The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-04-14

up AtaNtAtf tffAetsfA lHtft Wis hHNAA
that The wall switch for the electric
light IN the lower hall nj the head
quarters was right beside the outer
door jamb--as knew II had burned
out In some way and that was why
there was no light on when | went
down stairs. And in burning out II
had short-circuited itself with The
brass lock OF the door, Fred didn't
know just how, but Grimmer had ex.
I planned II. | asked him IL Grimmer
had explained how 40 volt light cur.
rent could cook me like a fried potato
and he said he hadn't.
The afternoon at the Office was a
sort of cut-and-come.again repeat OF
the morning, with lots Of people mill
ing around and things going crooked
and eross-ways. as they were bound
10 with the boss gone and q new boss
coming. Nobody had any heart for
anything, and along late In the after.
noon when word came of freight
wreck al Cross Creek Guleh. Nh Van
Britt threw up both hands and yipped
and swore like pirate. II just showed
what n raw edge the headquarters
nerves were taking on.
Though IL wasn't his business. Mr..
Ven Britt went out with the wreck,
ing train, and Fred May aud had II
all to ourselves for the remaining hour
or so up 10 closing time. Just before
five. Mr.. Cantrell. the. editor OF the
M0untaineer, dropped IN. lie looked
a biz disappointed when he found
only us two. Fred turned him over
10 me, and he came ON in TO the priv.
ate Office when | asked him to. and
smoked one of the boss good cigars
out Of box that found In the big
desk.
| liked Cantrell He was just the
sort Of man yoH expect an editor 10
be; tall and thin and kind Of mild
eyed, with an absent way with him
that made you feel as II he were
thinking along about a mile ahead Of
you when you were striking the best
thnk-gait you ever knew Of
"No word yet from Mr. Norcross, |
supposeg" he said.
| told him there wasn't.
Its very singular to me, and TO /
all Of us, as IL is to you" | threw in, I
The editor smoked on for full |
minute without saying anything more, /
and he seemed TO be staring absently /
at steamship picture on the wall.
When he got good and ready, he be-
gan again.
'You don't need any common plain
clothes man on this job. Jimmie; you
need the best there is: a real, dyed
in-the-wool Sherlock Holmes, If there
ever were such a miracle"
''You think II is case for a de
tectiyef"
Il do" he replied, looking straight
at me with his mild blue eyes. III
/ were one of Mr. Norcross' close
friends | should get the best help that
could be found ana not lose single
minute about IT,"
Since there was nobody around
who was any closer TO the boss than
! was, ] jumped into the hole pretty
quick
Can you tell Us anything that will
help. Mr. Cantrellf | asked
"Noi specifically: ! wish could.
But can say this: know Mr. Rufus
Hatch aud his associates ~ one side
and down the other They are hand.
n-glove with the political pirates who
control this state From the little
that has leaked out. and the great deal
,hat has been published 10 the Hatch
controlled newspapers an over the
state during the past few weeks. il is
apparent that Mr. Norcross removal
eas thing greatly to BE- desired. not
lnly by The Red Tower people, but
llso by Tie political bosses That
,ught TO be enough to make al Of
fou suspicious suspicious Jim
ME-"
The tali editor got NJ aud made
eady 10 70. IF I were ii Your place.
II rather in Mr.. Van Britt's. 10 get
n expert on this tob-ana Tsshouldn't
Fl much grass GROW under my feet
while was about IL Can me up al
he Nountaineer office In can help
Ind with tfat he went away
II was just a little while after this
hat put on my hst and strolled
cross the yard tracks 70 krgan's
flee IN the shops Kirean was an
Id friend. as you might say: he bad
en- 90 tbe Oregon building sob glth
s aud knew the hoes through and
lsraueh. didn't bave anything spe
iai 10 say. bot Kind u wanted 70
slk ID somebody who knew 50
lafed IN on KlrEau.
IT, loved the boss Ike = brother
= soon as I eame IN. b. fired BIZ 80
.eHagfupheF o. some errahd ~ 0tHet
81 made me slf down and ten Hiu
Il knew When ] gof THROUGH "a
as polling 81 his long mnstaehs and
.rlnhllng hls nose rs I've seen brill.
- 1870. sss@Hee