Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-08-20


After being welcomed, the old I'M
perialist made great show of spread
Ing ribbon-tied currency and wrapped
rolls of gold. Then he placidly set.
tied back, licking the slender glass of
shaved vanilla-fiavored ice which VIII
liams had offered him.
Williams was sick of Fushiki. WHY
hadn't he heard from Alberta? Why
hadn't he gone to Osaka himself. in
stead of sending Wens? Perhaps Wells
received his letters there. What did
this old bird want? He, Williams
wanted cold bath. And sleep. But
this money!
Marakito saw the others eyes lose
their iackluster appearance at the
sight OF the gold. He broke open q
second roll, and set down the empty
glass with polite hiss
There are three thousand dollars
upon the table," ne told the glass.
Williams had none Of Wells ORR.
entail restraint.
What for?" he asked anruptly.
Marakito closed his eyes. "a days
pay. Pay? Reward, rather. would
be displeased if the bridges were COM
plete-too soon. Your company is
hned thousand dollars for each days
delay. On the table is triple that
amount. Refund a third to your EN-
ployer. Keep a third for yourself.
The remainder for that other" speak.
ing of Wells.
'WhyY
"A reason you would not under.
stand. Your employer loses nothing.
1t must be secret. Tell none but the
other engineer" He kept hand on
his short knife, none knew what these
queer foreigners would do. ''That is
for up to twenty days. No more"
A hurried picture passed through
Williams mind. 1t was possible. There
had been trouble already. There might
be more. Spans lost. Pieces gone.
| Quicksand. Gordon was not infaIlible.
Why-why not keep it all?
The engineer moved in his chair
and the eyes of Marakito opened with
a snap. HE would not take It," Will
liams said briefly.
HE need not see what might
happen" Marakito understood OF
what Williams was thinking.
HE would see"
"In the old days." the Jap's eyes
slitted trifle, "there would be a
k:life-zzz-but now: questions would
be asked"
Williams shivered at the grim tone.
Excitedly, with nervous fingers. he liz
cigarette. Before he could speak,
Marakito asked softly: III 1t is per.
mitted to ask, perhaps the other en-
| gineer has :. does he like WON.
en-? He might be entlced away? mol
Wine, then? He does? Yoh! It Is q
simple matter We will entertain him.
| You say-do not look amazed, | have
| lived In America, or how should ]
| speak thus?-you say 'Ho! There are
| influential men here There has been
trouble. You visit them Be friendly.
| Drink wine with Them You slap him
on the back. Be a sport Tickle
| him gently in the ribs BE a devil In
| this homely town. That is how. We
will do the rest"
HE will not go. Not in working
hours"
Marakito looked at him sadly.
"How? Are you not the chief? Is he
not under your orders?" He caressed
the golden pile with his eyes. 1--WE
will not hurt him."
Williams clawed his shirt pocket for
another cigarette What had Sander.
son said? No booze. The last chance.
Wasn't this the way?
ut is true" he agreed. II am the
chief"
Wells grinned when he was told of
his new duties.
"Sort Of glad-hand boy, huh? How
| are you, Marakito-San? Accept OF
| this excellent cigar, which cost ven.
We hope it blows up, and you with it,
| you old hypocrite. Don't you know
we realize that you are cumming up
the works?" He laughed "That the
stuff, Ray? AS easy as easy. Be sure
to write Uncle Jim that I'm entertain
er for the Fushiki end of the firm. I'd
hate to have him hear that I'm set
ting out into the bean-oil district on
my own" He yawned. "Gosh, but
I'm all in. 1 ought to write home my
self, but I'm going to hit the rice
straw. You send 'em all my love,
Ray" He paused. '"This'll give me a
chance to brush up my hushido: that's
the code of honorable conduct. Ray,
| and it's some long-winded affair"
The little shell-curving rooted tea
house of Fushiki was gay with lam
| terms. All of the panels had been re-
moved, and Wells took his place with
out speech or welcome upon the zabu.
ton of silk. Marakito was about to
| do honor to the foreign engiaeer.