Broken to the Plow

for Helen to join them in a motor trip down the Ocean Shore Boulevard to Half moon Bay and home by way of San Mateo. Hil

ange will be good for you. I

idn't know what trouble might be impending and he wanted to

arratt & Co. had granted a discount on fire-insurance business. Obviously all three cases had been planted by Kendrick, and Brauer had walked into the trap with both feet. There was nothing for Fred to do but to explain the whole situation-who Brauer was and why he had an interest in the firm. He found the commi

im another chance. It was inconceivable that they would pronounce the penalty of expulsion, although they might impose a

day. Still, there was a possibility that he had signed the check late last night. He called up Hilmer's office. No, the check had not been signed. Fred reminded the cash

cellation notice," he returned, blandly. "And p

he wouldn't have to request another postponement to the formality of putting the Brauer check through. Of course he had had no business making out a check for funds not in hand. But under the circumstances… What in hell was he worrying for? Everything would come out all right. What could Brauer do about it, anyway? As a matter of fact, h

lock when he slammed down his roll-top desk and prepared to leave. He had planned to meet Helen for dinner at Felix's. He found himself a bit fagged and he grew irritated at the thought that prohibition had robbed him of his right of easy access to a reviving cocktail.

tarratt?" the

nod

was hurt pretty badly, but everybody else is fairly well off… Your wife asked me to drop in and see you. I drove the car that helped rescue them

h yes, of course … naturally…

fair. So far a broken arm is al

air of resignation. He was wondering whether anybo

isitor assen

ound just about what he had expected-a two-story hand-me-down dwelling in the Richmond district, a bit more pretentious and bo

ther loftily. "The doctor says it

ission style and the pictures on the wall consisted of dubious oil paintings and enlarged photographs. A victrola stood in a corner, and the upright piano near the center of the room formed a b

a cow that suddenly had made its appearance in the road the machine had skidded and gone over a steep bank. Mrs. Hilmer's condition was really quite serious. The doctor had intimated that even if she pulled through she might

oken wrist and several bad sprains an

heck for the premium

ll speak to him about it to-m

ed left his seat and stood for a m

"you don't know just how l

," she answer

some one in tempora

no

od night,

presently he found himself in t

owing in fresh from the ocean was sharp of tooth.

ty soared a fresh determination. He would get a woman in his wife's place in the of

arly to Hilmer's office. T

d you're in wrong with the Exchange… I think I'll make out checks direct

a," he returned. "But that's up to you. If you want to write thi

trouble," returned t

about collecting his commissions instead of merely withholding them from the remittance that should have been put in his hand. Still, on second thought, he did feel relieved to know that the matter wouldn't drag on any longer-that he wouldn't have t

r looked down at him through quizzical spectacles. Yes, the Hilmer premi

ed demand

ing the companies to withhold any commissions due that firm until c

full-grown man with standards inherited instead of acquired. Why didn't he go around to the office of Ford, Wetherbee & Co. and beat up his nasty little ex-partner? Why didn't he meet Kendrick's gumshoe activities with equal stealth? It should have been possible to snare Kendrick if one had the guts. And why accept a gratuity from Hilmer in the shape of two thousand dollars more or less for commissions on business that one never really had earned the right to? He began to suspect that Hilmer had instructed his cashier to pay the companies direct. It was probably his patron's way of forcing home the idea that the commissions were a gratuity. No doubt even now he was chuckling at the spec

Helen had removed the bandage from her wrist and she looked very handsome in the half-light of a screened electric bulb. He noticed that flowers had been placed in one of the vases on the mantelshelf and that the man

point-he had a business

he wished

s mission that easily. The doctor had denied anybody a

artnership arrangement,"

that you want him to go in with us?

. "But I'm not!" he

perience…we'd better think twic

all over," he r

e tells me he ordered them paid." "Yes … direct to the companies… That's one of the reasons that

, and she herself didn't see the reason for haste. He ended by tel

s too easy, after all!" She made no other comment, but he read her sc

tiness exposed, she could not be persuaded

k for some six hundred-odd dollars I wrote for Brauer the other day… I presume you k

absurd!" she exclaimed. "Br

ead, he insisted that anything was possible. They

d, coldly. "I'll do my best… B

with Helen for a chance to talk to Hilmer he had a sense of crossing swords with some intangible and sinister shadow; his wife seemed suddenly to have arrived at a state

topped his restless movements and picked up the sprawlin

with a tolerant geniality as she cam

sily, "I got a thousa

er. "A thousand… I do

. "Oh, he can sign checks with his

oken to him about t

he wasn't in an

what is thi

y, it's to help you out, of

tood and watched her recoil momentarily fr

k away from him. He

cy sharpness. "I wanted to see Hilmer _myself! I had a business propo

d, but her voice lacke

meant as a

ned, quietly,

ow to achieve so perfectly. He felt a great yearning overwhelm him … a desir

he asked, suddenly, as

n't any change," she re

ou anything from

a little air, anyway." She followed him to the door. "Then I understan

er was an inc

se shall I

leasure had cooled, but he was still inf

lips. He could see

long," h

th the swift movement

hoed, and the doo

. There was an air of

he found a not

to me… I shall put it throu

of paper and dropped i

d Brauer dare

irst warned him against Kendric

ou tell me that Brauer was your partner?… By the way, I saw Ken

aughed a toneless reply. What