The Detroit times., 1913-05-07
The Fortunes of the Landrays
IMnnnC &c

f, had right smart faith" he said. II
should Judge you'd have thought twice
before trusting yourself to him."
I'VE did, said Stephen. 1T was
then | Thought of you
We'll, If he drops Off, | reckon
can fiji his shoes
God forbid that he should drop
on" cried Stephen quickly. Il want
| to see him successful. He's tragic
and pathetic figure. with his hope and
patience
| Basil stared at him blankly, "Oh! 1
reckon he'll pull through" he said at
length
They were soon absorbed In the
discussion of their plans. They kept
nothing back from the fur trader. for
was he not Landray? They told him
, how much was invested In the enter
prise, what had been spent In equip
ment. and what remained In cash IN
hand, which they intended to invest
when they should reach California, to-
gether with five thousand dollars OF
their own. His dark eyes sparkled.
and the enthusiasm which worked up
out OF the sullen depths OF his nature
quite mastered him. He felt his heart
warm toward these prosperous kins-
men OF his.
We'll. freeze on TO your money.
| then he laughed as he added, Il didn't
know any of the Landrays could round
up SO much. | suppose you sold clean
out to do it,
Not quite" said Bushrod q little
stiffiy. and he glanced quickly at hts
brother; but Stephen avoided meet
Ing his eye. for somehow he felt re-
sponsible for Basil. and Basil, he
feared, was not quite all he had ex-
pected.
Well. it's lot of money" said the
fur trader. "a lot OF money. I've
known one Landray who amt seen
so much In many a long day; how
do you plan TO lay 1t out?"
IF possible. in mining properties"
said Stephen.
And lose every doggone cent OF 1t.
like enough No sir, I'd put 1t in
something surer."
They looked at him in mute sur
prise. What could be surer?
He explained.
Every ones crazy to dig. and while
they dig they're going to be hungry
they're going to be mortal thirsty too.
Start store. or. better STILL start
tavern: but keep your hands clean"
we intend to-" said Stephen drily.
The fur trader swore a mighty oath.
The crowd here's one thing. but
what will be left Of 1t after it crosses
the plains will be something else. The
soft-headed and the soft-hearted Will
turn back. but a many a one III 20
hrnt OH nd
will go easy. They'll be a long ways
from home. most OF 'em will forget
they ever had homes; I've seen how
that works in the fur country. Drink
and cards will do for en- I've seen
'em gamble their last dollar away
thier horses-their Indian Women
the shirts of their backs-and once
the scalps of their own heads, it's
the traders and gamblers makes the
money" he broke of abruptly with a
light laugh. You'll figure it out TO
suit yourselves, | reckon. but thereli
be others ways of getting gold than
digging for IT."
His unlucky candor acted like
wet blanket on the brothers. The
manner of each became stiff, their
tone formal; their enthusiasm chang
ed to a forced and tepid warmth; but
apparently Basil did not notice this:
relaxed and at ease in his greasy
buckskins. and with short black
pipe between his teeth. he lounged on
the soft fiower-specked turf, his mind
filed with pleasant fancies.
Well pick up our teams tomor-
row." he said Mules cost heap
more than cattle. but mules are what
you want
We heard at st. Louis that the
cholera was here, and at St Joseph"
said Bushrod
II reckon what YOU heard was near
about so. That's one reason why we
want to pull out Of here as soon as
we can. When the first man died,
there was a right lively stampede"
he sucked at his pipe in silence for a
moment. Il amt partial to cholera
myself" he added.
The he explained with some show
of embarrassment that his reckoning