Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-08

permit me to say that it is none Of your
Mr.. Colbrith exploded like hastily
fired bomb.
Il propose to make it some of my bust
ness! Was it before or after your pur-
| chase here that you decided upon the
change of route? Answer me that, Mr..
Ford"
Ford wheeled his bronchos and closed
the shouting gap.
sit down, M; colbrith.' he said. half
humiliate me before your guests. shall
drive on and leave YOU.
You don't answer my question: you
can not answer it! You instructed your
to change the Line Of this rail
And if did,
YOU diverted the company's money to
your own personal ends as wrongfully as
treasurers strong box. In other words,
YOU became what you have accused others
of being-a common srafter!'
eord lace was very white , and ms hPs
opened them to reply. But the restrain
ing hand was on his arm again and he
obeyed it.
~ don't care to talk with you about
this matter or any other here and now.
Later on. perhaps. when You can speak
without being abusive. I shall take tine
liberty of telling you what think of
YOU" And at that he gave his horses
the rein and drove on swiftly. abruptly.
leaving the president and his guests to
follow as they would.
For some minutes neither Of the two in
the flying blackboard could find words
Wherewith to bridge the miserable chasm
so suddenly opened between them. Miss
Alicias eyes were tear frightened and
unfathomable: Ford's were hard and
there was a steely light in them. 1t was
Alicia who spoke first.
II know it is not true. Of course-what
Uncle Sidney accused you Of" she Of
fered. But tell me how it happened?"
II don't know-unless the devil planned
it, said Ford. bitterly. II bought the
mine one day last summer when I was In
Copah, without generalization! without
seeing it-without knowing where it was
situated. just as I have told you. Some
little time afterward Frisbie came to me
with the plan for the change of route. 1
had considered it before, but had made no
estimates. Frisbie had made the esti-
mates. and We decided upon it at once.
l haven't been over here since; 1t wasn't
necessary ard ! had other things to do"
Did Mr.. Frisbie know about your pur-
chase of the mine?"
mo. I don't think he knows Of it yet.
To tell the truth. I was a little ashamed;
it was a touch of the mining fever that
everybody gets now and then in mining
country. Dick would have guyed me-"
But Mr.. Frisbie must have been over
the line a great many times: how could
he miss seeing that enormous sign?" she
persisted.
Ford shook his head
Il venture to say that the paint isn't
yet dry on that sign. 1t was put there for
a purpose and your uncle was told to look
for it, Grigsby is just the sort OF fool to
jump at the chance to advertise the mine.
and somebody suggested It and gave him
the tip that the president of the railroad
was coming in this way. Mr.. North Is
very careful man. He doesn't neglect
any Of the little Details
The high valley was falling away into
broken gulch. and the railway-grade driv-
ing path chung closer to the hillsides. At
into view. and the road became shelf
on the slope two hundred feet above the
main street and paralleling it. Alicia was
looking down upon the town when she
said:
What shall you do?''
Ford's laugh was not mirthful.
II have already done it. I shall per-
haps be permitted to see you all safely
track to Saints Rest. More than that l
fancy Mr.. Colbrith will not allow-and
possibly not that much"
Miss Adair was still looking down upon
the town. and now Ford looked. Instantly
he saw that something unusual was going
on. Notwithstanding the number of men
afield on the hills the main street Of the
campt was restlessly alive. Horsemen
were galloping. back and forth; in front
of the Quitting stores freighters were
hastily loading their pack animals: at
every gathering place there were knots
of excited men talking and gesticulatins.
Ford was puzzled. At another time he
would quickly have put the obvious two
and two together to make the equally
obvious four. But now he merely said:
That's curious: mighty curious. Where
do you suppose all those people came
from?"
Alicia's reioinder was not an answer to
the half-mechanical query.
"Mr. Ford. little while ago told you
must have time to consider; II have
considered. You must fight for your life
and your good name. You must make
Uncle Sidney see things as they are-that
they are not as he thinks they are"
(To be continued tomorrow