Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-05-01
AN EVEN SCORE
By CHARLES H. BRENNAN.


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
tho documents he had been foolish
enough to sign, hoaght him to stage
where the farm lay Under a heavy
debt. 1t was over his manifold
troubles that TYroop was rejecting
mournfully when a brisk step sounded
on the gravel wssi1, a4sd young man
OF about twenty strobe up to Throop,
seated on the house steps. The visi-
tor had the air Of sturdy Westerner,
a bronzed face and fearless, aggres-
sive manner.
Don't know me?" he questioned.
"T'm no stranger. Look twice" =
at can't be-sureiy not-Mort A.
lent"
you've hit it." nodded the visitor.
"I'm on my way back to the mines
and took a sort Of longing to see an
old boss. Tell, you, Ma. Throop, I've
had a hard, rough life, and you were
the only mao l ever mixed with Who
didn't take advantage Of me. In the
old days, I mean, for I'm now in
district where draw first and lynch
law tactics rule the roOSt.
Throop recalled the frierdless lad 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 on him to leave his en-
ployer and come to work for him.
as that old Skeesicks living yetT'
propounded Mort, referring to Rhodes.
"Say, I've often wondered how I ever
stood his lying and abuse! lie man.
aged TO beat me out Of two months
wages, he half starved me. he came
near to making me thief. I 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 OH his desperate
equity. Twice he had nearly secured
a purchaser. hut Rhodes had conspired
to defeat the sale.
'Tf l could get couple Of thousand
dollars out of the wreck" lssid
Throop, II could go to my married
daughter. She has invited me to pass
my declining days with her. but l
don't want to go empty-handed."
"Why!" almost shouted Mort. "You
have allowed that scoundrel Rhodes
to swndle YOU out Of your eyes! He's
done enough to deserve the penten-
tiary. Why dont you law him?"
"I haven't the money to do that"
"Wish Ihad," said Mort. I'D stake
you to my last dollar. l may be able
to- soon. I've been east with Satchel
of nuggets and ore samples, and l
have interested q capitalist, who IS
coming out to my mine next month.
| say-I've an idea. l will work up q
wild Western game on Rhodes. Don't
mention a 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. l don't think that old
robber will recognize me as his for
mer working slave
Mort Allen proceeded to the next
village and took up quarters at its
hotel The following evening he Wis
tied the Throop farm and proceeded
to plant here and there about it the
contents OI HIS SutClSl, uuSStlo dLu
ore samples. The next day he man
aged to get acquainted with the
Rhodes man of all work. He hinted
at a chance for this dupe to make a
lot of money and bound him to Sc
crecy. He was to give him twenty-five
dollars for helping him ito find gold"
on tho ThrOOn firm
"Its there" he whispered mysteri-
ously to the creditor victim. well
get lanterns and 60 over it at night"
That was done, and the eyes of the
hired man bulged out as glittering bits
of the pure metal and ore were
brought to Light. Mort paid him a
certain sum for each particle he
found, talked big Of the value of his
marvellous "fnd," and wondering what
the owner Of the land would sell this
bonanza farm for.
What happened was just what Mort
had planned. The hired man told his
employer and intimated that the miner
was wild to raise the money to pur-