Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-09-30

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though he sensed the elimination OF
an act in the drama between Baxter
and this girl. a scene in which he was
on for a purpose, together with Cox.
She stood fast In front OF the. door.
her arms spread. her fingers ciutching
the outside Of the frame on either
side. Baxter strobe toward her.
This doesn't interest me-" he said
Get out OF my road
"No" The mOnosyllable was an ex-
plosion OF loathing and contempt.
Baxter reconed a little before the girl.
The blonde stenographer was an EN-
bodiment OF hatred and Of determina-
! ton.
mot until Mr.. Cox has read those
papers and heard what am going to
say"
Caleb looked at Cox and the latter
nodded slightly in understanding.
aAll right. Miss Morgan" said Caleb,
you needn't stand by the door. Mr..
Baxter willfstay."
She looked at him and read his face,
then moved away a little while Caleb
Iounged against the door panels and
Baxter retreated before the fury that
the girl manifested Cox looked at
his transformed stenographer through
half-closed lids. He had not yet read
the papers.
I don't imagine you hear Office Cos
sip, Mr.. Cox" she began. hut almost
everyone In your office knows that |
am going to have baby. Thls-Dax-
ter-is its father. He has promised
a score of times to marry me or to
give me money enough to 90 away.
He preferred the latter. And his
promises were like himself. worth
Iessi"
Baxter looked away from her scorn.
first at Cox. sphinxiike in his chair.
then at Caleb guarding the door with
an air Of willing readiness to oppose
his exit He had lost his poise He
crInged under the whip Of her words
and attitude Then he tried to brave
It out with a sneer that lacked def
milton.
This sort Of STUFF . COM
menced Baxter.
Keep quiet" The order from Cox
was so brusque that the lesser spirit
quailed. go on. Miss Morgan"
Baxter came to me. continued the
girl. "snme time ago with a form Of /
option that he wanted me to type. In
II Captain Clinton agreed to sell for
farming purposes only; he resel d
the ranch-house and some few acres
from all sale II was TO be typed in
duplicate and made an extra carbon.
which kept You have II there. I
kept II for reference But when he
brought me a blank form the day be-
fore yesterday. with the name OF Cap
tain Clinton and a witness already
signed. when he asked me to type in
HE manuscript text that he supplied
md 10 do II so carefully that II would
look as II the signatures had been nat
urally made I'm spaces coming at the
right distance from the conclusion of
he typing, II was not hard to know
hat something was wrong-that Bax-
-er had practiced those signatures on
blank sheets until he had got them
lerfect. This option had no reserva-
ions. He did not want a carbon OF
hat-no copy of II will be found
among Captain ClInton's papers. But
made a carbon, the second paper
hat you hold. Mr. Cox"
Cox had glanced over the documents
is the girl made her points and now
lie laid them down.
''You suspected the signatures were ,
orgeries? You knew Captain Clinton
vas dead?" he asked.
Eyes. She spoke half defantly. ,
I knew that. ] have done more than
hat. gave Baxter Information got :
D the office here. did II all because,
p till then, wanted him to marry :
re. He swore that he would II typed :
bis last contract He said II would
ring him In a lot OF money, that the
gnatures were genuine, I didn't !,
haIlenge that because :" :
For a moment she wayered but !
aught herself up. :
But ! didn't trust him. That is :
ny made the second carbon. When !
asked him to go with me and get =
1r license. he laughed at me. Then :,
did accuse him of forgery. He said =
lat II Il was. Clinton would not rise :
ON the dead to dispute II. that no !.
le could defect II. that the witness =
lily signed with a cross and could not :.
ad what was in the option. And -
at was just as deep In II as he was.
suppose II was criminal I have re- '.
yned my position here. have Z.
aged false to the company. You can -
whatever you want with me. do "
L mind punishment as long as he 81
IS to share it.
Baxter WINGED. The girl was in =
ably earnest =