The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-05-12


he parried. 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
face like wooden image and says
Little girl, you need a mother-or a
husband; | haven't made up my mind
which When he does make up his
mind I'm going to shrek and run
away"
And you flirt!" 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 twinkling 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 I make il 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 |
haven't dared tell father and Stevie.
When | was in Mirapolis this morn
ing i heard that the railroad wasn't
coming, after all; or. rather, Tig had
heard ii and he told me- We were dig.
ging for facts when you met us on
Chigringo avenue-trying TO find out IL
the rumor were true"
1T means great deal TO you,
doesn't it," he said evasively.
1T means everything-a thousand
times more now than il did before"
His quick glance up into the sud.
denly sobered eyes of the girl stand.
ing on the step above him was a voice.
less query and she answered il.
I'VE had no working capital, as I
think you must have known. Once a
month father or Stevie 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 - a
chance.
Yes" he encouraged.
"A chance that the day Of little
things was past and the day OF big
things was come. Mr.. Cortwright 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 a dreadful lot Of
borrowed money"
Borrowed OF Mr.. Cortwright? ?"
'queried Broullard.
NO OF the bank. Neither Steyie
nor / knew about il until after il was
done. and even then father wouldn t
explain. He has been like a man out
OF his mind since Mr.. Cortwright got
hold of him-everything is rose-col-
ored. But you see how it ell depends
upon the railroad"
Not so much upon the railroad now
as upon come other things" said
Brouillard enigmatically. You say
your father has borrowed Of the bank
is Mr.. Cortwright mixed up in the
loan in any way?"
Yes; he arranged II 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 a low whistle IL
don't wonder that the quitting rumor
made you nervous. But ! think | 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 I
faiHt--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
gravely. IAN order they cant disre-
gard. Let's go back a bit and I'll eX-
plain. DO YOU remember my telling
you that your brother had tried TO
bribe me to use my influence with Mr..
Ford?"
"As IL I should ever be able TO for
get it," she protested.
Well. 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 nameless fear in the steadfsst
cyes-a shadow which he either
missed or disregarded
And you--you believed this?" she
asked family.
II was compelled to believe il. He
let me pan out the proof for myself. "
1T is dreadtul-dreadful. she muir
INJURED You believed him, and for
that reason you used your influence