The San Francisco call., 1908-11-15

@N~~NN-t
of frost in the air.
He was glad to be able to tell the
truth without 1inching-
NO; it is one OF the earliest of the
Copah prospects. and suppose the dis
coverer named it 1 am willing TO de-
fend his choice. though. He couldn't
have found a prettier name"
She went back to the matter in hand
with wOmanly swiftpess. But the
mine: you had right to buy it. Didn't
your
I should suppose so. I paid for it
with my own money. anyway"
Then why should Mr.. North use il
as an argument against you in speak
ing to Uncle Sidney? He did that-I
am sure he did that"
Now the water has grown too deep
for me- said Ford. why, North him
self is interested in COpah, openly He
owns half a dozen claims.
Near yours?" she queried-
Ford stopped TO consider. ITO tell
the truth, don't know where mine
is" he confessed Il bought il as the
school boys trade pocket knives-sisht
unseen. You wouldn't believe IT or
grown man. would you?
What made you buy 1t at ALL?
Again ne told the simple truth-and
tried not TO finch.
you won't mind if I say that the
name attracted me? i thought mine,
or anything, that bore your name
ought to be good and-and desirable
And it is a good mine or 1t VIII be.
by and by. Some morning 1 shaI
wake up and find myself rich At least
that is what my partner, Grissby. as
sures me: and / believe him when 1
happen to remember it.
She neither approved nor di5ap-
proved. When she spoke it was OF the
present necessity. we must go back
to the others now" she said. "Or at
least I must Do you know what IS 10
be done tOday%
Ford spread his hands.
Your uncle will set the pace. I
wouldn't venture guess, after last
night
He was handing her down from the
engine step and she went back in
word to the former contention
you haven't promised me yet that
you will not resign under fre-yOu are
under fire. you know"
Am To-
Brother thinks YOU are"
Once more he took the pessimistic
view.
Your brother isn't losing any sleep
over the Pacific Southwestern situa-
tion. You said he was in England
didn't yOu?"
Il said he was in London when he
wrote"
London is a long way off: and what
do must be done today or tomorrow
Mr. North will force the fighting. now
that your uncle is on the ground, ana
: your brother safely on the opposite
side of the earth. And | can't ano'd
to fight this time Miss Alicia.
why can't yOU?"
They were walking slowly back to-
ward the Nadia when he said be-
cause a victory would cost me more
than I am willing to pay. There Is no
longer room in this service for Mr.
North and me. If we come TO blows
one OF us will have to go"
IT can understand that she sald
quietly. -,
be Obliged to efface-yOUr uncle
she caught her breath
Mr.. Ford. YOU have intimated that
NIr North isn't an honest man. Do you
ask me to believe that Uncle Sidney IS
his accompIice2
HE Is not. knowingly But he viii
stand or fall with the man he has made.
! I should have to ride him down before
L could get at North
Her lip curIed and the straight
browed little frown came again There
Is no such thing as mercy in business,
is there. Mr.. Ford2 My uncle IS an old
man and his presidency means more 10
him"
! step down and out and let some other
| man have the glory Of finishing the eN-
tension"
She looked up quickly
: would you do that for Uncle Sid
ney? He hasn't been very lenient with
you, has hep"
Ford ignored the query.
He is your uncle Miss Alicia, and I'd
do it for your salSesOr not at all
They had reached the steps of the
private car. and Frisbie was waiting
with evident fmpatience for word
: with Ford Miss Adair's eyes signaled
emotion and Ford thought 1t was re-
, sentiment But her parting word was
not resentful; it was merely repetl-
tion.
GO to Mr.. Frisbie." she said from
the car step; "he IS waiting for YOU
And then: Remember: whatever hap
pens. you must not resign-not even II
> Uncle Sidney asks you to-
F'risbie's information, given after
Miss Adair had gone in, was rather
: mystifying. Young Benson, who was
Z Just in from the grade work beyond
5 Copah brought word OF a party or
strange engineers running lines on the
3 opposite side OF the river from the re-
D 1ected S L. & w. short cut through the
canyon Of shale slides. Questioned by
D Benson. they had told what Frisbie be-
Y Heved to be a fairy tale. The chief of
= elected county surveyor from COpah.
: running the lines for some mining
property recently filed for entry. Ben
: son had not been overcuriOus, but he
was observant enough to note thar the
2 tale was a misht in three important
e particulars. He saw no locating stakes,
I such as a prospector always sets up
] conspicuOusly to mark his claim. and
there were no signs of the precious
S metal, and no holes TO indicate an at
l tempt to find 1t.
Whats your guess. Dick?" said Ford
/, tersely.
The assistant shook his head.
Il haven't any coming to me. But
: don't like mysteries
2 Where was this partyy
About mile and half below here.
l 1t was going out toward Copah when
t Jack met Tits work, whatever IT
' was all done. apparently
9 1t was one of Frisbie's gifts to be
J. suspicious; but Ford was lacking on
D that side.