Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-07
Copyright. 1918. by Harper & Brothers

10 succeed.
I'm bound for the Kyak coal fields
to perfect and amend my surveys Tn
der the new ruling"
"Ah, I've heard about that ruling"
Heard about it," exclaimed O'Neu.
Good Lord. Haven't you complied
with it,"
Not yet
You surely intend to do so?"
''Oh, yes; suppose So"
IF you don't you'll lose
I'm not sure we can ever win
Nonsense"
/ I'm not sure that it's wise to pat
claims" said Gordon. This ruling
will doubtless be reversed as the 9th
ers have been. One never knows what
the land office policy will be two days
at a time"
You know your own business"
O'Neil remarked after pause, but
unless you have inside information or
bigger pull in Washington than the
rest of US I'd advise you to get busy.
I I'll be on my way to Kyak in the morn
| ing with a gang Of men," Gordon's at
titude puzzled him. for he could not
/ bring himself TO believe that such in
| difference was genuine.
/ 1t was difficult to escape from the
/ hospitality Of Hope. and O'Neil sue
! ceeded in doing SO only after an argu-
ment with Natalie and her mother
/ They let Linn go at last only upon his
promise TO return on his way back
| from the coal fields. and they insisted
rpon accompanying him down to the
dock whittier Gordon had preceded
them in order to have his motorboat in
readiness.
An II o'clock twilight enveloped
Cortez when O'Neil and Slater land
ed. but the town was awake. The re-
cent railway and mining activity in
the neig lborhood had brought a con
Phillip sound. and the strains of mu-
sic from dance hall doors. the click of
checks ard roulette balls from the sa-
looms. gave evidence of an unusual
prosperity.
O'Neil had no difficulty in securing
men. Once he was recognized. the
scenes at Hope were re-enacted. and
there WAS general scramble to enlist
upon bis payroll. Within an hour
therefore, his arrangements were
made. and he and Tom repaired to
Callahan's hotel for few hours sleep
A stud game was going on in the
barroOm when they entered. and . Nei
paused TO watch it while Slater spoke
10 one of the players. clean cut
blond youth of whimsical countenance
When the two friends finally faced the
bar for their "nightcap" Tom ey
: planned:
= That's Appleton. the fellow Gordon
t fired today. ! told him Id left the OH
/ ! man fiat"
= rs he a friend of yours
t Sure Nice boy: good engineer too.
"Umph. That game is crooked"
: NO" Happy Tom displayed a fast
! vi INTEREST
! Yes; Cortez is fast becoming ,
metropolis. see. The man in tn,
DERBY hat is performing a little fea
that once cost me $1,000 to learn"
I'D better split Dan away" sail
Tom hastily.
Wait. Education is a good thing
even if it is expensive at times.
fancy your friend is bright enough t,
take care of himself Let's wait
, bit
Amt that Just my blamed luck :?
. lamented Slater. Now. If they wer
. playing faro | could make killing
I'd copper Appleton's bets and open
the ones he coppered.
=, O'Nel smiled. for Happy Toms eau
ton in money matters was notorious
You know you don't believe in gam
, bling" he said.
It's not a belief it's disease" de
clared the fat man. Il was born to b.
a gambler. but the business is too un
certain. Now that I'm getting so oil,
and feeble can't work any more. II
take it up. only | broke three fingers
and when I try to deal l drop tn
cards. What are we going to do?"
Just wait" said O'Nel
Unobserred the two friends watche,
the poker game. which for a time pre-
. ceeded quietly. But suddenly the.
, saw Appleton lean over the table AM
=, address the man with the derby hat
then, thrusting back his chair. be rose
declaring in a louder tone:
, Il tell you saw it. thought wa
mistaken at first" His face wa
white. and he disregarded the effort
!, of his right hand neighbor to quie
him.
: Don't squeal." smiled the dealer
"I'll leave it to the boys If did any
thing wrong"
You pulled that king from the bot
tom. 1t may not be wrong. but IT
mighty peculiar"
Forget it," one of the others e1
claimed Denny wouldn't doubl
cross YOU
, Hardly" agreed Mr. Denny evenly
You're in $50, but if you're sore 20,
can have it back"
Appleton flung his cards into tn
r middle OF the table and turned ava
disgustedly It's a hard thing t
prove. and I'm not absolutely sure
saw straight ord take it back fas
enough"
Denny shrugged and gathered in tn