slower looked down At him and
then with an elaborate motion re-
placed the precious paper in his
bill fold and returned 1t to the
security Of his pocket.
For . moment neither spoke.