Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-16


USILM3S\S0 gaudy fire insurance calendar on the
Wv wall before him. His pipe depended
= :: ! : !: :
H1tGN bowl downward from his lips and
RWI7oS&TE the long fingers of one hand toyed
MI0A|M| with legal document in his lap.
W16IW Something is Matching in
WSAW this incubator, he muttered at last
W. dipping his pen in the ink bottle
01ISO again. "And l Think think it's
NS ugly duckling Of course it's
0IO business of mine; but" He looked
up suddenly bulky figure dark
ened the doorway Hello Jeff"
Jeff Wray nodded and walked to the water cooler.
"Mulrennans been here to you three times" said
the in the swivel chair. Each time he's been
getting madden l wish you'd keep your appointments
or get another office boy That mans vocabulary is
work of genius. Even you, in your happest humors-
Why what's the matter with your face?"
Wray put his fingers up Four red streaks ran parallel
across his cheekbone. He touched the marks with his
hand then looked at his fngertips. "Oh that? Seems
like must have butted into something He gave
short, unmirthul laugh. "Don't make me look any
pretter, does it? Funny didn't feel it before And
then as he turned the inner office, as Murennan
coming back?" he asked.
ayes, at five"
Wray glanced at the clock. "Has Bent been IMP"
mo"
"When will those papers be ready?"
Tonight, if you want them
@Good!" Wray turned with his hand on the knob of
the door, @When Pete comes send him back, will you,
Larry?"
Larry Berkely nodded and Wray went into the back
office and closed the door behind him. He took his
keys and unlocked the desk; but instead of sitting at
he a cracked mirror in the and
examined his face grnning at his image and touching
the red marks with his fingers.
"That a love tap for fair!" he said @Reckon l
deserved it; but she oughtnt to push man too far.
She angry! Won't speak now for awhile" He
turned with a confident air. "Sheu around,
though" he laughed. He sat down at his desk, took
in 2 braS of he draw D11tt
up against the penrack before him, and, folding his
across the botter, gazed at it steadily for
moment.
at was a mean trick, wasn't it, Camilla girl?" he
muttered half aloud. am sorry; but you've got to
learn who you belong to! There can't be any foolng
of other fellows round Jeff Wrays girl! just had to
kiss youhad to put my seal on you, Camilla reckon
you put yours too, black and blue" he laughed
ruefully. you'll forgive me- though. diamond neck
lace will square that"
HE put the picture down, hid it away and took up
some papers that lay before him. But when awhile
later Larry Berkey showed Murennan in, they found
him sitting with his face to the window looking out with
his baby stare the hundred thousand acres of the
Hermosa Company
"Come in, Pete, and shut the door. You don't mind,
Larry? Mulrennan and have got some private bust
ness When the door closed he said in half
whisper well? What did you find out about the Lone
Tree?"
Mulrennan carefully sought the cuspidor, then wiped
his brow with dirty red handkerchief "What didn't
find out! Jeff that mines stuffed with sylvanite! The
Waterman aslape, and we got in scrumptous-like.
It's halfway down that short wnze they made last fall
Max had put timbers up to hide it, an we pulled
em down. We only had matches to strike, an couldn't
see much; but what plenty. It's the vein,
all right! Holy Mother! but it started my mouth to
watherin'! l haven't had wink of slape Where the
bazes have you been all day?'
Business" said left vaguely "in the mountains"
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