The Delta independent., 1916-04-07

"All could" mumbled the old man
between mouthfuls. But l cayn't do
much. II it amt one thing, it's an
other. Bout as soon as l got that
tangle with the Red Butte smelter
Strengthened out, the railroad hit me-"
How was that?" queried Brouillard.
with Quickening interest coming alive
at bound.
Same old song. no cars; try and get
EN- tomorruh, and tomorruh it'll be
next day. and next day it'll be the day
after. Looks like they don't want to
haul any freight out O. here"
Il see." said Brouillard, and truly
he saw much more than David Mas
singale did. Then: mo shipments
means no money for you, and more de-
lay; and delay happens to be the one
thing you can't stand When do those
notes of yours fall due?"
Massingale was troubled, and his
fine old face showed it plainly.
Il amt much OF a man to boiler
when I've set the woods afire myself"
he answered slowly But don't know
why shouldn't zip little to you IL
feel like it. Today is the last day on
them notes. l been to see Hardwick
at the bank. and he gave me the ulti-
maytum good and cold''
One of Bongras' rear-room luxuries
was portable telephone for every
group of tables. Brouillard made a
sign to the waiter. and the desk set
was brought to him. II David Mas
singale recognized the number asked
he
man may spend his life digging holes
in the ground and still retain the in
stincts OF gentleman-if he happens
to have been born with them-he was
equally oblivious to the disjointed half
OF the telephone conversation he might
have listened to.
Hello! Is that Boyer-Niquoia Ma
tional? This is Brouillard
Can you give me my present figure?
. Not more than that?
oh, yes; you say the Hillman check is
in; / had overlooked II. All right.
thank you"
When the waiter had removed the
desk set. the engineer leaned toward
his table companion:
Mr.. Massingale. I'm going to ask
1
deal 1t was you made with Cartwright
and the bank people"
ut was the biggest tom-fool razzIe
that any Twin live man out of a luna
tic 'sylum ever went into" confessed
the prisoner of fate. Il was to stock
the Susan for half million-oh. she's
worth 1t. every dollar of It: you might
say the ores in sight for 1t right now"
this in Difference to Brouillard's
brow-lifting of surprise. They was to
put in hundred thousand cash. and !
was to put in the mine and the ore on
the dump. just as she stood"
The engineer nodded and MassingaIe
went on.
Il was to have twothirds of the
stock and they was to have one-third.
TIE hundred thousand for develop
ment we'd get at the bank. on my
notes, because I was president and the
biggest stakeholder. with John Yves.
as indorser Then. to protect the bank
accordin' to law. they said. we'd put
the whole bunch o. stock-mine and
their'n-into escrow in the hands of
Judge Williams. When the notes was
paid. the Judged hand the stock back
to u.s."
Just a moment" interrupted Brouii.
lard. Did you sign those notes per
sonally, or as president OF the new
company"
That's where they laid for me-"
said the old man shamefacedly Right
there Is where John Wes' ten-dollar-a.
bottle sody-pop stun we was soppin'
up must a foolished me plumb silly"
so 1t amounts to this: You have
given them a clean third OF the Susan
for the mere privilege of borrowing
one hundred thousand dollars on your
own paper. And II you don't pay. you
lose the remaining two-thirds as we'll"
That's about the way It stacks up
to a sober man. Looks like needed a
janitor to look after my upper story.
don't It? And / reckon mebby do"
"One thing more" pressed the re-
lentless querist. Did you really handle
the ndred-thousand-dollar develop.
ment fund yourself. Mr.. Massingaie?"
well. no; not exactly. Ten thou
sand dollars OF what they called a
contingent fund was put in my name:
but the treasurer handled most OF it
hachuiiy' We "oih u stoch cohpany.
Brouillard took out his pencil and
began to make figures on the back OF
the menu card. He knew the equip
ment OF the Little Susan" and his
specially was the making of estimates
Hence he was able to say. after a min.
ute or two Of figuring:
IT'S bad business any way you at.
tack II. What you have really got for
yourself out OF the deal is the ten thou