The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-07-14

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me about yourself. What have you
been doing all these days when ]
haven't been able to keep tab ON your
"Flirting-firting desperately with
Zig, with Mr.. Arson and Mr.. Grislow
and that nice boy of yours, Herbert
Griffith, and with-no, not with Mr..
Leshington; he scares me-makes Q
face like wooden image and says;
Little girl. you need mother-or =
husband; haven't made up my mind
which When he does make up his
mind I'm going to shrek and run
away"
"And you nirt!" he protested re-
proachfully. Nov tell me about the
Little SUSAN is the Bluegrass farm
looming up comfortably On the eastern
edge Of things"
In twinkling her frivolous mood
vanished.
"Oh, we are prosperous, desperately
prosperous. We have all the improve
| ments you can see and lot that you
can't see. And our pay roll-it fairly
frightens me when make it up on the
Saturdays.
II see" he nodded. "All going out
and nothing coming in. But the money
is all here, safely stacked up in the
ore bins. You'll get 1t all out when
the railroad comes"
THAT is another thing-a thing ]
haven't dared tell father and Stevie.
When l. was in Mirapolis this morn
ing I heard that the railroad wasn't
coming, after all; or. rather, Tig had
heard it and he told me: We were dig
ging for facts when you met US on
Chigringo avenue-trying to find out II
the rumor were true"
1T means a great deal to you,
doesn't it," he said evasively.
1T means everything-a thousand
times more now than it did before"
His quick glance up into the sud.
denly sobered eyes OF the girl stand.
ing on the step above him was voice.
less query and she answered 1t.
I'VE had no working capital, as
think you must have known. Once a
month father or Stevie would make up
a few pack-saddle loads of the rich.
est ore and freight them over the
mountains to Red Butte. That was
how we got along. But when you sent
me word by Tig that the railroad com.
pany had decided to build the exten.
sion, there was there was "a
chance.
YES" he encouraged.
"a chance that the day of little |
things was past and the day Of big |
things was come. Mr.. Cartwright and |
some of his associates had been trying |
to buy an interest in the Littlr Susan.
Father let them in on some sort of
stock arrangement that lon't under
stand and then made himself person
ally responsible for q dreadful lot Of
borrowed money"
Borrowed of Mr.. Cortwright?"
qHeried Brouillard.
mo; of the bank. Neither Stevie |
nor knew about it until after 1t was
done, and even then father wouldn't
explain. He has been like man out
of his mind since Mr.. Cartwright got
hold Of him-everything is rose-col-
ored. But you see how it all depends
upon the railroad"
mot so much upon the railroad now
as upon some other things" said
Brouillard enigmatically. you say
your father has borrowed of the bank
is Mr.. Cartwright mixed up in the
loan in any way?"
"Yes; he arranged 1t in some way
for father-I don't know Just how. All
know is that father is responsible,
and that If the railroad doesn't come
be will lose everything"
Brouillard gave a low whistle. II
don't wonder that the quitting rumor
made you nervous. But think l can
lift one of your burdens. What you
heard in town this morning is a fact
he railroad people have stopped work
IN the Buckskin extension. Don't
'aint-they are going to begin again
light away"
"Oh!" she gasped. Are you sure!
How can you be sure?"
1--WE given the order" he said
,ravely, IAN order they can't disre-
gard. Let's go back bit and I'll ex-
,lain. Do you remember my telling
'ou that your brother had tried to
tribe me to use my influence with Mr..
Tord?"
"As If / should ever be able to for
let it," she protested.
We'll, that wasn't all that he did
10 threatened to turn the valley into s
placer camp, to disorganize our !
working force, even stop or definitely
ostpone the building Of the dam" 7
She was listening eagerly, but there i
7as a nameless fear in the steadfast 7
yes-a shadow which he either {
Kissed or disregarded. t
And you-you believed this?" she b
sked family. Q
II was compelled to believe it. He .
It me pan out the proof for myself" Q
1T is dreadful-dreadfuli" she MUIR .
lured. you believed him, and for z
lat reason you used your influence b
it'll Mr.. Ford ?" r
He got up and took her in his arms. v
Id she suffered him. g
"A few days ago, little girl, couldn't d