The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8274, 30 October 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

["The Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October 17th.]

CHAPTER X. WHAT CAN HE DO? Lucas Isaacs was lounging luxuriously when DioK walked into the loom, a big cigar between his tfißth, and deep speoulfctiou at the back of bis constantly shifting eyes. He was a cool man, and looked op with u smile. He aould smile at will in any situation; then he iose, and held out a big fat hand, >;pon one finger of which was b diamond ring worth a couple of hundred guineas. Dick frowned at the extended hand, and it was gently withdrawn, but its owner still smiled; then he shrugged his shouideis, and mutmured: •Ob, yon young flre-e .r t -i ! Mr Lnsaf Isaacs wns a big man large would hotter describe him; everything about him was large, including his diamonds. In general appearance, he was handsome and commanding; be had the head of a Dhilantropbist, the nose of a Roman seuator, Hud a mouth as fullblooded as the last of the Caesare. 'I was just thinking about you, Mr Tressidy, 1 he continued. 'Here, why don't you sit down and smoke one of these cigars?' He was tetill smiling, but the black eyes were now literally dancing in thnir eoukets. •I'm not here to shake hands with you, sir, nor to pretend a friendship that I don't feel. Neither am I blinded by your contemptible diplomacy. Yoa hate roe like poison ' 'Oh—ha! ha! You are too amusing, Mr Tressidy. Why should 1 hate you? It is my policy to muke a friend of everybody. One never knows what he may want. You have bought back the property and I am very glad. You have a business head ;your father never bad one—aiid never will. Stop—stop! Don t bo angry. Let me speak; I am on my defence, as it were. I have heard what you nave said about me. iour father borrowed my money.,but £am not a millionaire. I had to borrow from my bankers and bankers stand no nonsense. The 'lireofcors cannot play "ith the shareholders' money. Obligations have to be refiDeoted. Your father never troubled his head about such trifles hs repayments, and the inevitable oame.' He shrugged his shoulders again, after the French fashion, and smiled; then lie leaned forward, and whispered: 'Here comes Stanley and Weeks. If you prefer to see me alone— —' 'I want to see the rogues altogether,' Dick snapped. '1 saw you press the electric button with your elbow. Diplomacy! God help you if that is the best you can do.' Lucas Isaacs turned as white as paper. The glare in Dick's eyes was demoniacal. Was the yotang [ass mad? Then his courage returned; he heard Stanley and Weeks at the door. 'Come in,' beoalledi bathisvoioo was a cackle. 'My partners, Mr Tressidy. Gentlemen, I think you know Mr Dick Tressidy. He has only just come in and I am not yet aware what the honour of his visit portends.' Dick glanced at Christopher Stanley and Edward Weeks: with loathing and disgust. The Matter wan a timid little man, who taught a class at Sunday-school, and quoted scripture. He shrank behind the burley figure of the bellicose Chris Stanley. 'Mr Isaacs knows my opinion of him,' Dick v said, flashing bis baneful eyes upon tne partners, 'and 1 have already to'd him that I prefer to see the three biggest rogues in all England together.' Chris Mianley advanced a step. He was shaking in every limb. His Hps moved, but he did not speak. He raised one arm but it fell nerveless to bis side. 'What sort of dumb show do you call that?' Dick sneered,fwith a short laugh. 'A play without words? Now look here, you preo loufl rascals! 1 know how the ■books have, been maopulated; I know how the plans and the estimates have been stolen, ind sold to rival firms. I know many of the devious ways of your joint chicanery for years past; how you t«*o curs have betrayed my father's trust, and finally become the puppets of youder master villain! But 1 am not here to talk of what is pact; 1 am here to buy back Tressirfy's Ironworks, and to pay the money now!' ' Sfcnn'.ey swore audibly, and added : 'Mover! 1 wi'l stick to my share, and f will make you smart, Mr Dick Tressidy, for whnfi you have saicj ;'n public, and'what you have said here.' Lucas Isaacs smiled and shook his head. 'You see lam helpless, Mi' Tressidy.. I can't sell if my partners are not agreeable.■ I think this must be flntil.' 'To a certain point it is final, scoundrels all! But I am no baoktfoor enemy; you have robbed my father, you have robted his children! You would have cheerfully turned your victims into the streets, to beg or to starve! Now I am your enemy; I oannot afford to wait for the wrath of Heaven to fall upon you; I will punish you witti my own hand, since you refuse to return what is mine by right, at a fair price. You shall not exploit the name of Tressidy, and it is now the business of my < life to bring you to beggary!' Ho flashed upon them a glance of bitter hatred, and walked to the door. Then he awuug round and said, 'Good morning rascals!' The smile was frozen on Lucas •Isaacs' face; Weeks wan shivering, but Chris Stanley roared after Dick:

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'All right, Mr Tressidy. We will fight, and see who wins. 1 have got the thick end of the stick, and you shall feel it!' The partners stared at each other in silence. They heard Dick gallop , away, and felt relieved. 'He is mad!' said Isaacs. 'lt runs in the family. I was afraid he carried firearms, oi I should have put him out ' 'Pish!' snorted Stanley. 'YOU? You haven't the pluck of a maggot in a fight!' There was another period of silence; then Mr weeks spoke: 'I think we had better have the gates kept shut. It only encourages people to annoy the beads of the firm. What with commercial travel lers, and—and ——■' 'Yes, it shall be done,' Stanley said thoughtfully. He looked from one to the other. 'I believe the young fool is mad. Bab!'socffingly, 'what can he do? Ruiu UH-~lieggar us! Rot! We have got the works legally, and the business, and -.he name of Tressidy, and he is a bag of wind.' 'lf anyone cares to bny my share——' hazarded Mr Weekß, but Stanley turned upon him with an oath. 'You cannot sell it—not oin of us here can sell out without the concurrence of both bis partners. I will never agree. It's like you,the biggest the lot to try and shirk it.' 'Gentlemen—gentlemenlsaaoe said," reprovingly. 'Such language! You know that I would not oounten ance cheating.' He frowned at Chris Stanley's ugly mirth. 'Now I don't want to threaten, but you must both reaize that you are trade ing on ray capital Prid if we can't pull together, and I withdraw my capital, I shall starve you out. We have to stiok close—close—CLOSE! Don't you understand? I have invested forty thousand pounds here—l have given you a quarter share each ' 'And what have we done?' flamed iStanley. 'Don't roentou it,' implored Weeks. (To be Continued.)