The Holly chieftain., 1924-02-07

them amused! Twenty-Five cents a
bird-to millIonaires! And having to
be coddled into a good temper before
they'd attend to what was their own
business!
1t was, Joe decided afterwards,
matter of pure chance that tipped the
beam. He had. instinctively, turned
away from the banker in that first mo-
ment of evaporation. and what came
under his eye was framed chalk
drawing hanging alone on the wall. a
portrait by Helleu of young girl. Joe
didn't really look at 1t until the finan-
cier, gancing round to learn why he
didn't answer, saw where his gaze
was fixed.
"That's my daughter" he said.
'They tell me 1t isn't as good. artis-
tically, as another he did of her, brt
1t looks like her. all right. 1t did.
anyhow, two years ago when 1t was
done"
1t was beautiful, Joe thought, and
he said so, his mood and intent chang
ing with the suddenness of an alternat-
ing current as he spoke. When Beat
rice came Che felt sure she would
come, although he'd heard nothing as
yet, either from her or from the law
yer), he'd have man as good as that
do picture of her. And this girl on
the wall was the one he'd picked out
to be his girls friend. A charming
young thing she was, too, though bit
liSpnnNorfinu AM ho
that d---d temper of his, had been
on the point of wrecking the whole
plan, Just when Williamson was max
ing his first really friendly advances
(For 1t hadn't escaped Joes attention
that the banker had never. up to now,
asked him to his house. They'd
lunched together two or three times
at clubs and restaurants) After all,
he'd gone into the china-sllop Of his
own free will. hadn't he? Then why
should he act like bull?
He walked over to Williamson, hold
ing out his hand. You're right all the
way through" he said. "I'll try to
slow down and take 1t bit easier.
And I'll be glad to come up Sunday
morning."
The direct business result of the
Sunday morning trap-shooting was
negligible. 1t was forestalled, indeed,
by an action OF Jennie MacArthur's.
AS soon as Williamson telephoned that
Corbett & Co. would 60 ahead with
the execution of the order, she wrote
Gregory an adroit letter which she
persuaded Joe to sign. 1t had the
look of proffered compromise, since
1t pointed out that the need for the
more complicated machinery, for the
processing Of the fax after 1t had
been retted, was much less urgent
than for the unloading, crushing and
conveying machinery, which If they
were to avoid heavy losses must be
ready when the flax was. 1t was writ
ten in a perfect imitation of Joe's best
vein, offhand, vigorous, shot with
CLEAN Of good-humored extravaganza.
you're wonder, Jennie" Joe said.
as he read II. II swear I'll never do
1t again." Write letter behind her
back, he meant. He had made that
promise before. as her smile reminded
him. II mean 1t this time" he as
serted. as he signed the letter.
1t brought an immediate response
from Corbett. little stiff. in its phrase
ology-for he had no such executive
officer us Jennie at his right hand
but satisfactory in purport. The re-
celving machinery, at least, would be
ready as soon as the fax was.
Consequently. when the two men
met in John Williamson's gun-room, a
mere word or two In addition to
mutually amiable greeting was all the
business needed. Further than that
they were never likely to go.
But II the direct result Of that Sun
day morning excursion was unimpor-
tant, Its by-products were not. John
Williamson in his gun-room was, 1t is
hardly too much to say. revelation to
Joe. Joe began to perceive that Will
Hanson here in his pluce-his fortress.
If you like-was different men;
friendller. perhaps, on the surface
that was just hospitality-but under
meath more arrogant. And, perhaps,
formidable? The question rang in
Joe's mind like tap on big bell. He
answered 1t with grin. All the bet
ter If the stall-fed could show little
redder blood than he had credited
them with.
Corbett. who came walking across
the lawn to the gun-room door Just
about then, had new look about him.
too. Joe had never seen him before
except in business clothes. He was
dressed now in knlckerbockers, a sport
shirt, and sleeveless shooting-vest.
unbuttoned, and the sight of his neck
and forearms gave Joe something more
to think about. He wasn't used to
having to concede an unquestionahle
physical superiority to those in whose
company he found himself. He'd often
thought of Gregory as some one out
of whom 1t would be fun to take
fall. Here was n misconception thor
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