The Lamar register., 1919-01-22
Illustrations
oIr~IlSsnyer.

pile. didn't youF
Il had already gathered that much
from the camp gossip"
4 'Well. its 50. We're just about ns
helpless as ii bunch Of cattle IN sink
hole" was the rnnchmun presidents
confirmation Of thc camp gurSsrs.
"What in The name of the great horn
spoon can we do-mnre than We have
dnncT'
"Thcre are number Of filings that
might be done" said Smith. falling
back refiectively upon the presumably
dead and hurled brink cashier part of
him. And If you can manage To stay
in the game and play it out. there is
big money in II for all of you; enough
to make il well worth while for you to
put ~ the fight of your lives"
"Big money?-you mean In saving
our Investment"
"Oh. no; not at an: in cinching the
other fellows" Smith put In geuially.
Colonel Dexter Baldwin lifted his
soft hat and ran his fingers through
his grlzzled hair.
"Sat, smith; you mustn't forget
that I'm from Missouri" he said half
quizzically.
But I shouldn't think you'd need
10 be shown in this particular in
stance" was the smiling rejoinder.
''rhe chance to sell you people water
rrom your own dam Isn't the only
thing or the main thing In this case.
They are obliged to have this dam site.
or. nt least. one as high up the river
as this. in order TO get the water over
to their newly allenated grant In the
western half of the park"
you've got II straight" said the
colonel.
every good. Then they're simply
obliged TO have your dam. or Don't
you see the alternative now. colonel?"
''Henvens to Betsy" exclaimed the
breeder of fine horses. bringing his fist
down upon Williams desk with n crash
that made the ink bottles dance. And
then: "Whai lot of fence-posts we
nre-the whole kit and bllin' Of usl
II they get the dam, they sell water To
us; if they don't get II, we sell 1t TO
them :"
THAT'S 1t. exactly" Smith put In
quietly. "And / should say that your
stake In the game Is worth the stlffest
fight you can make 10 save II. Don't
you agree with mef"
Great Jehui should say. so,''
calculated the amateur trust fighter.
Then he broke down the barriers mas
terfully. THAT settles IT. Smith. You
can't wiggle out of 1t now. no way or
shape. You've got To come over into
Macedonia and help US. Williams tells
me you refused him. but you can't re-
fuse me-"
II Smith hesltated, II was only partly
On his own account. He was thinking
again Of the young woman with the
honest eyes when he said: DO you
know why turned Williams down
when he spoke to me the other dayi"
Colonel Dexter Baldwin had his
faults, like other men. but they were
not those Of indirectlon.
II reckon ! do know. son" he said,
with large tolerance. You're lame
duck of some sort But that's our
lookout. BARLEY is ready to swear
that you are not crooked crook. what
ever else II Is that you're dodging for.
Besides. there's yesterday"
1--WE agreed to forget the yesterday
incidents" the lame duck reminded
him quickly. And then: 81 ought to
say NO. Colonel Baldwin: say II
straight out, and stick to 1t. II don't
say tiff | ask for little tlme-it is
becnuse I-want to weigh up a few
things-fhe things / can't talk about To
you or TO Williams. II, In the end,
should be fool enough to say Yes IT
Is only fair to you to say that. right In
the middle of the scrap. / may fall
TO pieces on you"
Baldwin was too shrewd to try to
push his advantage when there was,
or seemed TO be, a chance that the
desired end was as good as half at
talned. And 1t was n purely manful
prompting that made him get up and
thrust out his hand to the young fel-
low who was trying to be as frank
us he dared to be.
"Put it there. John" he said heartily.
Nobody In the Timanyoni is going to
pry into you an inch farther than you
care to let 'em; and If you get into
trouble by helping us. you can count
On at least one hacker who will stand
by you until the cows come home
Now, then, hunt up your coat, and
we'll drive over to Hillcrest for q bite