The Dolores star., 1924-04-25
CHAPTER ViiI-continued.

Sllu Joe, Dut the trouble Wlln me Is
that don't know my way about. I've
been getting an idea the last day or
two that these different people I've
been talking TO are in cahoots."
John stared ut him. Great Scott,
man ~ he said. "Of course they are.
Most OF the Industries that are admin
istered from New York are pretty well
tied together inside themselves. But
the textiles ~
well, | don't know anything about
that" Joe grumbled. That's out of
my beat, | guess. 1t looked like a per
fectIy straight merchandising PROPOSE
ton to me. l had something good
that they wanted. But this inside
stuff Look here, Williamson, don't
see why this shouldn't be put up TO
you. Why don't you stay on for two
or three days-and earn your divl-
dends?" He managed 10 throw in n
smile with this, but it didn't take Off
much of the edge Of his words. You
can play this pussyfOot game. You
know all the inside stuff"
I'm afraid l cant take it on" John
said I've got to be home Monday
morning for an important meeting"
The lightness combined with the
finaIity of his tone stung Joe to
flare of temper. Look here, William
son." he said, leaning suddenly for
ward, half across the. table, this Is
serious. We've got thirty million
pounds of that stuff coming in that
we've got to buy at an agreed price.
It's beginning to come in now. We've
got to sell it or we're swamped"
John moved his chair a few inches
hack from the table and leaned back
In it. do you mean TO say" he asked.
quietly, that you've committed your
self as deep as that without having
made any arrangement whatever in
advance for turning the stuff over or
for carrying 1t? You're in very seri-
Gus position if that's the case"
you've known that that was the
case from the beginning" Joe said. He
was as quiet now as John, and very
alert. You made no criticism of that
plan at the April meeting"
Il certainly assumed that your pro-
gram involved taking care of your
commitments" John assured him,
steadily. After a moment he went on.
Times have changed lot since April.
That was the end of a boom. This
thing that's on US now Is the begin
ming of n panic. think. That's the
general expectation here in New York,
anyhow. I very much doubt if you
can sell that flax here before the first
OF the year-and not then unless times
change for the better"
well, If you are right about that"
Joe said. after a thoughtful silence,
"why, 1t takes us over into your de-
partment."
"My Department.
81 mean well have to be carried.
Up to now l have carried my end of
the load. I've made thirty million
pounds of raw linen out of stuff that
farmers were burning in the fields.
There it is. It's good, useful stuff.
It's got value. There's no argument
about that. And now l say it's your
turn. That's plain enough, isn't 1t?
We're all in the same boat
"1f that's your position" John an
swered mildly, "of course we'll have
to take some action on It. It's much
too important a matter for me to deal
with offhand. Come up to my office
say Wednesday afternoon-oh, about
four o'clOck-and well have something
In the way of program to offer. I've
got to run along. I'm taking the Cen
fury this afternoon. You aren't TAX
ing that train, are you?"
Joe shook his head. "Waiting over
till Monday. l think" he said. "All
right. Wednesday afternoon at four
then"
Joe went back to his hotel, a modest
little one in the upper Twenties, with
drew to his own room, where already
he had passed the morning, drank the
whisky he needed, telegraphed his ad-
dress to Jennie Macarthur, and said
she could look for him Tuesday, and
then spent most Of the afternoon writ
ing letter to Violet
1t was the only balm he could apply
to the burning pain of his disappoint.
ment. The letter began stifly-it was
the first love-etter he had ever writ
ten to Violet, or to any woman for
that matter-but after the first few
sentences he ceased to be conscious of
It as thing that must go through the
post office in an envelope, to be read
at Lake Forest on Monday morning
along with the rest of Violet's mail
1t became simple, unmeditated re-
lease of coiled spring of emotions
which had been wound up by waiting
past the breaking point. He re-
preached her with having spoiled his
plan by not coming to New York. and
then reproached himself with having
perhaps. spoiled hers by not having
come to Chicago. He told her crudely
how he wanted her and how unbear.
ably too hard the waiting had become.
He didn't want her by crumbs and