Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-12-13

lessly, and a down swooping taxi swerved
from his path, grinding p%rofanely to a
stop. Walter waved an eloquent hand
and completed his circle, reaching Broad
way as the traffic officer lifted his
whistle. Zip! Walter slid past him as
he blew.
Before him stretched the long river of
Broadway, sunlit and raucous. Up 1t
drove Walter, a c~harioteer, his exhtlara-
ton stretching beyond the mechanism of
his car. demanding right OF way, over
taking and passing delivery wagons,
trucks, limousines. He felt Arner's eyes
unde the bristle of pale lashe nibble
curiously at him. Magnanimously he
handed him a cigaret, steering dexter
ously with one hand. Who was Arner,
any way, put a fool from New Jersey with
a little money? He hadn't made a new
invention. had he? Something new in
the history OF the world?
Walters silence broke into words; all
the real estate phrases he had heard Tor
so long, all he had struggled ~awkwardly
to use; lovely, enticing, compelling
phrases, as he drove, a conqueror, along
the avenue where great buildings lifted
facades pale blue with spring shadows.
In the later afternoon Walter drew up
at the curb in front of the office win
dow; he edged his car into the space just
ahead of tn ecoup that Clement drove,
instead of leaving room for ONE possible
departure of Clement. Then he walked
into the office, through the railing gate,
and laid on Clements desk a thin green
slip, a certihed check Tor elgnt tnou-
sand.
"Arner's down payment" he said, brief
ly. "He took the whole corner. Coming
in tomorrow morning"
Clement pressed his finger tips against
/ tha rhppk drpminp N along the glass SIR
face toward the light. Fine, Morgan"
Damn fine. Biggest deal this year"
Walter stared over Clements head down
the long room: each separate island OF
desk had its lighthouse, green shaded,
except Philips. Philips was out-on Am
sterdam avenue, maybe. Suddenly the
corners of the room seemed crowded with
shadows Of old humiliations, urging him
to reprisals.
Have a cigar, Morgan?" Clement had
put on his bluff. hearty air.
Thanks, no." Walter put a forefinger
} on the check. you stow that in the
safe tonight, will you? I'll want my COM
mission tomorrow 1t was funny. Glenn
ent had a way of keeping you standing,
like a clerk, while he sat enthroned
Now Walter swelled above him, almost
as If he pushed his hand over the smooth,
puzzled face, squashing 1t down into the
striped necktie.
II want an understanding, too, Glenn
ent. Philips is q nice young fellow, and
of course you wan you son-in-law to
get ahead. But he's through picking up
commissions that belong to me. I'm his
senior here" That was the way; roar
him down before he had the chance to
roar you down. Clements pushed his
chair back and rose. He didn't like hav-
ing his face squashedi
See here. Morgan, are you trying to
imply
I'm not implying a thing. I said 1t"
Walter bent forward, his hand closing
around the gooseneck lamp, twisting 1t
so that the metal shade lay like q bowl,
holding the bulb. Walter stared at the
filaments, the strong, reflected light
shining up on his brilliant eyes, his eager
n~ostrils, his lean, dark shaven cheeks
n chin. You'd never guess how damn
noisy that light is. would your Lucky
we can't hear it or we'd never turn on
a light. Worse than any amount OF
static" He tipped it slightly, SO that
the light burst up over Clements face
turning him INTO a blinking. puzzled
owl. Didn't even know 1t was noisy
did you? Well, I've almost got 1t tanned
He twisted the lamp into its proper in.
verified position. Good night"
Clement stared after him. AS Walter
climbed into his car he saw him staring
like a fish In an aquarium. through the
window. Walter laughed and started the
car.
Lucy opened the door for him; hel
cheek averted from his kiss, was brittle
with restrained Indignation. Well, what