St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1922-07-29

y! w |aEk
ri Think It's DID impairment a
You to Come Here Modelling In My
Business"
to come here meddling In my business.
l might have expected it. You've al
ways been an impertinent meddler."
"Mebbeso," agreed Clay serenely,
showing no surprise at this explosion.
'But I'm here. And put question.
Shall ask it again?"
mo 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" filed him with pas
sion Of impotent hate.
els that quite correct7 Did you
buy control In the market7 In point
of fact, aren't you holdin' a bunch
OF proxies because Whitford wrote
and asked the stockholders to sign
them for you to voter What you In
tend doing is moral fraud, no mat
ter what It's legal aspect is. You'd
be swindling the very stockholders
you claim to represent, as we'll as
abusing the confidence Of Whitford."
''What you think isn't sof the least
Importance to me, Mr.. Lindsay. II
you're here merely to offer me your
advice, suppose I shall now have
regretf1lly 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.
II reckon I'll not hurry off, MFR.
Bromfleld," Clay replied easily. You
might think was mad at you. TIL
stick around awhile and talk this
over"
Unfortunately I have an engage
ment," retorted the other icily.
"When7
II really think, Mr.. Lindsay, that is
my business"
I'm maxim it mine," said Clay
CURLY.
Bromt1eld stared. II beg your par
don?'
Il said 1t was mine too. You see
bought coupla shares Of Bird Cage
stock yesterday. I'd hate to see Whit
ford ousted from control I've got
confidence In him.
ats your privilege to vote that
stock this afternoon. At least 1t
would be IL 1t had been transferred
to you on the books. I'll vote my
stock according to my own views"
II WONDER" murmured Clay aloud.
"What's that7'' snapped Bromfield.
II was just fgurin' on what would
happen If you got sick and couldn't at
tend that annual meeting this after
noon," drawled the westerner. II
reckon mebbe some OF the stockhold-
ers you've got lined up would break
away and Join Whitford.'
The New Yorker felt 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 Bromfeld reached for the
telephone.
The large brown hand of the vest
erner closed over his.
I'm talkin' to you, Mr.. BromAeld.
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"
"Im 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' some2 / sure ought to comb
yore hair for IT.
Bromtield made hasty 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 story about
two men In locked room that did
not reassure him now. One Of the
men had been this cattleman. The
he had suffered. "Let me
out! I'll not stand this! You can't
bully me r he cried shrilly.
Don't pull yore picket-pin, Brom-
field" advised Lindsay. "Pve elected
myself boss OF the rodeo. What say
goes You'll save yorese'f heap of
worry If you make up yore mind to
that right away"
what do you want7 What are you
trying to do7 I'm not a barroom
brawler like Durand. don't intend
to fight with YOU
You've ce'tainly relieved my mind"
Clay lazily. whats yore
own notion of what i ought to do to
you, Bromfield2 You invited me out
as friend and led me into a trap aft
er you had fixed 1t up. Wouldn't
tirst-class thrashin' with hawsswhip
be about right7'