The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-07-01
:(Continued from last issus)

,tzETas .
The case against Durand was pigeon
holed by the district attorney with
out much regret. All through the un-
dekworld where his influence had been
strong, It. was known that Jerry had
begged of. He was discredited among
his following and was politically
down:and.outer. But he knew too
much to permit him to be dragged
Into court safely. With his back to
the wall he might tell Of many shady
transactions duplicating prominent
people. There were strong influences
which. did not want him pressed too
hard. The charge remained on the
docket, but It was set back from term
to term and never brought to trial.
Colin Whitford found his attention
pretty: fully absorbed by his own af-
fairs., .Bromfleld had opened fight
against him for control of the Bird
Cage company. The mine had been
developed by the 'Coloradoan from an
unlikely prospect into well-paying
concern. It was the big business
venture Of his life and he took strong
personal interest In running 1t. Now,
because OF Bromfield's intention to use
forS his own advantage the proxies
made out in his name, he was likely
o,.lose control. With Bromfield in
charge the property might be wrecked
before he could be ousted.
Dads worrying" Beatrice told
Lindsay. "He's afraid he'll lose con-
troll Ssof the mine. There's a fight on
against him."
"What for? thought yore father
was mighty competent operator.
Don't. the stockholders know when
they're. we'll OFF,"
She looked at him enlgmatically.
"Some ore he trusted has turned out
q traitor. That happens occasional
ly III business. you know"
II was from Colin himself that Clay
learned the name Of the traitor.
+ "It's that fellow Bromfield," he ex-
plained.c He's the secretary and Sec
ond largest stockholder in the COM
pany. The annual election Is to be to-
morrow afternoon. He's got me where
the wo0l,s short. I was fool enough
to ask the smaller stockholders to
make out their proxies in his name.
At that time he was hand in glove
with US. Now I'm up against it.. He's
going to name the board Of directors
ana have himself made president"
Clay ventured on thin ice. The name
Of Brom6eld had not been mentioned
to him before in the last twenty-four
hours by either Beatrice or her father.
"Surely Bromfield wouldn't want. to
offend you"
O.. ."Thnt's exactly wha: he would want
to. do"
'But-"
g"Hes got his reasons"
"When Is the electionT
"At three o'clock"
"Where?"
AT the company Offices"
"Perhaps II talked with Brom-
field"
Whitford laughed shortly. "1'd talk
an arm on him If it would do any good.
But 1t won't. He's out for revenge"
.Clay's eyes alighted swiftly on the
older man. They asked gravely ques-
tion and found an answer that set
his heart singing. Beatrice had brok-
en- her engagement with Bromfield.
It was little after eleven O'Clock
next morning when the cattleman
walked into an apartment house for
bachelors, took the elevator. and rang
the bell at Bromf1eld's door.
Clarendon, fresh from the hands Of
his valet, said he was glad to see
Lindsay. but did not look It. He Of
fered his guest choice Of LIQUORS and
selected for himself Cry martini.
Cigars and cigarettes were within
reach on tabouret.
Clay discovered that one difficulty
he had expected to meet did not COM
plicate the problem. The valet had
left to select the goods for some GUS
tom-made shirts. Bromfield explained
apologetically, apropos Of the lack of
service. He would not return till late
in the afternoon.
1--WE come to see about that Bird
Gage BUSINESS, MI. nEOlunclu, IllS Nis-
itor Explained. s"I've been millin' 1t
over I'll my mind, and thought I'd
put: the proposition up to you the way
| itE1looks to me-" 4,
| 4 Bromneld,s eyebrows lifted. His
| face asked with supercilious >polite-
ness what the devil business it was Of
: Lindsay's.
! i>"Mr. WhItford has put In twenty
{ yenrs Of his life building up the Bird
Cage into, good property. It's a
one-man mine. He made it out Of s
hole in the ground, developed It, ex-
panded it, gave 1t n market value. He's
always protected the stockholders and
played the game square with them.
( Don't It look like he ought to stay In
control Of 1T"
Ibid he send you here. to. tell me
that?" p, -: 49, :: -:
- 'No, he. didn't. But he ) ssttrn:
along ia years: BtomAela. II don't
look hardly fright. I'd me for ye!v. to
step in and throw him out. What do
ysu think. about It, yourself?''- -,