THE CENTRE REPORTER, CENTRE HALL, PA. Ses PENNSYLVANIA few We've corral.” Ee eo——— i —————— — E a minutes too Iate, got JOHN SMITH BLUFFS A CRAFTY BANKER AND GETS HOLD Starbuck, our footing—inside of the The Real | an By FRANCIS LYNDE | lustrations by IRWIN MYERS | OC *, YR Copyright by Chas. Scribner's Sons CHAPTER I1X—Continued. sre pone ing at. tiare and hunt with the hounds, excuse me if I say that you been altogether fair with Timanyonli Ditch, or with Colonel Baldwin, Kinzie. A friendly banker help sell out his customer. You know that, as well as I do. Still, you it." You'll to defend himself. “It was a business transaction, Mr. Smith. As we buy and sell for anybody who eomes along.” “No, we don't, Mr. Kinzie; we pro- tect our customers first. ent instance you thought your tomer was a dead one, anyway, so it wouldn't make much difference if you should throw another shovelful of dirt or so onto the coffin. way of it?” The president was fairly pushed to the ropes, and he showed it. vou,” he snapped. “Are you big enough crowd?” “You'll cost is going Smith, the sight something,” see; and to you and the blandest no smoother than his “Is that right, Dexter? “That's the w Dave,” said the rt who, whatever might be in the field of high finance, lacking the nerve to fight ing in any partper's The president of National turned “What do you want i + L said tone, to capitalist, hig Hmit iS mn ay it looks inchman i ht } unquesti quarrel. the to Mr. Smith?" he cordially. Brewster Smith back Smith. too “Nothing that vou'd give us a little bu thing—" “And a checking balance iate siness loyalty, for for im necessitie the With all trained that banke his in Kinzie's own s 10t be show of would be n Denver or Ch hurry about that The from a upon it locking the Once more horns with p optim was however, driving the pen. Jaldwin's worth something, and it astrous to let these two get a mi way with- } to the out anch Brewster City “Sign don't kr oring them solidly National. vou two" he sald. “I » of your new of piece two-name paper, anyhow.” Stith took up the sli at it. It w at for twenty money fairly to drive ie nal f in¢ squarely before he “We don't zie, ('8 go with it.” he sald with becoming grav ity. “I'll stand rejoinder. “I both to say tl kind of a an national the strongest p and accommodation 100 I Wi ind dollars, hat Mii would begin. want this at all will wodwill unless the bs ink was the brusque vrsty ¥y you, } ut it's only fair to you int vou've got the biggest combination to buck you utilities corporation with rt of political backing.” “I doubt If you ean tell us anything that we " said Smith coolly, as he put his name on the note: and when signed: “Let this the Timanyonli Ditch, if you please, Kinzie, and we'll transfer it later. It's «quite possible that we sha'n’'t need it, hut we are willing to help out a little on your discount profits, anyway. Fur- ther along, when things shape them selves up a bit more definitely, you shall know all there is to know, and we'll give you just as good a chance to make money as you'll give us.” When they were safely out of the tank and half a square away from It, 0 don’t already know, Jaldwin to credit of gO « nd mopped his forehead, “They say b man can't sweat at this altitude,” he s smarked. “I'm here to tell you, ‘mith, that I've lost ten pounds in the 11st ten minutes, Where in the name «f jumping Jehoshaphat did you get your nerve, boy? You made him be- lieve we'd got outside backing froni somewhere.” “1 didn’t say anything like that, did rr “No: but you opened the door and he walked in” “That's all right; I'm not respon- gible for Mr. Kinzie's We were obliged to have a little ad- yertising capital; we couldn't turn a wheel without it Put me in touch heiress, knocks his employer, for dead mitted by Dunham, at a town in the Rocky tion ditch construction camp. Williams, the superintendent, who Smith, in a more important place. financially because Eastern able property. Smith finally retary of Baldwin's company. acquaintance with Corona Baldwi He goes to interview a ruin for Baldwin's company. cashier of Lawrenceville Bank and Verda Richlander, of dishon- «me for embezzlement actually com- thinks he can use the tramp, John The ditch company is in hard lines olonel Baldwin and take over valu- appointment financial BOC as n. the colonel's winsome daughter, 4 with a ood business lawyer, and I'll start the legal machinery. Then you man by where and interview crowd, man. I your want to know exactly Can 3aldwin lifted his hat and shoved his “I reckon I can; there are only sixty or seventy of 'em. And Bob Stillings is your lawyer. Come around the cor- ner and I'll introduce you." CHAPTER X. The Rocket and the Stick. For a full fortnight after the pre iminary visit to the Brewster ational bank Smith easily busiest man in Timanyoni county. himself in the Hophra discarding the working because he was shrewd to dress the new part becom- he flung himself Baldwin called the “mirac g” campaign with a zest wgging moment. in the fourteen-day period 1 offices were occupied Pa 1 floor of the Na- il build Rtillings, most efficient ol had was the tablishing and khaki only nough ingly, into on the Brewster City ing; securea nd the gh Line had been the Brewster City Na- any's deposi- stock-books mnyoni with wnmed as the comj ficial fiducis th dam the ing generously doubled, plant had been inst alle working day the he WAS in quarries his, the new If broader dened, wi er direction ce with a few lers he had in ords “Powe » a th . and by the inted and 1 Oorougn can delivers rity of the original Timar n stock had been organized, f the him a fighting a promise of should be needed. Not to Maxwell had Sm the fall imensions of the prize for which Tim yoni High Line Colonel Baldwin Wil m Starbuck, Maxwell in- by courtesy his partner in Little Alice mine, the wheel within the wheel ; new {reasury chance; more if it or to th 1vestors revealed wns entering the and one and alone knew how the great gr eastern utility corporation represented by Stanton had million or in the acquisition of the Esca- grant, which would be practical- worthless as agricultural land w out the water which could be obtained only by means of the Timanyoni dam and canal system. spent a more lante 1 ly ith- With all these strenuous stirr it ngs in self that Smith found little time for social in- dulgences during the crowded fort. night. Day after day the colonel begged him to take a night off at the ranch, may say it the proffered hospitality at the week- end. But Smith did refuse it. It was not until after Miss Corona-— driving to town with her father, as she new offices that Smith began to con- gratulate himself, away from Hillcrest. For one thing, he was learning that Corona Baldwin was able to make him see rose-colored. When she was not with him, he was a man in daily peril of meeting the sheriff. But when she was present, calm sanity had a way of losing its Miss Corona's fourth visit to the handsome suite of offices over the Brewster City National chanced to fall upon a Saturday. Her father, president of the new company, as he drifted out to the ralled-off end of the larger room, where the financial sec retary had his desk, “Colonel-daddy tells me that you are to Hillcrest for the coming out end,” terrupted the financial secretary's brow-knittings over a new material contract. “I have just wagered him a nice fat little round iron dollar of my lowance that you won't, How about ir Smith looked up with his best-na- tured grin. “You win,” he sald shortly. “Thank you," she laughed. “In a minute or so I'll go back to the presi- dent's office and collect.” Then: “One lodging and breakfagt of was about all you could stand, wasn't it? I thought maybe it would be that way.” “What made you think so?” She had seated herself in the chalr reserved for inquiring investors, There was a little interval dinner, us of glove-smooth- Ing of a desk end at him and sald: “Will you forgive me if erfectly ridiculous questi “Certainly. Other people , day. clear sky, she smiled across the + ‘Ory “Is—is your name really should vou as just here that Smith one of Miss Co- another ( d ¥ ty See 1's many moods—or tenses——an a new one to him. She © arrassed, don't want to tell aliases, It's like John Doe o Roe, you know." “Haven't you “l have a mid He was | he sal it ordina » plain ‘John.’ 't know mmented, And then: do you United States?” why you half “How many suppose thers should absently ught Smiths’ in the “Oh, I don't know vey vam RUPSK, The ex-cowpuncher, who well up the middle rounds tune's ladder, shook’ his head Was now of for. doubt- on fully. “Don't you make any brash breaks, John, Mr. Hiram and his crowd can swing twenty millions to | your little old dollar and a half, | and they're not going to leave any of | the pebbles unturned when it comes to | saving their investment in the Esca- lante. That's all: I just thought rd { drop in and tell you” Smith went to his rooms in the hotel {a few minutes later for din- i ner. He found the linen drawer in his | dressing-case Fairbairn one to change overflowing. Opening | another, he began to arrange the over- flow methodically, The empty wag lined with a newspaper, and ¢ headline the upturned sprang at him like a venomous. He bent underrunning para;j rage neg for drawer gle on thing lower the dull mounting the the printed li May moment made mself an disappeared on th is still at another « bered that } { Dunham on The large Ance of $100 arrest reward hension and as $2.000 by the bank director CHAPTER XI. The Narrow World. ¥ | glad of that,” she told him | he tried to make her say wi lt But ¢ glad, she talked pointedly of things and presently went back to her father's office. There fine perspiration standing on the fugitive's forehead when she left him. were little beadings of fice force had taken their departure, he still sat at his desk striving to bring himself back with some degree of clear- headedness to the pressing demands of his job. Just as he was ahont the it up and go across to Hophra drifted in to open the railing gate and to come and plant himself in the chair of privilege at Smith's desk end. “Well, son: you've got the animals stirred up good and plenty, at last” he sald, when he had found the “mak ings” and was deftly rolling a cigar. ette—his one overlapping habit reach | ing back to his range-riding | respected daddy-in-law--Mr. Hiram Fairbairn; you know him--the lumber king.” “I'm listening.” sald Smith. “Dick's wire was an order; instruc. | tions from headquarters to keep hands off of your new company and to work strictly In cahoots—‘harmony’ was the | word he used-—with Crawford Stanten. | How does that fit you?” The financial secretary's smile was the self-congratulatory face-wrinkling of the quarry foreman who has seen his tackle hitch hold to land the big { stone safely at the top of the pit. “What Is Maxwell going to do about it?" he asked. “Dick 1s all wool and a yard wide; | and what he signs his name to is what | he is going to stand by. You won't lose | him. but the wire shows us Just about | where we're aiming to put our leg into | the gopher hole and break It, doesn't Ley “I'm not borrowing any trouble. Mr Fairbatrn and Lis colleagues are Just | quiring of son Smith flung { the new 1 earned his men for whom he overs i i a meed of under the surface enrrent { ing business tide a bitter un on t wckward went ining b step on | when he into a hardware and bought a pistol. The | fighting spirit which had sent him handed against the three jump ors was gone and in its place there was undefined as yet, ch. free clain a fell determination | but keying itself to the barbaric pit Try as hard as he may, Smith finds that he cannot keep senti. ment out of his life. His fear of discovery and arrest increases. Important developments come in the next instaliment, (TO BE CONTINUED.) Sea Gives Up Eatables, Early strollers on the beaches as far north as Belmar recently recov- ered from the surf enough food to stock a country grocery, says a Sea Girt, N. X.. dispatch to the New York Times. The flotsam included canned goods of many sorts, but mostly tomatoes and asparagus; one man carried home three tubs of good butter and many clothesbaskets full of lemons, all of which were fresh and hard. Submarine activity was scouted as a cause for the pickings, but one guess as to their origin was that some vessel, a warship or possibly a big yacht, returning from a long cruise had passed up the const and her erew had emptied the larder overboard so as to be certain of abso. lutely fresh provisions when next they put to sea. T0 GOVERNOR Legislature Just Before Ad- wn. — —- —— — -— wo. — — so —- — - ILEG B EES HTH EH TH HT TT HIT 4, Flood of Neasures. VETOES KILL THREE BILLS There in the Hands of the Bilis—Some Are Now Governor 600 Vetoes and Some Measures That Have Been Approved. State Treasury Strong. hy several ves the The got ymmonweaith fund balance the $1.000,000 general last August below mark While the receipts during the past month were amounting to $2,688,234 in fund alone, the payments also were large and $2,582,796 was paid out of this fund The total receipts for the month were $2,817,053 and the payments were $150,000 in excess of this amount, be. ing $2.985.494 heavy, the general For Elasic Contracts. Governor Brumbaugh approved the Stern bill. which permits Philadel phia to award contracts by the unit system The measure, which was" an amendment to the Bullit Charter act, under which he city was required | to appropriate the tota sum involved the construction of a public Im The Stern bill permits contracts to be awarded for a portion of the pro posed improvement. prisoners the gals Montaome gteward work Berks « farmers helt. when visited by specu them $2 the au game © week, who « ered for their potat to enter yg n fused tion Hawley Qu . John and Char 8. Richardson, prominent Reading young men, have arrived in France members ~f the Princeton Unit mobile Alien women in bloomers farm work near Bristol There an organized movement for consolidation of a part of Lower Chichester township and the borough Marcux Hook. which in. cludes Trainer and Linwood Heights The new moor truck company for the National Guard, organized at Lan- caster. was inspected by Major R. 8. Williams, United States army Young Mrs. Irvin Martin held the horses of a mower her husband was driving near Chambersburg to let him catch three runaway colts. The colts approached the horses in the field, and the latter broke and ran, throwing Mrs. Martin in froni of the mowers cutter bar, which ran over her and severed her right foot mangling the ankle and foot badly. All over Frank lin county women are working in the hay fields nto any G tothermel As Quier is driver of an army auto. are doing is the of
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers