Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-10-13

II
selected for himself q dry martini.
Cigars and cigarettes were within
reach on tabouret.
Clay discovered that one difficulty
ne had expected 90 meet did not COM
pllcate the problem. The valet had
left to select the goods for some Gus
tom-made shirts, Bromfield explained
alphabetically, apropos of the lack Of
service. He would not return till late
In the afternoon.
I've come to see about that Bird
Cage business, Mr.. Bromfield," his Wis
itor explained. 1--WE been millln' 1t
over in my mind, and / thought I'd
put the proposition up to you the way
1t looks to me-"
Bromfield's eyebrows lifted. His
face asked with supercilious polite
ness what the devil business 1t was of
Lindsay's.
MIR. Whitford has put in twenty
years of his life building up the Bird
Cage into a good property. It's
one-man mine. He made 1t out of
hole in the ground, developed 1t, ex-
banded it, gave it market value. He's
always protected the stockholders and
played the game square with them.
Don't 1t look like he ought to stay in
control Of it?"
did he send you here to tell me
that?"
mo, he didn't. But he's gettin'
OF IL, IA
look hardly right to me for you to
step in and throw him out. What do
you think about it, yourself?"
The clubman flushed with anger. Il
think that it's id impertinent of you
to come here meddling in my business.
| might have expected it. You've al
ways been an impertinent meddler."
"Mepbeso," agreed Clay serenely,
showing no surprise at this explosion.
But I'm here. And / put a question.
Shall / ask it again?'
mo need. I'm going to take what
the law allows me-what l and my
friends have bought and paid FOR in
the open market. The more it hurts
Whitford the better I'll be pleased"
answered Bromfield, his manner Of
cynical indifference swept away by
gathering rage. The interference Of
this 'bounder" filed him with a pas
sion Of impotent hate.
us that quite correct? Did you
buy control in the market? II point
of fact, aren't you holdin' q bunch
Of proxies because Whitford wrote
and asked the stockholders to sign
them for you to vote? What you in
tend doing is moral fraud, no mat
ter what its legal aspect is. You'd
be swindling the very stockholders
you claim to represent, as well as
abusing the confidence of Whitford."
What you think isn't of the least
Importance to me, Mr.. Lindsay. If
you're here merely to offer me your
advice, l suppose 1 shall now have
regretfully to say good-day." The
New Yorker rose, thin lip smile
scarcely yelling his anger at this in
truder who had brought his hopes to
nothing
Il reckon I'll not hurry OF, Mr..
Bromfield," Clay replied easily. "You
might think l was mad at you. I'll
stick around awhile and talk this
over"
unfortunately / have an engage
ment," retorted the other Jelly.
"When?"
81 really think, Mr.. Lindsay, that is
my business"
I'm maxim 1t mine," said Clay
CURLY.
Bromfield stared. 81 beg your par
DOM"
ST said it was mine too. You see
bought a coupla shares Of Bird Cage
stock yesterday. I'd hate to see Whit
ford ousted from control. I've got
confidence in him."
"It's your privilege to vote that
stock this afternoon. At least 1t
would be if 1t had been transferred
to you on the books I'll cote my
stock according to my own views"
81 wonder" murmured Clay aloud
whats that?' snapped Bromfield.
81 was just figurin' on what would
happen If you got sick and couldn't at
tend that annual meeting this after
noon," drawled the westerner. 81
reckon mebbe some of the stockhold-
ers you've got lined up would break
away and join Whitford."
The New Yorker felt a vague alarm.
What idea did this fellow have In the
back of his head. Did he intend to
do bodily violence to him? Without
any delay Bromfield reached for the
telephone.
The large brown hand Of the west
erner closed over his.
I'm talkin' to you, Mr.. Bromf1eld.
It's not polite for you to start 'phon-
ing. not even to the police, whilst
we're still engaged in conversation"
Don't you try to interfere with me-"
said the man who paid the telephone
bill. "Tll not submit to such an In
dignity"
"rm not the only one that inter-
feres. You fixed up quite an entertain
ment for me the other night, didn't
you? Wouldn't you kinda call that
interferin' some? sure ought to comb
yore hair for It."