The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-07-07

been doing all these days wher / |
haven't been able to keep tab on yoU?"
"Flirting-firting desperately with
Tig, with Mr. Arson md Mr. Grislow,
and that nice boy of yours, Herbert
Griffith, and with-no,. not with Mr..
LeshingtOn; he sCares me-makes a
face like wooden image and says.
Little girl, you need a mother-or
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!" ne protested re-
proaChfully. Now tell me about the
Little SUSAN is the Bluegrass farm
looming up comfortably on the eastern
edge of things?"
In a 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 make it up on the
Saturdays"
81 see" he nodded All going out
and nothing coming in. But the money
is all here, safely stacked up in the
ore bins. Youll get it all out when
the railroad comes"
That is another thing-a thing
haven't dared tell father and Steyie
When / was in Mirapolis this morn
ing l heard that the railroad wasn't
coming, after all; or, rather, Tig had
heard it 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 eyasively.
1T means everything-a thousand
times more now than it 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 it.
I'VE had no working capital, as
think you must have known Once q
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.. Cartwright and
some Of his associates had been trying
to buy an interest in the Littlc Susan.
Father let them in on some sort of a
stock arrangement that l lon't under.
stand and then made himself person.
ally responsible for dreadful lot OF
borrowed money"
Borrowed of Mr.. Cortwright?'
Queried Brouillard.
mo; of the bank. Neither Stevie
nor l knew about It until after it was
done, and even then father wouldn't
explain. He has been like man out
of his mind since Mr.. Cartwright got
hold Of him-everything is rose-col
ored. But you see how 1t all depends
upon the railroad"
mot so much upon the railroad now
as upon 7ome other things" said
Brouillard enigmatically "You say
your father has borrowed of the bank
is Mr.. Cartwright mixed up in the
loan in any way"
yes; he arranged 1t In some way
for father-I don't know Just how. AL
I know is that father is responsible
and that If the railroad doesn't come
he will lose everything"
Brouillard gave a low whistle. t"
don't wonder that the quitting rumol
made you nervous. But l think l cal
! lift one of your burdens. What 20,
heard in town this morning Is fact
the railroad people have stopped worl
on the Buckskin extension. Dom
faint-they are going to begin again
right away"
"Oh!" she gasped. care you sure
How can you be sure?"
1--WE given the order" he salt
gravely, AN order they can't disre
gard. Let's go back a bit and I'll ex
plain. Do you remember my telling
you that your brother had tried t,
bride me to use my influence with MI
: Ford?"
/ "As If should ever be able to fol-
4 get IT," she protested.
We'll, that wasn't all that he did
he threatened to turn the valley int
placer camp, to disorganize on
: workinC force, even stop or defnitel,
l. postpone the building of the dam"
She was listening eagerly, but Their
was a nameless fear in the steadfas
eyes-s shadow which he eithe
: missed or disregarded.
And you-you believed this?" sh
asked family.
Il was compelled to believe it. H
let me pan out the proof for myself.
1T is dreadful-dreadful!" she mul
INJURED. you believed him, and TO