Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-03-22

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whatever he knew he handed on TO
this girl, because she didn't fall.
ats got under my skin, of course.
A girl can't help II if she gets jeal-
GUS, MIR. Belknap. Well. as | say,
she didn't have time for anything
but her job. anyhow. after her ia
Their died. You see, the bank here
had a lot of their notes and Paul
knew all about her affairs. He got
his big idea about that property last
fall. | remember the day he hit on
1t. He figured that the Richards
company was In such q bad way that
he could close 1t up In a few weeks
Ii he could crowd II a little harder.
He wanted TO do that, but he didn't
dare until he heard your father was
going to Europe. He counted the
days until he thought he was safe
and then opened up"
She laughed a bit nervously.
Il guess you know what happened.
Well, he did It, all on his own, and
timed 1t sc your father wouldn't get
wind of what a going on before
he sailed. He started cumming up
her railroad; he brought In this
Baxter TO clean up her men. He
did a lot of other things that | don't
know about probably, thinking he
could force her to the wall. buy at
his W price and then he could 90
over there as sole owner. leaving
his stock In this company In the
bank as security for the loan II
would take to swing the deal. Get
it7 He'd be free of your father.
them.
Now, | happen to know how he
worked 1t. He let the story out-as
he's a way of doing-that your IA
Their was responsible for all this
He's smart, PAUL. He spread that
story pretty cute. I'll say. But you.
Mr.. Belknap. sort of upset his
buggyl
HE found out who this John
Steele al and you'd ought to We
heard him ravei He dictated that
letter and | had to write if to Ellen
Richards. The dirty double-crosser p
She fumbled for her handkerchief
and blew her nose witt vigor.
swell! y said John, with his heart
rapping his ribs. well, and it's
about as | had figured out. He's
played his wi game, using my ia
theirs cards and my fathers name r.
That's i'll But that amt the half
of 1t, John |" Again her hand was
on his arm.
1.-THE thing that got your father sus-
piclOus a how the lumber was
grading. 1t showed up an awful lot
of low-grade stuff. Well, that's
easy II you're inside. Every
week, a after car of good Number
Two Common and better rolls out
of Kampfest, billed to the North
Star Lumber company in ST. Paul
as GULL Yes, sirl You can check
on that l"-nodding. Her voice was
a bit hoarse now. And that North
Star company Is Paul Gorbel. He
owns it. know that and he doesn't
know how | found out. Oh.
he'd kill me II he knew thisi But
It's true"-desperately. It's true.
John. He's embarrassing your ia.
Their every day In the week, and
when your father tried to check up
on 1t by an inspection at the other
end, Gorbel fixed that, too, some
way. | think he switched cars In
st. Paul on the inspector. In other
words. he's stealing Belknap & Cor
bel bllnd!"
She ended, breathing rapidly and
John stood there. so close to her. tri-
umphant emotions surging In his
heart.
He looked down at her face, sc
close to his. I'm sorry" he said
and meant that. Poor, light.
headed kidd be thought. A gold
digger. yes; coarse, vIndlctlve. cruel
selfish. She wanted him to kiss heI
now. She was swaying close to him
He put his hands on her Shout
ders gently.
"Thank you, Marie" he said
Maybe there are things I'll be ask
ing of you laterl Just do your jolt
and wait If | have to see you, II
write a note and let you plan the
meeting.
"I'm awfully obliged. Good night +
He went then. leaving her in tht
doorway. She watched him go anC
finally turned into the house with
sigh.
Gosh |" she said. Gosh. . AS
hard to make as a million dollars +
In his room at the boarding house
John wrote a letter before he turned
In. II was to Bradshaw, brief and tc
the point And the concluding par
agrapb read:
"And so send the following mes.
sage to T. A. Wolcott, St An
thongs Trust Co., Minneapolis. he
Is an old friend; open his reply and
follow any leads be may give you.
"'Please find out at ono all you
can about investors In and officers
of North Star Lumber Co, St Paul.
also advise me of its local standing
stop Send reply to Nat Bradshaw
this address-JOHN BELKNAP.'"