The Boss of Wind River

ing, and her surprise at seeing him was considerably more apparent than any joy she might have felt; for she was carrying on an interesting affair with a young gentleman who really

e said. "Why didn't you

oe, feeling the coolness of hi

gagements which I can't very well bre

hat's left. You're going out, and I s

ired permission, and feeling that she had perhaps shown

se you won't care to come in; but you may see me that f

is hat. Miss Garwood bowed, and Joe acknowledged the salute mechanically. It was onl

aimed. "Do you k

way." Her annoyance was genuine, but his words were not the cause of it. She disliked

n that particular friend," Kent obs

became thoughtful also. Shortly afte

s head was lean and alertly poised, by virtue of the keen, ever-working brain within. The face was narrow, hard, and determined; and the mouth, set awry beneath the close-clipped gray moustache, was ruthless and grim. It was,

," he said, "wh

ine day, though cool. Beautiful weat

ss. Snow blockades and wash-outs and natural phenomena producing them received hi

who have time to burn,"

g. "I saw your daughter go by in a car as I came downtown. Lov

said her father grimly. "

some one else is paying her bills. Plent

kerman's indirect methods of approach

y, Ackerman?" he asked. "You do

nd evident sincerity. "There was a very good-looking

growled Garwood. "Who

ing the sensation in advance, "his na

htened in his chair as if he had

this summer. I heard somewhere-you know how these things get about-that she

s size oath. "Why didn't

ocent summer flirtations I attached no

with a man's shadow. However, I'll put a stop to this at once.

an indignantly. "He simply woul

mber market on the O. & N. and the Peninsular. Crooks is pretty strong, but this winter must break Kent, and after that we'll get Crooks. We absolutely must have the water powers which K

has contracted to deliver--" Ackerm

gives him a new lease of life and delays our plans; but if he doesn't c

hat his tender for the Wind

h for them. His credit is becoming badly strained.

we prevent

ear Wind River. We can't touch the other camps, so far as I can see at present, but if

e called his daughter into his privat

ant to know what there is b

responsibility for the leak on Ackerman. "

nd. Is it

hat a

with me. How far has this

d calmly. "Mr. Kent has mer

"you don't mean to te

e we are-

e sense. You can't marry him. He is a nobody; he is on

e lovely reflection. "You are not complimentary, papa. Don't

e," said Garwood cynically. "I won't have

hy

won't mince matters with you, Edith. Inside a year Kent will be lo

married him you wo

ctly. Not a cent during m

ice, as she looked at it. She was already tired of Kent, anxious for an excuse to break with him, and she had secretly dreaded the affair c

man," she said. "We would both be miserable, if it

ch more easily than he expected, found a certain amusement in her

d, with another beautifully plaintive sigh. "He is to call

," said Garwood. "Write your note and gi

pa, don't you think I am a very du

a smile of grim comprehension. "How mu

od's study. The railway man, seated at his desk, eyed him

ss Garwood," said h

"My daughter has given me this not

up with perfunctory regrets. There was no possibi

the contents of this

are of t

bject to her engagement to me

my daughter into a clandestine engagement, which was not a manly thing

your money at all. I am in a position to marry. The secret engagement

sharply. "Then it was my d

lly as he felt bound to do after th

tormy interview with a disappointed, unreasonable youth who would protest and indulge in heroics. He felt quite kindly toward this young man, whose business, nevertheless, he intended to smash. Inwa

have made your acquaintance, Mr. Garwood. By the way, plea

slink from the house. What she saw was an erect young man who paused on the steps to light

r Edith Garwood fell far short of love; but as he looked at it, he could not tell her so. So tha

ion and stick to business." He became thoughtful. "So old Ackerman's a friend of Garwood's. And Garwood tells me I'm not in a position to