Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 14, 1928 — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

DAMMING HAIRPIN CANON. “That’s been my mistake.” Her face clouded over. “I’ve underesti- mated the forces against me. Think- ing I had only to match wits against a trio of dunderheads, I’ve let myself be manetvered into a corner and have surrendered all my defenses. - “ And now I suddenly find myself facing a financial Goliath—some one so big and crafty, that if it had not been for your revelations in regard to the dam, I would never have dreamed of his existence, or what he was up to. “Why, Mr. Rich,” she said impres- sively, “when I read your note last night, and at last got a glimpse of the true situation, it was like a clap of thunder to me.” Norman looked troubled. “And you really mean,” he ques- tioned, “ that if this dirty scheme goes through, you will be ruined?” “ Beggared.” She spread out her hands. “Carried away by my en- thusiasm, I put every cent I own into these irrigation bonds.” “ But can’t you get from under now, before the facts become known?” he suggested. ‘‘ Sell these bonds even at a sacrifice?” 3 ‘“ Hopeless.” She shrugged. “ No possible market for them. They are not regular county bonds, you must understand, but so-called assessment bonds issued only against the property to be benefited. Unless the irrigation system works out successfully, they are mere waste paper. If I had not taken them up, nobody else would have touched them with a pair of ten-foot tongs.” Norman’s jaw sagged an inch lower. “There doesn’t seem anything to do,” he muttered gloomily. ‘“ Nothing, but to fight,” she retort- ed, squaring back her shoulders. “Fight? Yes, but whom? You can’t do much fighting against a name- less shadow.” ‘No, and that’s why I’m asking you to do this ‘ play acting,’ I spoke about. 197 We've got to emulate the mole, and burrow under ground for a time until we can hear the tread of Goliath gum- shoeing overhead. ‘Meanwhile, I don’t want the county commissioners or Crawford to get a suspicion that we have any idea of other opposition than themselves. It may not be very flattering to you, but I want them to keep on thinking that you are a mere blundering boob, who failing as a salesman has taken the job of writing my letters, and that I am not much better. ‘It’s unfortunate, of course,” she said, “ that you mentioned your discov- eries at the dam to Fenton. But I imagine I can straighten that out all right. “Tl have an angry set-to with him over it, making all sorts of wild accu- sations, and then let him persuade me that you don’t know what you are talk- ing about, and that the dam, even though changed, will answer all re- quirements. “ But don’t do any more broadcast- ing on the subject, please, Mr. Rich,” © she warned soberly. ‘ What you have already learned about the dam, as well as anything you may find out in the fu- ture must be discussed only with me. ‘IT Jay especial stress upon this,” she explained, ‘‘ because even a whisper of the facts might bring disastrous conse- quences. You saw how high public feeling ran there at the courthouse yes- terday. “Well, if my following learned of this, no telling what would happen. They might wreck the dam. ‘There might be a lot of bloodshed.” Norman promised humbly that he would do no more talking; and she re- laxed from the serious mood into which she had fallen. “You ride, don’t you, Mr. Rich?” There was a teasing twinkle in her eye. Norman, remembering the un- dignified tumble he had taken off that bucking pony in front of her the day before, went red as a boiled lobster. CORNICLOOOLK< (E@)