The Ordway new era., 1917-02-02

solve and for the first time came
through the gate OF the school She
saw him come with a pleased little
sense Of having broken down his re-
serve and feeling o! feminine vic
tory.
: moment later the nouutsineer vas
standing on the steps and shaking
hands with Roger Malcolm. whom he
greeted briefly and with mountain re-
serve
= vas down at Peril with couple
Of teams he said. turning 10 Juanita.
an found 2 lot OF boxes at the sta
ton for ye- lowed ye didn't hardly
have any teams handy. so I fetched
en- back 70 ny house. I'll send them
over il the morning. but ! thought
ID ride over tonight an tell ye-"
She had been wondering how. al
time OF miret roads. she was 10 have
those books. which she would soon
need. brought across the ridge Now
he had solved the problem for her
Anse Hayey stood leaning against 3
porch post his broad shoulders and
clearcut profile etched against the
moonlight as he studied the Philadel-
phian. Suddenly he asked abruptly:
Have ye found anything that inter
ests ye in the coal an timber line?"
Roger Malcolm glanced up and
knocked the ash from his pipe against
the rail OF the porch. He had not sus-
peCred that his rambles about the hills
with a set OF maps and q geologist's
hammer had been noted.
But he showed no surprise as he an
swered with perfect frankness: Yes
and no. came primarily to see how
Miss Holland was progressing with
her work It's true I have thought
something OF investing in mountain
resources, but that lies in the future"
Havey nodded and said quietly: q
hope ye decides to invest elsewhere"
so far as casual inspection shows.
this country looks pretty good to me"
reioined Malcolm easily. Il may buy
her@provided. Of course. the price is
right"
This country's mighty pore" said
the head of the Haveys slowly. About
all it can raise is a little corn an
heap Of he'll. but down underneath the
rocks there's wealth"
Then the man who can unlock the
hills and get it out ought to be vel
come as q benefactor, ought he not?"
tnqused the fastener with smile.
He won't be-" was the short re-
sponse.
Why"
The men from outside always aim
to get the benefit Of that wealth an
then to move US of our mountains. an
there amt nowheres else on earth a
mountain man can live. Developin'
seems pretty much like plunderin' to
US. We centrally ask benefactors like
that to go away"
And do they usually go?"
No; not usually. They always
goes"
DO you expect ne 70 believe that,
Mr.. Havey?" Queried Malcolm. still
smiling.
4 don't neither ask ye to believe it
nor to disbe!ieve it." was the cool re-
joinder. I'm just tellin' it to ye. that's
all"
Malcolm reflled his pipe and offered
the tobacco pouch to Hayey. Anse
shook his head with q curt Much
obleeged." and the visitor said casual
ly: Well. We needn't have any argu-
NEXT on that score yet. Mr. Havey. Ny
activities, if they eventuate. belong to
the future, and when that time comes
perhaps We shall be able to agree,
after all"
Il reckon we won't hardly agree on
10 proposition for despoilin' my peo-
pie. Mr. Malcolm"
Then We can disagree. when the
time comes" remarked the other man
with trace Of taTtness in his voice
Then ye don't aim 10 develop US
Just now"
Malcolm shook his head. the glow q
his pipe bowl for moment lighting
up a face upon which fingered an
amused smile.
Not this time. Another time. per
haps"
An right, then" Havey's voice car
ried very masked and courteous but
very unmistakabIe warning When
eTer yet get good an ready-we1l ar
gae that"
He bowed to the girl and turned into
the path which led down to the gate.
CHAPTER XVII.
II was one OF those nights under
whose brooding wings vague things