Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-01-04
CHAPTER TX.

Nathaniel Letton was talking when
the door opened; he ceased. and with
trolled perturbation at Burning Day.
light striding into the room. The free.
swinging movements OF the trail-trav.
eler were unconsciously exaggerated in
that stride of his. In truth. it seemed
to him that he felt the trail beneath
his feet.
''Howdy, gentlemen, howdy," he re-
marked, ignoring the unnatural calm
with which they greeted his entrance.
He shook hands with them in turn,
striding from one to another and grip
ping their hands so heartily that Ma.
thaniel Letton could not forbear to
vince. Daylight flung himself into a
massive chair and sprawled lazily, with
an appearance of fatigue. The leather
grip he had brought into the room he
dropped carelessly beside him on the
floor.
I've sure been going some," he sigh
ed. I'VE sure trimmed them beautifully.
1t was real slick. And the beauty Of the
play never dawned on me till the very
end. 1t was pure and simple knock
! down and drag out. And the way they
/ fell for it was amaZin'."
! Letton made a dry sound In his
throat. Dowsett sat quietly and wait
ed, while Leon Guggenhammer strug-
! gled into articulation.
you certainly have raised CAIN" he
said.
Daylights black eyes flashed In a
pleasant way.
Didn't l, thought" he proclaimed,
jubilantly. and didn't we fool 'em!
| was teetctally surprised. never
dreamed they would be that easy.
And now he went on, not permit
ting the pause to grow awkward, i've
all might as well have an accounting.
I'm pullin' West this afternoon on
that blamed Twentieth Century" He
tugged at his grip, got it open, and dip
ped into IL with both his hands. But
don't forget, boys, when you-all want
me to hornswoggle Wall Street anoth-
er flutter, all you-all have to do is
whisper the word I'll sure be right
there with the goods
His hands emerged, clutching a
great mass of stubs, check-books, and
brokers' receipts. These he depos-
tied in heap on the big table, and
dipping again, he fishcd out the strag-
glers. and added them TO the pile. He
CONSULTED slip of paper, drawn from
his coat pocket and read aloud:
Ten million twenty-seven thousand
and forty-two dollars and sixty-eight
cents is my figprin' on my expense.
OF course that-alls taken from the
winnings before we-all get to fgurini
on the whack.up. Where's your az,
Irss? i must a beeh mighty big
eiea..-up." v-~~.-.-~~1S-~ /.
The three men looked their bepuz.
element at one another The man was
bigger fool than they had imagin-
ed, or else he was playing a game
which they could not divine.
Nathaniel Letton moistened his lips
and spoke up. <.zsss,sssaaasssxxNss~"'
1T will take some hours yet, Mr..
Harnish, before the full accounting can
he made. Mr.. HoWihoA Is at work upon
It now. Ws--ah-ag you say, it has
been d gratifying cleanup. Suppose
we have lunch together and talk It
over. I'll have the clerks work through
the noon hour SO that you will have
ample time to catch your train"
Dowsett and Guggenhammer< mani.
tested q relief that was alp;ost 90
yious, The situation was Clearing. 1t
was disconcertiIg, under the eircum-
Stances, to ae pent in the same room
With this heavy-musclea, Indicn-like
man whom they had robbed. They re-
membered unpleassntly the many stor-
les of his strength and recklessness, II
Letton could cnly put him Off long
enough fer them TO escape into the po.
Iced world outside the Office door, all
would he we'll; and Daylight showed
ali the signs of being PIT sc
I'm real glad to re5f that Ia said.
."I don't want to, miss that train, and
yonal hsye dehe, nae proud, gentle,
Men, letting me In o. this deal. I
just do appreciate 1t without being
able tolexpress nes feelings. But am
Sure almighty 'carious, and I'd like ter
ribfe to know Mr.. Letton, what your
fgares Of Snr winning Is Can you-all
sjye me a rough estimate?"
/Nathaniel t.etton did not look -ap-
! 'pessingly/at his two flsends, but In the
'srief pause they felt that appeal pass
Cut from him. Dowsett, of srerner
mold than the others, began to divine
that the Klondiker was playing. But
the other two were Sill under the
Establishment OF his ichild-like inne-
cence
1T is extremeiy-ey- dificult," Leon
Guggenhammer began. "You see, Ward
Valley mas faactuatt.d so, err"
THAT no estimate. can possibly be
made in advance" Lett0n supple
mented.
Approximately it. approximate IT,"
Daylight couseselled, oheerfully. at
don't hurt II ttou-all are million out
one side or hhe other The figures'l'