Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-13
CHAPTER XI.

yf{QiQ2 kerS cabin on his way to
SH8aaD barley, Poles wife came out
to the fence and stopped him. She was
a slender, i'll clad woman, who had
once been pretty, and her face still had
a sort Of wistful attractiveness that
was appealing to one who knew what
she had been through since her mar.
riage.
"Are you goin' to town. Mr.. Alan?"
she asked nervously.
"Yes, Mrs. Baker," Alan answered.
"Is there anything can do for youT
She did not reply at once, but came
through the little gate, which swung
on wooden hinges, and stood looking up
at him, a thin. hesitating hand on his
bride rein.
Pm afeerd some'ns happened to
Pole" she faltered. "He hain't been
home fer two whole days an nights.
It's about time fer i'm to spree agin,
an I'm powerful afeerd he's in trouble
lowed while you was in town that
you mought inquire about i'm an let
me know when you come back. That ID
sorter free my mind little. didn't
close my eyes all last night"
'.I'll do all can, Mrs. Baker," Alan
promised. But you mustn't worry
Pole can take care Of himself, drunk or
sober. I'll be back tonight"
Alan rode on, leaving the pathetic
figure at the gate looking after him. 81
WONDER" he mused, what Uncle Alb
would say about love that has that sort
Of reward. Poor woman! Pole was her
choice, and she has to make the best Of
1t. Perhaps she loves the good that's
in the rascal"
He found Rayburn Miller ut his desk
making out some legal document.
''Take a seat" said Miller. "I'll be
through in minute. What's the news
out your way?" he asked as he finished
his work and put down his pen.
Nothing new, believe" said Alan.
T've been away for two days. Not
having anything else to do, made 1t
my business to ride over every foot of
my fathers big investment, and, to tell
you the truth, I've come to you with a
huge idea. Don't laugh. l can't help it.
1t popped into my head and sticks,
that's all"
Good! Let me have It"
Before tell you what it is" said
Alan, II want you to promise not to
ridicule me. I'm as green as sauQ i'll
business matters. But the idea has
hold of me, and don't know that even
your disapproval will make me let II
loose"
THAT'S good way to put It," laugh
ed Miller. 1.-THE idea has hold of you
and you can't let it loose. 1t applies
more closely to investments than any.
thing else. Once get into deal and
you are afraid to let 1t go, like the chap
that held the calf and called for help
"Well, here it u.s." said Alan. 1--WE
made up my mind that a railroad can
and shall be built from these two main
lines to my fathers lumber bonanza
| Miller whistled. A broad smile in.
quilted the quicker of his lips, and then
his face dropped into seriousness. A
look almost Of pity for his friends ere
dulity and inexperience came into his
eyes.
II must say you don't want little
thing, my boy" he said indulgently
Remember you are talking to fel
low that has rubbed up against the
moneyed world considerably for chal
raised in the country. The trouble
with you, Alan, is that you have got
heredity to contend with; you are Q
chip off the old block in spite of YOU
belonging to later generation. YOU
have inherited your fathers big ideas
You are sort of Colonel Sellers, who
sees millions in everything you look at
Alan's face fell. but there remained
| in it tenacious expression that wor
Miller's admiration even. while he de
plored it. There was, too, ring o.
confidence in the young farmers ton,
when he replied:
"How much would railroad through
that country, eighteen miles in length
cost?"
Nothing but survey by an exper
could answer that even approximate
~" said the lawyer, leaning back il
his crealling chair. ''If you had thu
right Of way. a. charter from the stat
and no big tunnels to make nor lonl
\ bridges to build, you might, shoult
, say, construct the road alone-withou
locomotives and rolling stock general.
! for little matter of one hundred ant
fifty thousand. don't know; Pm onl,
guessing; but it wouldn't fall unde
} that estimate"
II didn't think it would" replied
l Alan, growing more enthusiastic. "Noy
then, if there was railroad to my fa
theirs property, how much would hi
! 10000 acres be worth"
Miller smiled again and began t
figure on scrap of paper with pen
] Gil. "Oh, as for that" he said, q
would really be Notwithstanding uncut
unsawed, including world of tai
bark-at least $25 an acre-say clea
half million for it all. Oh, l know
looks Us plain us your nose on you
face; things always do on paper. l
looks big and it shines; so does a spi
der web in the sunshine to a fly; bu
you don't want to be fly. my boy
and you don't want any spider webs
on the brain anyway"
Alan stood up and walked to til
door and back. Finally he shrugge
his broad shoulders. 81 don't car
what you say" he declared, bringin
his hand down firmly on AIiller's desl
1T will pay, as sure MS I'm alive
There's no getting around the facts.
will take quarter of million inyes,