Putnam patriot., 1916-11-03
CHAPTER XXI.
Final -Prenarations,

N N the following day Happy Tom
 arrived with fifty men.
 "I got the last mothers son
 could fnd," he explained as he warmed himself at O'Neil's stove
 Did you % to Hope?'
 T did. and 1 saw the splavvus him. self"
 "Gordon?"
 Hes worse ttan We thought" Tom tapped his shining forehead significant ly. Loft to let.''
 "What-insane?'
 Nothing but echoes in his dome. The towns as empty as his bonnet, It's a sight,
 Tell me about Mrs. Gordon"
 Shes quite | person." said Slater slowly. "She surprised me. She's there alone with him and watchman. She does all the work, even to lugging in the wood and eoal-he's too busy to help. but she won't leave him. She told me that Dan and Natalie wanted her to come over here. but she couldn't bring herself to do it or let them assist i'll any way. Gordon spends all bis time at his desk, promoting, writing ads. and prospectuses. He's got a grand scheme. He's found that Hope Consolidated is full of rich ore, but the trouble is in getting it out. so he's working on new process of extrac- tion. It's wonderful process-you'd never guess what it is. He sn okes 1t out! He says all he needs is plenty of smoke. That bothered him until he hit on the idea of burning feathers. Now he's planning to raise ducks, because they've got so much down. Isn't that the limit? She'll have to fit him into q padded cell sooner or later"
 Poor devil" said O'Neil. I'm sor- ry. He had an unusual mind"
 Slater sniffed T think it's pretty soft for him myself. He's made better than standoff-he lost his memory, but he saved his skin. It's funny how some men can't fall. If they slip on banana peel somebody shoyes cushion under 'em before they light. l never got the best of anything. If dropped asleep in church my Wife would divorce me and I'd go to the electric chair. Gordon robs widows and orphans right and left, then ends uD with loving woman to take care of him in his old age. Why, if even robbed blind puppy of biscuit Ia leave a thumb print on his ear or the dogs mother would turn out to be bloodhound. Anyhow. I'd spend my declining years nestled up to roek pile with a mallet in iny mitt and low browed gentleman scowling at me from the top of a wall. He'd lean on his shotgun and say: Hurry up, rat- ty. It's getting late, and there's tol of oakum to pick It just goes 10 show that some of us are born beniha the game and never get even. Wnhe others. like Gordon. quit winner. ho matter how much they lose. HaFlhe relieved himself of this fervid homily' Happy Tom unroled a package ol gum and thrust three sticks into hls mouth. Speaking of bad luck. he continued, when are you guns " married, Murray:"
 O'Neil started. "Why-never. II isn't the same kind of propositioh as building bridge. you know. There : a little matter of youth and good ioohs that counts considerably in the mar, riage business. No woman woah' have an ole chap like me"
 Slater took q mournful inventory o' his chiefs person. then said daabtiu,, ly: .You might put it over, Murray ain't strictly handsome myself. hot did"
 As O'Neil slipped in.o his frr soa' after tine fat man had slouched or '. caught sight of himself in the glass his bureau and paused. He ieale'' forward and studied the careW lfl eountenance that peered forth at mn then shook his head He saw that eiis hair was growing grayer. that the lAef was very plain. and-yes. unauesiieli. ably it was no longer youthful course he didn't feel old. but the esi- denee that he was so admitted oi ho disproof. and it was evidence or so'' which no woman could disregard
 For a week the ice rose sioWis' foot a day, and in spite of the grealesA watchfulness 1t took the false "o1A with it here and there. But eoneen