Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-03-15
CHAPTER vlII-continued

break for you, son. but I'm going
to string along. Huh He
narrowed his eyes and considered.
ats prob'ly so, what you think
about your father. This Gorbel,
now. has got by up here about a
hundred per cent. His men like
him; he's got a reputation for the
fairest kind of dealing. But, look
In back, l can see some smart
work"
He lighted a cigar and crossed
his legs.
"Your pa, now, s a good figure
to pick on and give a bad name.
Most rich men are supposed to be
without any scruple. Working
menll believe that before they will
any good of EN-. Course, he's nev-
er operated In here before, but I've
always heard him spoken of well
by the few old-timers I've known
who worked for him. By jocks,
come to think back, they all like
him! 1t sort of looks, John, like
our case has a lot of angles !"
.
John was the first to enter Paul
Gorbers office after he had seated
himself at his desk for another
days work.
The man looked up, and II he
experienced any reaction other
than surprise he covered 1t well.
"Of all things" he exclaimed.
~John Belknapl Where'd you come
from?"-rIsing, and extending his
hand.
Don't get upl" John ignored the
proffered clasp.
well, you're about the last per-
o | expected to see walk In here
this morning I"
John looked at him with close
scrutiny as he said: "Yes. That's
easy to understand" He thought
the mans face changed a trifie and
that a flicker of dismay showed In
those dark, intelligent eyes. u
didn't figure that you'd expect me-
"UD from Chicago?"
And now a decided, but still sub.
tie, alteration was In the eyes; Cor
bel seemed to be steeling himself
~rallying all his quick wits to ar
emergency.
mo. | haven't been In Chicago
for over six weeks. I've been al
%Shoestring, running the Richards
job"
"Shoestring? RichardsT" Hi
counterfeit Of amazement wal
splendid.
why, yes. Didn't you know
Gorbel?" Pause, while John scru
tinized the other In open hostility
II supposed, Of course, you knew
that Id been there, using the nam
OF John Steele and trying to pul
the operation out Of the hole IT.
In"
And now n faint, faint trace o
color started to climb the man
cheeks as he resumed his chat
and gestured towards another. Blu
John did not sit down. He stooI
there, staring hard at his father
partner.
"Some one In Kampfest tippe'
Miss Richards off to the fact tina
I hadn't dared use my father
name when struck her for a job
/ was let out yesterday, a bit dis
credited"
"Well I'll be d--di" breatheI
Gorbel and Johns temper fiared.
"Forget It'll" be snapped. "Tr
coming clean with you; be maj
enough to do as much with mel
blundered into a mess over yonder
/ found out that a lot of desperat
things we're being done In my fa
TIERS name. We'd had a little diff
ference, Tom and |, and | wei
coined the chance to hit back a
him. ] hadn't been on the Job long
though, before ! realized that wha
was being done wasn't the sort o
plan he'd follow or c%ountenancs
Somebody else was behind II
screening himself behind the BelB
nap name"
"Good lord, mani And you're In
sinuating that / know somethin
about"
"Knowl Known Why, | hear
you make threats to Miss RIchardi
Just a moment before | tossed 20
out of her office In December |"
The other swayed a bit and tn
flush Of temper yielded to the pa
ing of fear.
"Yesl thought 80 r. John mu
tered. Lets come clean with eac
other, Gorbell From now on, let
fight In the open"
"Fight7 That what you're hel
forf A hght7"
John pondered and a hard smi
ffickered about his lips.
"Not unless it's forced, Gorbs
I'm here on guard, maybe.
the first place, I'm going to stis
right here In Kampfesf and ket
my eyes and earl open. Ii Vi
explainablc things keep happenir
10 the Richards OUTFIT, I'm goir