Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-03

of that widely advertised enterprise in
floating his own undertaking, but in
stead he asked:
Your mother has invested heavily,
has she not?'
Not in the railroad Her fortune.
and mine, too. is all in the coal mines"
O'Neil smothered an exclamation.
What is it," she demanded.
Nothing. only-are you sure?"
"Oh. quite sure. The mines are rich.
aren't they
There are no Mines he informed
her. thanks to our misguided law
makers at Washington. There are vast
deposits of fine coal which would make
mines if we Were allowed to work
them, but We are not allowed"
We: Are you "a coal person,
| like u.s."
Yes. | was one Of the first men
in the kyall fields. and invested heav-
| lily. | know Mr.. Gordon's group of
claims well | have spent more than
hundred thousand dollars trying to
perfect my titles. and I'm no nearer
patent now than l was to begin with
not SO near, in fact. | fancy Gordon
! has spent as much and is in the same
/ fix. 1t is coal matter which brings
me to Alaska now"
Il hardly understand
of course not. and you probably
won't after | explain. You see. the
government gave us-gave everybody
who owns coal locations in Alaska
three years in which to do certain
things; then it extended that time an
other three years. But recently a new
secretary of the interior has come into
office and he has just rescinded that
later ruling without warning, which
gives US barely time to comply with
the law as it first stood. For my part.
I'll have to hustle or lose everything l
have put in. You see: That's why
hated to see those horses drown. for
intended TO use them in reaching the
coal fields. Now III have to hire men
to carry their loads. No doubt Mr..
Gordon has arranged to protect your
holdings. but there are hundreds of
claimants who will be ruined"
Il suppose the government protected
its subjects said the girl vaguely.
One Of the illusions taught in the
elementary schools" laughed O'Neil.
I'VE Alaskans have found that il does
exactly the opposite. We have found
it harsh and unreasonable landlord.
But I'm afraid I'm boring you" He
wrapped her more snugly in her COW
erings, for chill had descended with
the darkness, then strove 70 enliven
her with stories garnered from his rich
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES which gave her fas-
cinating glimpses of great undertak-
ings and made her feel personally ac-
quainted with people of unfamiliar
type, whose words and deeds, mirthful
or pathetic, were always refreshingly
original. OF certain individuals he
spoke repeatedly until their names be
came familiar to his hearer He called
them his boys" and his voice was
tender as he told OF their doings.
These men are your staff:' she ven
tured
Yes. Every one who succeeds in
big work must have loyal hands to
help him
Where are they now|'
"Oh, scattered from Canada to Mex
leo. each one doing his own particular
work! There's Mellen, for instance;
he's in chihuahua building a cantileyer
bridge. He's the best steel man in the
country. Mckay, my superintendent
Is running a railroad job in California.
Happy Tom Slater
The funny man with the bues?"
Exactly. He was at work on ny
drauiic project near Dawson the last
heard Of him. DR.. Gray is practicing
in Seattle, and Parker. the chief epgi-
:Ieer. has position of great responsi-
tlity in Boston. He is the brains Of
our outfit, you understand 1t was
really be who made the North Pass
and Yukon possible. The others are
scattered out in the same way. but
they'd all come If ! called them" The