Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-06-23

perhaps I will give It before I GO
he parted but Just now I'd much
rather talk about something else. Tell .
me about yourself What have you
been doing all these days when I .
haven't been able to keep tab on your |
"Flirting-firting desperately with .
Tig 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 a
face like wooden image and says,
Little girl, you need a mOther-or a
husband; l haven't made up my mind
which When he does make up his
mind I'm going ID Shrek and run
away"
And you hirt!" he protested re-
proachfully. Now tell me about the
Little Susan; is the Bluegrass farm
looming up comfortably on the eastern
edge Of things?"
In twinkllng her frivolous mood
vanished.
Oh, we are prosperous, desperately
prosperous. We have all the improve
ments you can see and a lot that you
can't see. And our pay roll-it fairly
frightens me when make It up on the
Saturdays"
Il 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 it all out when
the railroad comes"
That is another thing-a thing l
haven't dared tell father and Stevie
When l was in MIrapolis this morn.
ing | heard that the railroad wasn't
coming, after all; or rather, Tig had
heard 1t and he told me. We we're dig.
ging for facts when you met US on
Chigringo ayenue-trying to find out II
the rumor were true"
1T means great deal to you,
doesn't it," he said evasively,
1T means eyerything-a thousand
times more now than 1t 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 It.
I'VE had no working capital, as |
think you must have known. Once a
month father or Steyie 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 extern
sion, there was there was -
chance.
Yes" he encouraged.
"a chance that the day Of littls
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 Little Susan.
Father let them In on some sort OF a
stock arrangement that | don't under
stand and then made himself person.
ally responsible for dreadful lot Of
borrowed money"
Borrowed of Mr.. Cortwright?
Tue lied Brouillard.
.; 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 a 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
Not so much upon the railroad now
as upon 9ome other things" said
Brouillard systematically. You say
your father has borrowed Of the bank
is Mr. Cartwright mixed up in the
loan in any way"
Eyes; he arranged It 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
he will lose everything
Brouillard gave low whistle. 81
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 fact
the railroad people have stopped work
on the Buckskin extension. Don't
faint-they are going to begin again
right away"
"Oh!" she gasped Are you sure
How can you be sure?"
i've given the order" he said
grayely, AN order they can't disre.
gard, Let's go back bit and I'll ex
plain Do you remember my telling
you that your brother had tried to
bride me to use my influence with Mr.
Ford?"
AS If I should ever be able to for
get it," she protested
We'll, that wasn't all that he did
he threatened to turn the valley into
a placer camp, to disorganize our
working force, even stop or definitely
= postpone the building Of the dam"
She was listening eagerly, but there
was a nameless fear in the steadfast
eyes-a shadow which he either
missed or disregarded.
And you-you believed this?" she
asked family.
Il was compelled to believe it. He
let me pan out the proof for myself
1T is dreadful-dreadful she muir
INJURED, You believed him, and for
that reason you used your influence