The Holbrook news., 1922-09-15
opurioht ba Mlhom Mcleod Rome

put the proposition up to you the wa! it looks to me"
 Bromfield's eyebrows lifted. His face asked with supercilious polite ness what the devil business 1t was O. Lindsay's.
 'Alr. Whitford has put in twenty years of his life building up the Bir( 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: always protected the stockholders an( played the game square with them Don't it look like he ought to stay 1T control of it?"
 Did he send you here to tell me that?'
 "No, he didn't. But he's gettin along in years, Bromfield. It don't look hardly right to me for you tC step in and throw him out. What dc you think about 1t, yourself?' | The clubman flushed with anger. q think that it's d-d impertinent of you I tO NObiC hCiC OuoihCcc l might have expected 1t. You've al ways been an impertinent medder.' "Mebbeso.' agreed Clay serenely showing no surprise at this explosion But I'm here. And l put question Shall I ask it again?" "NO need. I'm going to take what the law allows me-what I and my friends have bought and paid for in the open market. The more 1t 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" filled him with a pas. sion of impotent hate.
 ''Is that quite correct? Did you buy control in the market? In point of fact, aren't you holdin' 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, Mir. Lindsay. If you're here merely to offer me your advice. I suppose I 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.
 ''I reckon I'll not hurry off. Mir. Bromfield." Clay replied easily. You might think I was mad at you. I'll stick around awhile and talk this over."
 Unfortunately 1 have an engage ment." retorted the other jelly.
 "When?"
 ''I really think, Mir. Lindsay. that is my business"
 I'm maxim it mine." said Clay curtly.
 Bromfield stared. 'I beg your par don?"
 'I said 1t was mine too. You see 1 bought coupla shares of Bird Cage stock yesterday. I'd hate to see Whit ford busted from control I've got confidence in him."
 Its your privilege to vote that stock this afternoon. At least it would be if it had been transferred to you on the books. I'll vote my stock according to my own views"
 'I wonder" murmured Clay aloud.
 What's that?" snapped Bromfield.
 q 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. .1 reckon mebbe some of the stockhold CTS 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. Mir. Bromfeld 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. "rll not submit to such an in. dignity"
 I'm 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."
 Bromfield made nasty decision to get out. He started for the door. Clay travelled in that direction too. They arrived simultaneously. Claren- don backed away. The Arizonan locked the door and pOcketed the key.
 His host grew weakly violent. From Whitford he had heard a story about two men in a locked room that did not reassure him now. One of the men had been this cattleman. The other-well, he had suffered. Let me out! I'll not stand thisl You can't bully mel" he cried shrilly.
 Don't pull yOre picket-pin. Brom- field" advised Lindsay. I've elected myself boss of the rodeo. What l say goes. You'll save yorese'f a heap of worry if you make up yore mind to that right away"
 What do you want? What are you trying to do? I'm not a barroom brawler like Durand. l don't intend