Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-08-22

'The time limit7" echoed Starbuck.
whats that?'
''It's the handicap we inherit from
the original company. Certain state
! rights TO the water were conveyed in
the old charter, on condition that the
project should be completed. or at least
be far enough along to turn water into
/ the bitches. by given date. This time
| limit, which carries over from Timan-
| yoni Ditch to Tlmanyoni High Line,
expires next week. We're petitioning
| for an extension, but If we don't get
| 1t we shall still be able to back the
water Up so that it will flow into the
lower level of bitches by next Thurs
day; that is, barring accidents"
"Yes: with no accidents" unused
Starbuck. Cant get shut of the If
no way nor shape, can We? So that's
why the Stanton people have been
fighting so wolfishly for delay. is IT?
! John. this Is a wicked, wicked world"
Then he switched abruptly. where
did you corral all those good looks you
took to the opera house last night,
! John?"
Smiths laugh was strictly perfume
tory.
THAT was Miss Vera Richlander, an
old friend Of mine from back home.
She is out here with her father. and
the father has gone up into the Topaz
country to buy him a gold brick"
mot In the Topaz" Starbuck struck
In loyalty. 1--WE 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 little song and dance about the
cOlonel's daughter, you mentioned an
other woman-though not by name, If
you happen to recollect. 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; 1t was Just one OF the
near-miracles. She didn't know
was here, and I had no hint that she
was coming"
''All right; it's your roast; not mine.
But Tn going to pull one chestnut out
Of the fire for you, even if do get
my fingers burned. This Miss Rich
folks has had only one day here in
Brewster. but she's used It in getting
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.
cit didn't ball me up for more than a
minute or two. Stanton fixed 1t some
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 notion?'
Smith turned away and stared at the
blaekened 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 your"
Eyes. / think / can"
HIN: that's just what / was most
afraid Of"
Don't be an ass. Billy"
I'm trying mighty hard not to be,
John, but sometimes the ears will grow
on the best of us-in spite of the devil.
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. Do
you know what / said to myself right
then, John? l said: oh, you little girl
out at the Hillcrest ranch--good-by,
your"
Smiths grin was half antagonisttc.
'You are an ass, Billy" he asserted.
Il never was In love with Verda Rich
lander, nor she with me-"
Speak for yourself and let It hang
there, John. You can't speak for the
| woman-no man ever can. What I'm
hoping now is that she doesn't know
anything about you that Stanton could
make use Of"
Again the High Lines new secretary
turned to stare at the black back
grounded window.
"You mean that she might hear Of
of Miss Core ra?" he suggested.
you've roped it down. at least" said
the friendly enemy. "Stanton1l tell
her-he1l tell her anything and every
| thing that might make her turn loose
any little bit of Information she may
have about you. AS 1 said 8 minute
ago. I'm hoping she hasn't got anything
on you, John"
Smith was still facing the window
when he replied. ''Pm sorry to have
to disappoint you, Starbuck. What
Miss HIGHLANDER could do to me. if she
chooses, would be good and plenty"
The ex-cowboy mine owner drew
long breath and felt for his tobacco
sack and rice paper.
"All of which opens up more talk
trails" he said thoughhully. "Since
! you wouldn't try to take care Of your
self. and since your neck happens TO
be the most valuable asset TimanyOnl
High Line has. just at present. I've
been butting in, as told you. Listen
10 my tale of woe, if you haven't any,
thing better to do. Besides the Miss
Rich-ranches episode there are a
couple of others. Want to hear about
'em?"
Smith nodded.
"AIl right. A little while past din
ner this evening, Stanton had a hurry
,..1t "a ,,aat tha sNevada F'Iver Taf1ad