Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-09-23

> aCAuAt W0Hh CUAAIuCuCeu IN the M2fG.
0 Caleb caught only q glimpse or tw
9 Of Mary Morgan. Cox's ofsces wher
:, she worked In her capacity of assls.
3 ant TO the presidents secretary wer
D on another floor from caIeb's room
He knew. through HIS bank, that sh,
had received the money. he Imagine,
. that she had given notice to the com
pany and was waiting for its explra
ton before going away.
Baxter had seemingly dropped oui
Of sight Caleb had changed HIS Iix
Ing quarters at the beginnIhg Of the
month, which was a week after the
meeting In the canyon, and he had net
met him. though he had occasionally
heard him leaving or entering his
room. or moving about II He knew
that Baxter was posted" on the de-
linquency board at the Altrulsts Tor
dues and dIning-room chits. II was
plain that the sale OF HermanOs val
ley had fallen through.
Cox came one morning into CaIeb's
Office and discussed general progress
for a few moments before he took
seat across from the high stool on
which Caleb worked at his drawings.
you've had a falling out with Bax-
teri" he said abruptly. He's after
your scalp and seems to be tolerably
cocksure he's going to get It," he went
on, not waiting for comment. "He
came 10 me this morning with a prop
osItion that Involved. with our accept
ance Of It, your dismissal. or at least
the relegation Of you to a subordinate
position =far=as= Identification
with the project is concerned. / was
busy and made an appointment for
three o'clock. should like you TO be
present"
Thanks" said Caleb. "I1l be very
glad OF the opportunity"
He did not offer and Cox did not
seem to expect any explanations. He
could not tell exactly what Baxter
had for weapons but he rather fancIed
he knew the principal one that would
be employed-and he was ready with
a parry that would prove a bit discon-
certing. This weapon was a boone
rang he had long known the existence
Of and looked forward to seeing II |
launched only to return. and strike
the thrower. II was only since his
talk with Mary Morgan at Ffafghtis /
that he had considered Baxter as like
ly to use IL
Baxter was the type Of man who
would never blame himself under any
conditions. To the score against Ca.
leb he would undoubtedly set the de-
NAL Of the loan. the loss Of the Her
manOs valley sale. his dismissal By
Betty Clinton on the night Of her IA
TIERS sickness and death. and the
fight on the bridge In which he had
been first worsted and then rescued
by Caleb. The rescue would be an
ignomlny. II was doubtful whether
Baxter had been normal since his
mothers marriage. His brain had
been under stimulation or depression
Df alcohol-practicaIly continually
He had broQded over his reverses and
now Caleb was placed as sole author
If all his troubles. the target Of his
against conditions.
Prepared as he was in a measure
or the interview. It struck him that
,ere was a test to see how far he
,ould depend upon Cox where the
best interests were at
take. Cox knew about the boom
rang. IT was the decent thing for
COX TO do to ask him to be present. Z
Eighty decent
Caleb's face was grim when he en-
cred Coxs office at three o'clock, his !
yes were narrowed and his lean jaw
utted. bossed with tense muscles.
OK pushed over cigars with a greet
ne genlally modulated as usual There Y
'as a difference, though; 6ox's eyes !,
'ere cold as shadow ice. AS Caleb :
L his cigar IN his chair the buzzer !.
ounded and Cox took up his desk
hone with little nod at Caleb. The
cd was warning. de-
pite the frosty eyes.
"All right, show him In he said. q
Baxter entered. jnunty. well-dressed, el
is head held confidently. But he VI
,oked the worse for wear, for all his h
lien. He smelled Of the barber shop. G
ut massage had not changed the fab II
mess OF his putty-colored flesh nor p'
tken the rings from beneath slightly al
Ioodshot eyes. He stared hard at al
afeb and then sheered - i
Again Caleb recollected Fields pre- Is
elton. 1t looked as II 1t was swiftly m
ming to pass. Bakers eyes had
st humanity; there was no more soul ia
them than there would have been e
artificial orbs Of transparent glass Al
Ick OF which crimson light was burn. OF
z. The sneer was more OF snarl. 81
ut OF beast. HIS whole face was. m
lmal. Dt
II understood this was TO be a con-
Iential interview" he said.
ITO RE CONTrNfyED m