The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1912-09-05

the kind OF tonic he needs"
That afternoon Don drove n WeE-
den for the weekly supply of grocer
ies. Weldon was town built around
the marble Quarries. Indeed. II
seemed that the people there could
see or talk about nothing hut marble.
1t was piled up on all sides OF them
tons of tin an uncomfortable variety
! of shapes and sizes
Nevertheless, Don made his way 10
the store without once giving
thought TO the marble industry.
AS he set out to return home, the
horse began TO dance at sight OF the
tramway, with the moving chain OF
buckets.
I'm ashamed OF you, Gyp" he
mumbled. Think how many times
you've seen this thing. Strange how
they never get used to IT," he said TO
man beside the road.
ut won't scare horses a great while
longer. That's one sure thing"
WHY"
because there won't be- anything
to run It for. This can't hold out
more than two years, at the most.
It's getting poor now"
That's what I should like to know"
returned the man. ITS hard stuff TO
pick up when you want It."
Hard stuff to find, is it?" mused
Don as he drove away. "Well, there's
plenty of It up our way-too much OF
1t. The whole thing Is for sale. too"
he exclaimed, glancing up the hill In
the direction OF the Whitcomb farm.
Late that night Mrs. Whitcomb
went upstairs to see II her son had
fallen asleep and had left his lamp
burning. She found him sitting at a
table, bending over maze Of figures.
What are you doing UP so lateT"
she asked
I'm trying to find way to build
up the farm" came the evasiye re-
ply.
You'll never do It by breaking into
the night, this way" she murmuT-ed.
1T Is rather late, isn't it2" he said
smilingly. Il guess I'll go to bed"
A whispered goodnight foated back
to him from the hallway He turned
the lamp lower and sat down at the
table again. His bed was unoccupled
that night
Daybreak found him ready for q
second trip to Weldon. In order to
gain added information, he visited
the shops and mills during the early
part of the day. Then there were
more figures and final survey of the
| 10 NJ IL,
vas nearly half gone when he entered
the presidents office.
Il called to see you about your
sand supply" he said, as Mr.. Gordon
turned in his chair.
whats the matter with IT." The
president thought there must be some
thing wrong with the tramway.
It's rknning out, isn't it7 What
you have in sight will soon be e1.
hausted. I have two or three million
tons OF 1t for sale. II you would care
to consider the matter"
Where is it?" asked Mr.. Gordon.
up on our farm"
you mean that sand hill2 VIII
you deliver it?"
mo. but you could extend the tram.
way. It's In almost a direct line I'D
over the hill Our thirty-acre lot
would keep you supplied for 10 Year,
at least-probably longer"
And how about the price?"
Two hundred dollars an acre"
six thousand dollars!" calculated
the president. 81 shouldn't consider
your whole farm to be worth more
than half that amount"
Perhaps not as farm, but how
about the value of the sand? Wouldn't
you be getting 1t at pretty low
price?"
There may be something in the
scheme" continued the president, ap-
parently unaware that anyone had
been speaking. 81 am not prepared
to say at present. I should want to
have our engineers look into It, Per.
haps you may hear from me later"
The days travelled by without
bringing any word. The engineers
had come and gone, leaving nothing
to sustain the hope which their ar
rival had enkindled. There was only
silence and uncertainty.
On the eighth morning, however. thu
tension was relieved by a call at the
door, and thin, impressive-looking
envelope was ushered in. Don scanned
the contents excitedly. Then, thrust.
Ing 1t into his pocket, he swung open
the door Of his fathers room.
DO you want to sell the thirty
acre lotT' he said.
"The sand hilI?" There was skep.
ticism In the voice. who'd ever
want to buy that7"
"The Weldon Marble company will
buy It. They'll give you $1,000 for
It."
Mr.. Whitcomb turned about uneas-
fly. Don't bother mel don't feel
like joking.
Slipping up behind him, Don held
the open letter where the old man
could read It. As the import OF the
message became clear, the bent Shout.
ders seemed to straighten and re-
gain a portion OF their lost strength.
Five thousand dollars for sand!"
he exclaimed.