FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135  
136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   >>   >|  
n among the jobbers. But the few he had not called upon the day previous, appeared even less interested in his proposition. As he came out of the Pacific's establishment, he brushed against a heavy-set man with gray hair, who was just going in. Excusing himself for his awkwardness, he glanced at the stranger's face. It was Silvanus Rock, of Legonia. Gregory passed on. Rock apparently had not recognized him. Yet surely he was not mistaken in the man's identity. The flabby face with its sagging folds of pink skin, the snake-like eyes and the long Roman nose could not have been the inheritance of any other than the magnate of Legonia. And yet, what business could Rock have with the jobbers? Gregory wondered as he walked up-town to get a box of candy for Aunt Mary and Dickie Lang. While he made his purchase, his mind was filled with his meeting with Rock. In some vague way he began to associate Rock's presence in the jobbing district with the failure of the dealers to become interested in his solicitation. When he reached the office of Winfield & Camby at four o'clock, the matter still filled his mind. "Mr. Hawkins just stepped out," Mr. Dupont informed him. Then the manager cleared his throat and beckoned Gregory to his private office. "It sometimes happens," he began, when the door closed, "that we are forced to change our plans, owing to an unexpected event. Since you were here this morning, I feel that what has happened in the interim, warrants us in our decision. In view of that, I wish to say that for the present at least, we will not send Mr. Dalton to visit your cannery." "Why not?" Mr. Dupont shoved an evening _Times_ across his desk and pointed to a marked item that appeared therein. "That will explain for itself," he said. Gregory read: RIOT AMONG THE FISHERMEN AT LEGONIA This afternoon when the foreign fishermen were peaceably engaged with their seine, they were brutally attacked by a number of ex-soldiers and sailors employed by the Legonia Fish Cannery, and driven from the beach. Gregory read no further. "It's a lie, Mr. Dupont," he said hotly. "My men do not pick fights. A few nights ago the alien fishermen endeavored to crowd them off the beach and they----" Mr. Dupont interrupted with a peremptory wave of his hand. "You may be right," he said. "But I'm not interested. Whatever the merits of the case are, the fact remains that you are mixed up in a lab
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135  
136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Gregory
 

Dupont

 

Legonia

 

interested

 

jobbers

 
office
 
fishermen
 

filled

 
appeared
 

morning


pointed

 

unexpected

 
marked
 

explain

 
decision
 

happened

 
Dalton
 
interim
 

present

 

warrants


cannery

 

evening

 

shoved

 

brutally

 

endeavored

 

peremptory

 

interrupted

 

fights

 

nights

 

remains


merits

 
Whatever
 

peaceably

 

foreign

 

engaged

 
afternoon
 

FISHERMEN

 
LEGONIA
 

attacked

 
number

driven
 

Cannery

 
soldiers
 
sailors
 

employed

 

identity

 
flabby
 

sagging

 
mistaken
 

surely