Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-11
t amt true! I couldn't believe half


1t amt true! I couldn't believe half
your letters. Who could""
ASK any of the natives. Ask Blinky
Lockwood, who owns the whole coun-
ty," retorted the other.
"Well, how is my scheme coming on?
Are you carrying out all the rules, ac-
cording to agreement
Every rule" answered Duncan SOL
emnly. mot a drink, not 3. smoke,
not a swear. and the church thing
we'll, I own it-that's all!' the fortune
hunter laughed.
Bully for you! Well, was 1 right?"
asked Kellogg.
81 should say you were! It's SO easy
it seems a shame to do it."
"Goodl I knew it. And you made
a play for Lockwoods daughter. eh?"
6CertainIy not. You're forgetting
your instructions. I allowed her to
make a play for me-" Duncan corrected
him.
"Of course. My mistake. How far
has it gone? Has she won you yet?
Are you engaged?" eagerly.
"No, I've got two months yet"
so you have" Kellogg laughed.
There's no hurry. Let her take her
time"
ITS worse than that. It's got to a
place where I have to dodge her now"
Duncan groaned.
Splendid! only don't carry the dodg-
ing too far"
7When you proposed the scheme 1
was down and three times out, and
willing to take a chance at anythlng'
no matter how contemplate. Now,
it's different"
Good heavens!" Kellogg shouted.
you don't mean you'd be willing to
live here? Spend your life here, with
nobody around you but bunch of
rubes, Shaving away in this measly
store!"
Hold on!" Duncan shouted, jumping
to his feet Now don't you call this
a. measly store Can't stand for that.
There amt a finer drug store in the
state"
"Is it possible that this is Nat Dun
CAM" The New Yorker laughed. ''The
fellow who hated work and couldn't
earn a living? Cad, I've arrived just
in time to set you straight. Here's the
heiress you came to get, ready and
anxious, everything coming your way,
and you're half inclined to back out. "
"See here, Harry; when 1 first landed
here I had about as gay and soclable
a time as a bell buoy on the ocean,"
Duncan began, seriously. II nearly
Gied for something to do and someone
to talk to. Then I got in with this old
Prisnce Graham, and for the first time
in my life I was glad to work, TO take
my mind off the dullness. There was
next to nothing in this store, and Gra-
ham and his daughter hadn't a penny.
1t was so peculiar, finding someone
that was worse off than 1, that I used
up all the coin you advanced me
Strengthening them out. Then /
got dead interested trying to make the
store amount to something, and never
was so happy in my life as when II
began to show a profit I realized
things were easier for the old man,
and I found by scrimping a little we
could send the girl to school. She was
we'll worth it, you know. and-well,
she's nice little girl, Harry. Just
needed a chance in life, that's all. .
Since I've been here i've stuck to all
the terms of the agreement. Sim
gled out this Lockwood girl and worked
all the degrees. Didn't say much/ no
lovemalxing, but let her catch me look
ing sadly at her once in while. .
But the longer keep 1t up, the meaner
/ feel. Tn getting along on my own
account now. and" he went on
these rubes, as you call them, struck
me as being nothing but lot of jay
freaks at first, but when you get to
know them they are just as human as