The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-17
CHAPTER 5SS.


 Copyright 1920. King Features Syn dicate. Inc.)
 "Yes, Annie I'm here," said Tony quietly.
 His deep rich voice was muted to tense Nundertones. Even in the dusk of my office I could perceive the ice 1 blue light of his eyes fixed steadily and relentlessly on the other man. Neither moved.
 The swivel chair which had l flung as a barrier between Hoadley and myself blocked me off from the 1 two men. I pressed my hands on the chair back. utterly relaxed alrn ost detached from the situation | which I felt had been turned over to l Tony. I was suddenly very tired. Tony stood in the doorway, slen- der, stopped, his sleeve hanging l heavily at his side. I could trace l the stiff outline of his wooden hand | in the glove which always covers | it. Staring at him I was fully con- l scious of the sturdy bulk Of the | other man. But I fe,t that the un- | governed strength of his two pow erful arms counted for nothing now. | A minute passed. No one spoke. No one stirred. Tony stood block | ing the door, waiting. I think, for some sign from me.
 Then Max Hoadley scuffled for | ward heavily toward Tony. He cleared his throat. I couldn't inn agine what he meant to do. Tony l made no move to step aside. The tense stiffness made the stifled thud- | ding of my own heart seem audible almost tangible.
 Swinging suddenly about, Max Hoadley began speaking. I'm darned sorry I took the stand I did. Mrs. Harrison,.' he said, creak- | ing out bis words slowly as if he were | testing them. "I don't often lose my | temper like this. 8ut that cursed | copy got my goat. Remember the | time I would have quit Haldane's cold if you hadn't stopped me? Per haps you11 find it easier to forgive my-eXhfbition of bad manners now l that I've reminded you of that rum pus. I'm sorry. I want to promise you that I'll never as long as I live so help me-get into such a rage again. I acted like a madman. I'm sorry and ashamed.''
 ''You didn't know-what you were doing" I stammered. taking my cue from him and trying to play up to ito hide the ugly truth from An thony Norreys.
 Still Tony didn't stir nor speak. He stood in that doorway like a mar ble figure of Justice. I got a queer feeling that without saying a word or lifting a finger, he was forcing big, powerful Max Hoadley to do pre- cisely as he willed.
 ''Pm the most awkward, b1under- ing fool this side of the Feeble Mind ed Institute Max Hoadley went on, his words creaking out in a great rush now. I'm not used to dealing with ladies. Nothing nut men in my business world so far. And when I take to cussing out printers and lithographers' and you tell one you can handle 'em if Pll step aside, I ought to do 1t without putting up fight. You're right. JI< right. I quit. Run this shebang your way. And send me the bills. Make 'em as steep as you like. I can't be charged too heavily-for the way I've blocked you, like the fool I am.'' I didn't answer. I tried to collect myself. tried to think of the right thing to say. But I was so tired my brain refused to work.
 ''If you could bring yourself to say there are no hard fee1ings''- mumbled Max Hoadley. I wanted to scream out:
 "Oh, go-go! Only stop talking!"
 But the gaunt dignity of Tony be- gan to soothe me. So I managed a steady:
 "Our disa agreement is over-con- cluded. Suppose we put a period to the whole matter, MT. Hoadley. We both understand now-that I'm running this office.'
 "You bet we dol" epaculated MT. Hoadley in tone that seemed less strained and artificial. ''Ill be go- ing now. Goodnight
 Goodnight" I replied mechani- cally.
 "Good-night, Norreys," ventured Max Hoadley. steadying down to a dogged assurance I'm glad you