The Huttig news., 1916-05-27
THE rtTY 0F NUMBERED DAYS 6/FRANClS lYN0E ILLUSTRATIONS yC.D.Rh00ES =.
 CHARLES saerfa5 SINS
tOpYalCHT BY CHARLES SlRisnfR,S SENS
 SYNOPSIS.

again when the railroad comes"
 Brouiilard got Ip. thrust his hands Into the pockets of his working coat. aud faced about as if he had suddenly remembered that he was wasting the governments time.
 must be going back down the hfll,' he said. And then, without warn ing What if l should tell you that the railroad Is not coming to the Nj. quoia, Amy"
 To his utter amazement the blue eyes filled suddenly But the owner or the eyes was winking the tears away and laughing before he could could put the amazement into words
 You shouldn't hit out like that when one isn't looking; it's wicked, :" she protested Besides, the railroad is coming; it's got to come"
 Tt is still undecided" he told her mechanically. "Mr. Ford is coming over with the engineers to have con ference on the ground with-with the Cartwright people. am expecting him any day"
 And the government" ?"
 The department is holding entirely aloof, as 1t should. Everyone in the reclamation service knows that no good can possibly come of any effort nal and natural development And besides, none of us here in the valley want to help blow the Cartwright bubble any higher thar it has to be. ,"
 Then you will advise against the building of the extension?'
 Instead of answering her question he asked one of his own.
 What does it mean to you-to you. personally. apart from the money your father might make out of 1t, Amy?"
 She hestated a moment and then met the shrewd scrutiny of his gaze with open candor.
 The money Is only means to an end-as yours will be. You know very well what I meant when I told you that three times we have been obliged to come back to the mountains toto try again. I dreaded the coming of your camp; I dread thousand times more the other changes that are com ing-the temptations that a mush- room city will offer This time father has promised me that when he can make his stake he will go back to Ken lucky and settle down; and he will keep his promise. More than that, Stevie has promised me that he will go, too. if he can have a stock-farm and raise fine horses-his one healthy ambition. Now you know it all"
 He reached up from the lower step where he was standing and took her hand
 Yes; and I know more than that. l know that you are mighty bravo little girl and that your load Is heavier than mine-worlds heavier. But you're going to win out; if not today or to- morrow, why. then, the day after. It's written in the book"
 She returned his hand-grip of en- couragement impulsively and smiled down upon him through quick spring ing tears.
 You'll win out. too. Victor, because it's in you to do it. I'm sure of it. I know it. There is only one thing that scares me"
 Name it." he said I'm taking ev- erything that comes today-from you"
 You are strong man; you have a reserve of strength that is greater than most mems full gift, you can cut and slash your way to the thing you really want, and nothing can stop you. But you'll forgive me for being plain, won't you?-there is little, just the least little bit of desperation in the present point of view. and"
 Say it." he commanded when she hesitated.
 "I hardly know how to say it. There were ideals in the beginning; don't let them fall down in the dust or in the in the mud It's got to be clean money, you know: the money that is going to give you the chance to say, Come, girl, let's go and get married You won't forget that, will yOu?'
 He relinquished the hand of encour agement because he dared not hold it any IOnSeT, anu luTuGu away tO StdTc absently at the timbered tunnel mouth whence a faint clinking of hammer upon steel issued with monotonous regularity.
 q wish you hadn't said that, Amy about the ideals"
 q don't know what you mean" she said simply.
 
 Perhaps it is just as we'll that you don't. Let's talk about something else-about the railroad. President Ford hasn't decided: he won't decide until he has looked the ground over and had chance to confer with me"
 She bridged all the gaps with swift intuition. "He means to give yeu the casting vote? He will build the exten sion if you advise it? Then 1t will iie in your hand to make us rich or to keep us poor,' she laughed. Be a good god d-in-the-car, please, and your petitioners will ever pray" Then, with an instant return to seriousness; "But you mustn't think of that-of course
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