Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-03

the father has gone up into the Topaz
country to buy him q gold brick"
''Not in the Topaz" Starbuck struck
in Loyalty. eve don't make the bricks
up there-not the phOny kind. But
let that go and tell me something else
A while back, when you were giving
me a little song and dance about the
cOlOneps daughter, you mentioned an
other woman-though not by name, If
you happen to recollect. l was just
wondering if this Miss Rich-people, or
whatever her name is, might be the
other one"
Again the new secretary laughed
this time without embarrassment.
you've called the turn, Billy. She is
the other one"
HIN; chasing you up?"
"Oh, no; it was just one of the
near-miracles. She didn't know
was here, and 1 had no hint that she
was coming"
"All right; it's your roast; not mine.
But I'm going to pull one chestnut out
of the fire for you, even if 1 do get
my fingers burned. This Miss Rich
folks has had only one day here in
mighty chummy with the Stantons.
Does that figure as news to your
at does" said Smith simply; and he
added: II don't understand it."
Funny" remarked the ex-cOwman.
"It didn't ball me up for more than a
| min 70 fx1-n EUn
way-because he needed to. Tell me
something, John: could this Miss Rich
garden help Stanton out in any of his
little schemes, if she took a notlon?'
Smith turned away and stared at the
blackened square of outer darkness
lying beyond the office window.
: "She could, Billy-but she won't" he
answered.
you can dig up your last dollar and
bet on that can you"
Eyes, / think ,can."
"H'm; that's just what 1 was most
afraid Of"
; Don't be an ass, Billy"
"Pm trying mighty hard not to be
John, but sometimes the ears will grow
, |
! What / mean is this: saw you two
! when you came out of the HOphra
} dining room together last night, and
saw the look in that girls eyes. Dc
, you know what 1 said to myself right
, then, John? l said oh, you little gir
| out at the Hillcrest ranch-good-by
your"
Smiths grin was half antagonistic
"You are an ass, Billy" he asserted
: 81 never was in love with Verda Rich
lander, nor she with me-"
"Speak for yourself and let it hans
) there, John. You can't speak for the
, woman-no man ever can. What Tn
; hoping now is that she doesn't know
anything about you that Stanton coulC
make use Of"
: Again the High Lines new secretar.
] turned to stare at the black back
e grounded window.
a "YOu mean that she might hear Of
e of Miss CorOna?" he suggested.
you've rOped it down, at least" sal
the friendly enemy. "Stanton1l tel
n her-he'1l tell her anything and every
q LnlnS Indl might Iudhe HeT LuFu lOOS
!. any little bit of information she ma
: have about you. AS 1 said a minut
n ago, I'm hoping she hasn't got anythin
n on you, john"
o Smith was still facing the windov
v when he replied. 'Tm sorry to hav
to disappoint you, Starbuck. Wha
Miss Richlander could do to me, if sh
chooses, would be good and plenty.
The ex-cowboy mine owner drew
long breath and felt for his tobacc
20 sack and rice paper.
"All of which opens up more tai
r. trails" he said thoughtfully. "Sinc
" you wouldn't try to take care of you
" self, and since your neck happens
= be the most valuable asset TimanyoI