Evening star., 1934-03-30
CHAPTER XVIII.
TOM BEVINS SPEAKS.


moved the small hat and the
berufled jacket and with 1t
~ some of her girlishneSS. In the
plain cream blouse, her hair
drawn smoothly back in a coil, she
looked more the efficient secretary
they had seen at previous board meet
ings.
"Before going into this, Mr.. Chair
man, I wish to ask one favor. VIII
YOU please look upon me as secretary
to the late Mr. Bevins. not as the
wife of a member of your legal de-
partment?
AT the time I received the orders
from Mr.. Bevins pertaining to the
dam and to be executed in case OF
his death, I was not married, / went
to his physician DR.. Kenneth Kelly.
to learn the seriousness Of his condl-
ton.
"Dr. Kelly assured me that Mr..
Bevins had every chance to live to be
a hundred, if he took a reasonable
amount of care of his health. Because
of this assurance, I went on with my
marriage, which had sincerely hoped
would not be thrown from its normal
course by my return to business"
She sat down, conscious that sew
eral stockholders were looking at her
with new respect. Then Morton Lam
pere began to talk and her attention
was literally riveted to his message.
LAS every one present knows. our
dearly beloved colleague, so recently
departed, left S5000,000 with this
little lady" He paused impressively.
He also left her the controlling in
terest in the Bevins Construction Co."
Another pause.
Judith controlled an impulse to de-
mand why she had not been called
into the closed meeting if she held
this power.
Prior to his departure from this
world, the old gentleman had begun
the development of the hobby of his
life, the building of the Rio Dlablo
Dam. During the survey. word came
to me that he was making a vital
mistake, that due to certain phases
of the river bed understandable TO
engineers only, it was not advisable
to follow the natural bed, but start
an artificial channel through virgin
land
and as a result we, the stockholders,
may suffer complete loss of our invest
ment.
I'm an effort to avert this calamity,
we, the remaining members OF the
board. ask you, Mrs. Dale, to re-
linquish your claim on the money lett
for the purpose Of erecting the dam
that we may carry on this work IN
a safe and sane manner, and in &C
cordanCe with the advice OF our finest
engineers.
I'VE are willing to give you time for
your decision"
You needn't" Judith was stand
ing, eyes bright You may have it
now!"
Don't be hasty," warned Morton
Lampere.
"Hasty-" Judith's voice was low,
controlled. "Mr Lampere, the deci-
sion was made for me by Mr.. Bevlns
on the night of August Is. He fore
raw all of this. He even knew that
you would be the one to lead the IN
surrection.
"Mr. Lampere, under no condition
will l resign!"
Judith sat down, tremD1nS Will
emotion, but with her mind alert.
She saw Mathile whisper to Norman,
but Norman did not seem to hear.
His face was haggard and Judith
cried in her secret heart for the pain
she was causing him.
you have made that final, Mrs.
Dale" observed Lampere with sat
isfaction. Now kindly accept the
unanimous resignation of your board
and the withdrawal OF your stock
holders"
1.-THE designations and the with
drawal are excepted" agreed Judith.
and turned to the men who were
watching her with different express
sions. May ask what you wish to
do with your stock?"
I'D like to get my money while
the gettin's good,' remarked one
man.
IF you will make an appointment
with my secretary, l will attend to
that" interposed Judge Morgan.
And now. gentlemen" said Judge
Morgan, II would like to read mes
sage to you from this man whom
you admired and respected during his
life"
"I protest" Lampere was on his
feet This, this is entirely out OF
order"
A low sob from Mathile Bevans
caused the distressed focusing Of in
terest in her direction.