The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-07-20

ed-feileves In the reSoES-:S9 OF the
country and all that. But you can't
borrow money from him without secur-
ity, if that's what you're aiming to do"
Cant we?" smiled the young man
who knew banks and bankers. Lets
20 and see You may introduce me to
Kinzie as your acting financial secre-
tary, II you like. Now one more Ques-
Tinanyoni DitchT'
AT first he was all kinds OF friend
ly; he is stOckholder in a small way.
But after while he began to cool
down little, and now-well, / don't
know; hate to think II Of Dave, but
I'm afraid he's leaning the other way,
toward these Eastern fellows. He
tried to cover Stanton's tracks In the
stock-buying from Gardner and Boil
ling"
THAT is natural, too" said Smith,
whose point of view was always un-
obscured in any battle Of business.
''The big company would be better
customer for the bank than your little
one could ever hope to be. l guess
that's all for the present. II you're
ready. Wen go down and face the
music"
"By Janders !" said the colonel with
an open smile; II believe you'd just as
soon tackle a banker as to eat your
dinner; and I'd about as soon take a
horsewhipping. Come on; I'll steer
you up against Dave, but I'm telling
you right now that the steering is
about all you can count on from me-"
1t was while they were crossing the
street together that Mr.. Crawford
Stanton had his third morning caller,
thickset barrel-bodied man with
little piglike eyes, closely cropped hair,
a bristling mustaohe, and wooden
leg of the homemade sort. The men
of the camps called the cripple "Peg
leg or "Blue Pete" indifferently,
though not to his face. For though
the fat face was always relaxed in a
good -natured smile. the crippled sa-
loonkeeper was Of those who kill with
the knife.
Stanton looked up from his dssk
when the pad-and-click of the cripple's
step came In from the street.
"Hello. Simms," he said, In curt
greeting. Want to see met Sit
down"
SImms threw the brim Of his soft
hat up with a backhanded stroke and
shook his head. at amt worth while;
and l gotta get back to camp. l blew
In to tell y'u there's a fella out there
that needs tn sandbag."
"Who is it?"
"Fella name Smith. He's shown
'em how to cut too many corners
pace-settin', he calls 1t. First thing
they know, they'll get the concrete up
to where the high water won't bust 1t
out"
Stanton's laugh was impatient.
Don't make any mistake Of that
sort, Simms," he said. Eve don't want
the dam destroyed: we'd work just
as hard as they would to prevent that.
| All we want Is to have other people
| think it's likely to go out-think 1t
| hard enough to keep them from put
| ting up any more money. Let that go.
Is there any more fresh talk-among
the men?" Stanton prided himself
| little upon the underground wire-pull-
Ing which had resulted in putting
Simms on the ground as the keeper OF
the construction-camp canteen. 1t was
fairly original way of keeping lis
tening ear open for the camp gossip.
Little" said the cripple briefly.
This here blink blank fella Smiths
been tellin' Williams that l ort to be
run off tn reservation; says tn booze
puts the brake on for speed"
$50 it does" agreed Stanton mus
ingly. "But l guess you can stay
while longer. l have a notion that
Smiths been sent hereby some outfit
that means to buck US. If he hasn't
any backing"
| The interruption was the hurried in
coming OF the young man with sleepy
| eyes and the cigarette stains on his
| fingers, and for once in way he was
stirred out OF his customary attitude
| of cynical Indifference.
Smith and Colonel Baldwin are
over yonder in Kinzie's private Office"
he reported hastily. Before they shut
the door I heard Baldwin introducing
Smith as the new acting financial sec
retary Of the Timanyoni Ditch COM
pany!"