The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-11-02

Of his proposal q no enect upon MS
shyly smooth manner. "Wlll yon ex-
cuse Us one moment, Lucie' If l may
speak with you In the outer office, MIR.
Gramont would like to show you
some confidential matters which might
influence your decision in this regard
Lucte nodded and leaned back in her
chair.
Gramont accompanied Fell to the
outer office, where Fell sent the Ste
nographer to keep Lucie company.
When the door had closed and they
were alone, Fell took a chair and mo-
toned GramOnt to another. A cold
b%rusQuerie was evident In his man
ner.
"Gramont," he said, briskly, II am
going 70 make that motion, II l want
you to vote with me against Lucie.
Unfortunately, l have only IA third OF
the voting power. l might argue Lucie
into agreement. but she Is II !liiscult
person to argue with. SO | mean that
YOU shall vote with me-and I'm going
to put my cards on the table before
you"
"Ahl" Gramont regarded him coOlly.
Your cards will have to be powerful
~persuaders"
They are" returned joachim Fell. Il
have been carefully leading up to this
point-the point Of selling. have
practically arranged the whole nfrair.
/ propose 70 sell the mineral rights In
that land, largely IN the strength of
few moments ago. That statement Is
going to be given wide publicity, and
1t will be su%bstantiated by other re-
ports on the oil seepage."
You interest me strangely" Ora
mont leaned back in his chair. The
eyes Of the two men met and held In
cold challenge, cold hostility. whats
your motive, Fell?'
"Tll tell you: it's the interest OF
Lucie Ledanois." In the gaze Of Fell
was a strange earnestness In those
pale gray eyes was now a light of fierce
sincerity which startled and warned
GramOnt. Fell continued with a trace
Of excitement In his tone.
1--WE known that girl all her life,
Gramont, and ! love her as a father.
l loved her mother before her-in a
different way. l can tell you that at
this moment Lucie Is poor. Her house
Is ~mortgaged. she does not know. In
fact, just how poor she really Is. OF
course, she will accept no money from
me In gift. But for her to get a hun
bred and fifty thousand In a business
deal will solve all her problems, set
her on her feet for life"
81 see," said Gramont with harsh
impulse. what do you get out Of IL"
He regretted the words instantly.
Fell half rose from his chair rs though
to answer them with a blow. Gramont,
aware Of his mistake, FASTENED to re-
tract It.
Forgive me. Fell" he said, quickly.
THAT was an unjust ~insinuation. and
1 know 1t. Yet, l can't find myself In
agreement with you. I'm firmly set In
the belief that a fortune In oil will be
made off that land % Lucie's. l sim
ply can't agree to sell out for a com
parative pittance, and I'll fight to per-
suade her against doing 1t! AS look
at 1t, the thing would not be just to
her. I'm thinking, as you are, only
Of her interest"
A light Of sardonlc mockery gilt
tered In the pale eyes Of joachim Fell.
"You are basing your firm convic,
tion," he queried, very largely upon
your discovery of the free oilT
ITO a large extent, yes"
II thought you would" and Fell
laughed harshly.
What do you meanT
II mean," said the other, 1ercely
earnest, that for a month I've worked
to sell that land! had young Mail.
lard hooked and landed-it would have
been poetic justice to make him hand
over q small fortune to Lucie! Blu,
that deal Is of, since he's in jail. And
do you know why young Maillard
wanted to buy the land? For the same
reason you don't want to sell. I sen,
him out there and he saw that oil
seepage, as I meant that he should
He thought he would skin Lucie Out
Of her land, not dreaming that I hat
prepared a nice little trap TO swal
low him. And now you come along
"Man, what are you driving at7' ex
claimed Gramont. He was startled b!
what he read In the other mans face
Merely that I planted that oil seep
age myself-Or had 1t done by meu
could trust" said joachim Fell, calmly
He sat back in his chair and took 81
his cigar with an air Of dnslity "Ch,
confession Is shameless. lsvs Luc'
more than my own ethical purity. BE
sides, ! intend to wrong no n In TIL
matter"
Gramont sat stunned beyond words
The oil seepage-a plant.
There was no reason to doubt wha
Fell said. Gramont believed the littl
man sincere In his love for Lucie.
mo matter what the outcome, you
reputation will not be affected" sal
Fell, quietly. "The company whicl
will buy this land Of Lucie's Is con
trolled by me. You understand? Eve1
II no oil is ever found there. I shall
soa IN II That vou will NOT no intore,