Gilpin observer., 1916-05-18
CHAPTER XII.

Ahe WORK went forward swiftly
along the new line. By the end of the
week the new cutting was in full
swing, the long saws singing the
Fuckers broadaxes flashing among the
everlasting green, the whole inlaced
mass Of detail working together.
What do you think of our chances
now, John?" asked the owner.
AL. Hain't no reason why we
won't win. TIL Dillingworth," said
John Daily whimsically, she's ben
furnishin' tn goods ever sense can
remember"
True. But she was in pretty close
straits for cash. You know she's
worth. standing timber, land, options
and equipment. something like a mil
lion hundred and fifty-nine thousand
dollars. at the pinch price / paid of
nfty cents a thousand feet on the
stump. At anything like her face
value she'd easily double 1t. And of
course you know she's mortgaged to
her neck-the East Belt and all the
northeast stumpage-"
Daily shook his head. 'I'm gettin'
completely mussed up" he said.
We'll. she was. Her mortgages az.
gregated half million-in three diff
ferent places. About half of them 1
paid. The rest is hanging fire. Frazer,
who should have been a mighty rich
man, got out with q quarter of q mil.
lion nat. don't understand him."
Neither do l. but I'd stake my head
on old man Frazer. Why I've worked
for him ten years! He bought In In
eighty-nine."
We'll. there's a lot of mystery some
where about, and as soon as I'm AZ
liberty intend unearthing things."
' Miss Ordway was working fever.
ishly these days. Her rose-leaf cheeks
were flushed each noon when she
came from the little south room. and
her sea-blue eyes were full of an in.
nsr excitement.
I She'll make good" sandry told him.
self. Shes got the dreamer's look. the
pride. the Joy. the mighty, arrogant
egotism. And she's drunk on the at.
mosphere Of the wilderness, the lone
liness. the sense Of world send"
Young and Of abundant health, abun.
dant vitality. filled with the urge OF
ambition. abetted by an unusual cley.
erness, Miss Ordway was indeed in the
way OF great things and she knew IT,
Also with her clear vision she was be-
ginning to see something else that
added to the flush in her cheeks, some
thing as great as her goal of fame, and
she faced 1t with her high courage and
confidence.
This was the meaning to her of Wal.
ter Sandry.
About this time she began to widen
her range OF vision. to see all over the
Wild green country, It seemed to her.
and to catch glimmerings of things
that sent her to Sandry. SO full of vital
prescience that she was as a charged
wire In her eagerness and her delight,
"Mr. Sandry." she said one evening
as they stood together on the foot.log
and watched the brown tidewater 20.
ing down toward the distant sea. Pm
going to tell you something. | be-
lieve Hampden is crooked as hades.
and I'm going after him.
That's funny" said Sandry, do
you know. I've had the same notion ?"
She stretched out her hand.
Let's go after him together. What
do you say?"
Well. l."-Sandry took the hand, an
exquisite thing. and held It in his own
a moment. warmly, closely-"I am
pleased and fiattered by your offer,
but don't just fancy your knowing
this Hampden man. He's-hes coarse
and bad. Miss Ordway"
But isn't 1t worth little risk?
What big thing is ever accomplished
without some risk? And think. Mr..
sandry-isn't Hampden trying to ruin
the Dillingworth company? In other
words. to ruin your"
There was tingling. suggestive tim.
bre in her low voice. subtle. fatter.
ing tone that thrilled the young owner
strangely.
Miss Ordway." he said admiringly.
"as q mans friend you're simply