The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-07-10

' s>i'~ UNDERSTANDS -ss-is~tsA atsstst. HtSfNss
perfectly rood-"
You're broke, Everybody slse
knows A. u you don't. Irregular
hnl There's choice OF wurdsf'
Tho speaker laughed silently, ~
Is an 'irroguArity' that carries with
Il free board and lodsin az tho
states expense"
An ineohercnt protest issued from
Nelson's throat when next be
managed 20 make himself audible.
his words werc such as really TO
amaze his hearer II didn't do u,
no cried. Ia a panic.strieken voice
IT was fathers ldeai You had us
crowded-ihere was no other way.
warned him."
Walt a minutel You blame Il on
himf" Grays inquiry was harsh
lncrcdulous. After momentary
pause his ilps moved, but for once
he s,ammcrcd. his ready tongue re,
fused It's duty. lie exploded. finally,
with an oath. he jerkcd open a
drawer In his deuk, From his pocket
he removed his revolver. flung Il
inside. then iammed tho drawer
back into place with crash, You
--ratT he exclaimed. lilo turned
his back upon Henry Nelson and
make a circuit OF the little room.
Its a thing you and l can easily
TX up" the latter frcbiy insisted,
Now that personal matter OF yours
Perhaps I could help you reopen
Il somehow. clear Il up
"Ah' Indccdr'
Give and take, I say. I'm willing
20 do anything can. If"
There won, be any u.s. No
conditions whatever"
is that soy Nelson famed forth.
IN a momentary explosion OF resent.
meut "If you thlnk / intend 20
stand tho brupt OF this. you're
crazy can't afford 10 figure IN
n seandai--bankins scandal-like
this. I'm a young man. Bell has
had his day. He's old. You can
hush this up. There arc lots OF
ways 10 do that Keep me out OF
Il and-and III do what's RICH,
By you. I'll do anything you say
You'll do that. anyhow. Gray re.
piled. in voice that grated lie
fiung himself into HIS desk chair
and. selzlng pen and paper. he be
gan 70 write rapidly. shaklly.
II want 20 see what I'm signing.
Nelson warned. a growl was his
answer
For an intermlnabls time the only
sound In The office was the scratch.
Ing ot that pen. when at last 4
came to an end. Gray rose. thrua,
tho loose sheets into Nelson's hand
then. indicating The vacant chair
said;
sign thRtr'
The wrcatchcd recipient ot this
curt command read the lines care
fully He read them twice. thrice
for his mind no longer functlouct
I clearly. He raised q sick face. II
nally. and Ehook his head
wouldn't be a fooil" he
quericd
Listen. you" Gray's body WA
shaking. his words were uneven
I'm sorry for Bell. but not fol
you, III never forget nor foFgiys
what you did TO me. Nothing car
undo that DiAgraes clinKs 20 q
man, You're golng to get yours
now. and you can't sauirm out d
/ IL. or lis ont % Il. no matter how
/ you try. for sha'n't let you. You're
I ruined. dlscredited. blown up but
/ don't think / want TO send you 4
the penltentlary I'd rather aos yot
walking the streets with dandruf
on your collar. I'd rather keep yol
! 10 look at. Anyhow. you1l hav.
10 sign that"
III youIl guarantee 20 keep ,hll
bank matter quiet-lf you'n protec
me. III sign. Otherwise. you cal
20 TO hell Wen beat Il out. some
how. We can do #"
Innexibly Gray asserted: I'm
going to turn you over. whetho
or not. But I'll help Belt get tn
money 10 repay those loans. He1
probably manage TO save himsel
and-sayo you. too"
! Il won't do ~" Nelson nuni
down the pen. Not on those con
4 dltions You can't bulldoze me. IT
your day 10 crow. but, / warn you
don't push me too far"
Gray voiced an cpithet. II wn!
low pitched. but its explosive force
the impelllng fury back OF II. fairll
/ caused the room to vfbrate. III
] was white OF lip. his rage hat