Catoctin clarion., 1918-06-13
AN EVEN SCORE
BY CHARLES n. BRENNAN.s

uLScfupulOuS, ecnOeu JOnn InfOOp,
In his mind, for, though poor, and
troubled, and wrOnged, he never ut
tered word aloud against any fellow
being.
ThrOop had reason to distrust, de-
spise and dislike Gregory Rhodes. The
latter had got him in his clutches
through a loan of few hundred dol
lars. Once victim was in the net
of the old usurer, he was lost. The
original debt had piled up until
Throop, according to his despoiler and
the documents he had been foolish
enough to sign, brought him to Il stage
where the farm lay under heavy
debt. 1t was over his manifold
troubles that Throop was rejecting
mournfully when brisk step sounded
on the gravel walk, and a young man
of about twenty strobe up to Throop,
seated on the house steps. The viSi-
tor had the mir OF u sturdy Wcsterner,
a bronzed face and Il fearless, agg es-
sive manner.
"Don't know me?" he questioned
"Tm no stranger. Look twice"
ut can't be-surely not-Mort Al
len !"
you've hit It," nodded the visitor
"Im on my way back to the mines
and took II sort of longing to see an
old boss. Tell, you, Mir. ThrOop, I've
had hard, rough life, and you were
the only man ! ever mixed with who
didn't take advantage of me. In the
old days, | mean, for I'm now in II
district where draw fist and lynch
law tactics rule the rOoSt.
Throop recalled the friend,ess lnd to
whom he had given home for two
years. Mort had been troublesome,
mischievous lad, but Throop had been
kind and patient with him. Then
Gregory Rhodes had dazzled Mort. and
In his sneaking, underhanded way had
prevailed Oh him to leave his EN-
plOyer ana come to work for him.
"ls that old skeesickS living YETI
propounded Mort, referring to Rhodes.
SAY, I've often wondered how ! ever
stood his lying and abuse! He man
aged to beat me out of two months
wages, he half starved me, he came
near to making me thief. bolted
finally, glad to get away from life
that was worse than slavery"
Casually chatting over old times led
to Throop informing Mort of the con
dition of his affairs, of how hard he
was trying to realize on his desperate
equity. Twice he had nearly secured
a purchaser, but Rhodes mad conspired
to defeat the sale.
"lf | could get couple of thousand
dollars out of the wreck said
Throop, Il could 90 to my married
daughter. She has invited me to pass
my declining days with her, but |
don't want to go empty-handcd.'
"Why !" almost shouted Mort You
huye allowed that Scoundrel Rhodes
to swindIe you out of your eyes. He's
done enough to deserve the peniten-
tiary Why don't you law himr
Il haven't the money to do that"
"Wish had" said Mort. "rd stake
YOU to my last dollar may be abe
to, soon. I've been east with satchel
of nuggets and ore samples, and |
have interested n capitalist who is
coming out to y mine next month.
] say-Iye an idea. ! will work up Il
wild Western game on Rhodes. Don't
mention Il word of my being here.
Don't recognize me If you happen
across me. Don't notice any strange
things you may see me do. Just sit
tight and take the money that Rhodes
may offer you. ! don't think that old
robber will recognize me us his for
mer working slave
village and took up quarters at its
hotel. The following evening he Wis
ited the Thrnop farm nnd proceeded
to plant here and there about ii the
contents of his satchel, nuggets and
ore samples. The next duy he man
aged to get acquainted with the
Rhodes man Of all work. He limited
at chance for this dupe to make ii
lot of money and bound him to Sc
crecy He was to give him twenty-five
dollars for helping him ito find gold
on the TIL. oop farm.
IFS there" he whispered mysteri-
ously to the creditor victim. "Well
get lanterns ana go oyer 1t at night
That was done, and the eyes Of the
hired man buIged out as glittering bits
of the pure metal and ore were
brought to light. Mort paid him Il
certain sum for each particle he
found, talked big of the value of his
marvellous find" and wondering what
the owner of the land would sell this
bonanza farm for.
What happened was just what Mort
employer and intimated that the miner
was wild to raise the money to pur-
chase the farm, no matter what the
cost.
It was pay-up day for all his schem-
ing, that upon which Gregory Rhodes
placed three thousand dollars in the
hands of Throop for his equity in tn"
farm. 1t was dOIorous one for the
mercenary schemer, tnat upon which
"the gold crop" gave out.
But by that time John Thro0p had
left Acton for his new home, and Mort
Allen had drifted back to Lucky Gulch.
The latter never allowed his con
science to trouble him about the trans
action In the rough community
where he lived the Sailing of
mine to pay off score of outright
cheating was quite Q deed Of merit
and justice!