Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-11-27
76e
Twin CraterS
BY OTILLIA F. PFElFFER
downright, 1919 by the Western News
paper Union)

IL would have made no difference |
IL he had been poor as church mouse
10 Alice Leigh. but Wade Porter dia |
not know that Resides, lie resented |
the idea of asking a girl brought up
amid wealth and luxury TO risk unit
ing herself to a man without means,
and one. too. who had not even demon
strated his business abilities
"She likes you. Wade his best
friend. Neil Wolfson, told him, and
when a woman like Alice Leigh fixes
her affections they are likely to prove
lasting"
Then | will not take advantage OF
her confidence" answered Wade reso-
hntely. II believe there is something
In me worth bringing out, and when
have proven that | am going TO her
like a man and tell her So
In careless moment Neil impaired
this information to his sister and she
in turn passed il along to Alice. Inc
latter was made very happy by the IN
telligence. When Wade. all uncon-
scious OF this. made call upon her
his hope was increased and his am
billions stimulated by the gracious way
In which Alice treated him He made
his preparations to qualify for posi-
ton in another city, when he received
n letter from an aunt whose husband
had recently died and its contents
quite interested and excited him.
"Your uncle always liked you
wrote the lady, "and il was his VIII
that you should he remembered before
he died, but the latter years OF his
life he had some serious business trou-
bles and did not attend TO II. Just De
fore ne died. however. he asked me to
see 10 IL that you were given some
mining property he had traded for In
Arizona. 1t " my duty TO tell you
that after looking up the property he
was very much disappointed. STILL
he said that you were young, active,
ambitious, and that you might make
something out OF proposition he haa
grown TOO old 10 handle
When Wade told his friend Nell
wolfson of his acquisition the latter
was fred with enthusiasm. why,
declared the latter, I'D give all !
have for a chance ike that. Gold. sill
yer. adventure The very uncertainty
of the thing is fascinating and he Of
fered 10 supply the capital TO hnance
the Arizona exploitation.
II was on the morning of a gloomy
threatening day that the two adven-
,urers halted their tired steeds at u
uraggling. dismal looking settlement
6tly designated as Last Hope. They
had trayersed barren alkali stretch
" over "A hundred miles without pass
ng y single habitstion. Then had
ZONE the mountains. Here AT the apex
was Last Hope. which was halfway
point between number OF Isolated
mining camps. The tavern Keeper
viewed the two young men with pity
ing expression OF face as they divulgeo
The motive Of their coming
~ hope you're not expecting golf
or silver" ne observed. Il don't sup
pose there is a foot of Twin Crater'
that has not been prospected and no
SO much as true assure vein of golC
or specimen OF horn silver discOv
cred. Some shrewd spectators saltet
1t once and palmed it off on tender
foot investor in the East.
well. we will look II over, anyway.
suggested Neil. which they did an
camped on their possession that night
q gloomy, uncongenial duo
They were discussing the feaslbilit
81. },
next morning when an automobil
came numbering towards them.
held half a dozen well-dressed, int
ligent looking men. and was followe
by motortruck loaded with Surve!
ing and other scientific instrument
A brisk. pleasant-faced young man Al
preached from the automobile first I
1 arrive. He spoke courteously in gree
ing and then with n keen, searchiu
glance observed
Looking up the old craters, gentl
mem
No" replied Wade bluntly, I'd,
cussing the surest means of gettl
\. away from them as far as possible.
l was lured out here thinking that the
might he some value 70 the four hu
. dred acres of land which relative
L mine left TO me-
= Hello You're not the owner
- the craters. are YOU" propounded Il
stranger eagerly.
Il am that unfortunate individual
u acknowledged Wade trying 10 smile.
Then you are the very person '
a shall be looking for as soon as '
x have made little calculation as
err how much water those extinct crate
will hold. My associates yonder q
- capitalists from the East. They oS
III over two hundred thousand acres
the most arid. but also most fert
land in Arizona, seventytwO mil
es away. II science and cement G
IA make those great natural reservo
ne leak proof, we can pump up wat
pe from the river, lay a pipe system
our land and turn the desert into
garden of beauty"
nu What a scheme' exclaimed n
re Wolfson later.
a. "And what price they offer-t
hundred thousand dollars Why or
ffty-ffty basis, that makes US be
~ rich :" echoed Wade
all Eyes. you can now carry out
ur your ambitious business plans ba