The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-12
The The Wreckers
Francis Lynde
tCoasinscd From Yesterday,

II was pretty nearly nine o'clock
when the editor went away. and
Mr.. Norcrcss was just saying to
ME that he guessed we'd better
knock off for the night. when we
both heard a step IN Mays room.
A second later the door was pushed
ppen and a man came In. making
for the nearest chair and flinging
himself into II as n he'd reached
tho limit. II was Collingwood.s He
Was chewing on q dead cigar and
hts face was like the face OF n
corpse. But he was sober.
Naturally. supposed he had
come to make trouble with the boss
on Mrs shelias account, and j
quietly edged open the drawer OF
my desk where kept Fred Mays
automatic. so as TO be ready. lie
didnt waste much time.
Il saw you as l was coming
away from Hendricks last night
he began. with . pickering rAsp In
his voice. did you 40 up against
the gun | had loaded for you
Mr.. Norcross cut straight thru
to the bottom OF that little oompll
cation at a single stroke.
what Mrs. collingwood Faid TO
me. or what said TO her, can have
no possible bearing upon anything
that You may have TO say TO me.
or that I can consent to listen 20.
AIr. Cotiingwood-
a.. chair
But you've got TO keep hands
off. Just the same. at Hendricks
and In this other business. too. II
you don't therc u going 20 be
blood on the mconi Get me-
The boss never batted an eye,
"r'rn taking~it for granted that you
are sober, Mr.. Collingwood." he sasid
III you are. you mus, surely know
that threats are about the poorest,
possible weapons you can use just
now"
ITS Q plant from start 70 nm.
i-h-- gritted the man In the chair
Il haven't done . damned thing
more than 10 cash q few checks for
for expenses. and turn the money
over TO Bullock. Now Hatch tells
me that l was working with q spot.
tsr-hls spotter-and that he can
send me up for bribery. It's \ lie.
I don't know what Bullock did with
the money, and don't want TO
know
But you had orders 10 gfve u
TO him when he required II. didn't
your Mr.. Norcro~ cut In.
That's none OF your business !
wan, you to choke thil man Hatch
Off OF me-
The boss had picked up his paper
knife. Il don't know Why you
should come TO me for help he
said you have been hand-ln-siove
with these conspirators ever since
you came out here You have
known what they were doing TO
destroy the railroad property and
wreck our trains. and two days ago
you knew that they had set . trap
for my special train on the stra'h.
coma branch-A trap that vas meant
to kin me-
II was . random shce and
knew that Mr.. Norcros vns Just
guessing at where II might land
when he fired H. But n went home.
oh. you bet II went horne,
Damn your gurgied the bound
er, half starting TO his feet Why
shouldn't I wan, TO SO you killed.
And what do care what becomes
OF your cursed raiirusds Haven't
you done enough 10 me,-
Nor the word was slammed .;
him like a bullet And then: As
In told you In the beginning. we
won't 20 into any phase Of II tina,
Involves Mrs. Coiiingwood- Get
back into your own boat Are you
trying to tell me now that Hatch
/ 10 threatening your
He's played me for . comeon-
He says he's got the whole business
down In black and white. with af.
fidaviss. and all that lie had the
nerve to tell me less than an hour
ago that he'd burn me alive II !
didn't toe the mark
what does he want you 20 dor
Tie wants me 10 stick around
here 80 that he can use me against
you. lie knows how you're mixed
lup with sheila and that you can't
turn wheel without making u
look - II you were going after me
on your own personal account
There was silence for little
time, and the crackie Of the match
with which Mr.. Norcross reiixhted
his cigar smashed into the stiffness
like q tiny pistol shot It was an
awful muddie. with bloody murder
sticking out Of Il on every side.
IF you have come here with the
idea that | can force Hatch's hand
you are very much misled." said
the boss. at the close Of the electric
pauye. And then: Has he made
| IL appear to you that he was merely
trying to help you avcnge your own
fancied wrongs7-
HE said I ought 10 get you; that
any man who would make love q
a married woman ought 20 be got. =
MY chief was looking past this
derelict, and out thru the darkened
! window.
You don't know me. Mr.. coliins
wood. but you do know your wife
and you know that she Is as far
above suspicion as the angels in
heaven Let that part Of II 20
Hatch was merely using you for his
own ends. II he could persuade you
to kill me off out OF the way, II
would be merely that much gained
In the business fight You haven't
done II thus far. and now he 10
using your check cashing excursion
ms a club with which he proposes
TO brain the entire railroad manage
ment. your uncle included. II we
interfere with his plans"
colllngwood scowled up ut the
ceiling, shifting the dead cigar from
one corner OF his mouth to the
other.
80 that's the way Of II. is IT.