The Meeker herald., 1919-07-12


longed to Purcell. but was Of little
dali civilly.
ave come from your best friend"
spoke the lawyer. "He wants you to
accept pension. a free and clear
town residence. an automobile and"
Gabriel Purcell burst out into a
hearty laugh. He held In his hand a
letter he had Just received from his
son. He was strangely changed from
tho wandering mIsanthrope of the
early morning.
"Stop right there. Mr.. Randall he
snid heartily. II understand Mr..
Wynne and he understands me. The
new experiment Is forced on him. and
no hard feelings. 1t won't go through.
Remember what say. that before
year ia out I'll be back and the old sys-
TEN resumed. And say" and the old
mans eyes Glowed. "I'll be able to help
him out II he finds he's cramped for
capital"
The lawyer eyed Purcell as though
he was getting rid of his senses.
"Oh. I'm not talking Wild" chuckled
the old man. He waved the letter In
his hand towards the old quarry pit. Il
own that, you know"
THAT hole In the ground. you
meant"
Exactly. and it's going to be gold
mine"
81 can't make out Purcell" reported
the lawyer to Mr.. Wynne. "He talks
millions. He's got some dream Of
wealth and he seems happy as lark.
He says he'll he back In a year."
~ honestly hope It," groaned Mr..
Wynne. ALREADY some OF the mod
ern efficiency tactics Of the new SUI
perIntendent have set the older work
ing gangs by the ears. aud they are
quitting by the score"
Mr.. Wynne put himself out Of the
way to meet Purcell whenever he
could. He was surprised, pleased and
gratified to note the glad. sincere vel.
come OF the discarded faithful old fel-
low worker. Purcell wns more than
friendly. he was cheerful. loquaciOus,
and referred constantly TO his "vaca-
ton," and blinked jocularly at the
louibhek w BVVu WV
times coming back all new"
Then came a period of care and
trouble for the plant. A good many Of
the old expert workmen sought new
fields of labor. The new superintend-
ent took large contract at loss.
In rushing n special order they for.
feited the trade Of one of their old.
est md most substantial clients.
Meanwhile, something that puzzled
the townspeople was going on at the
old quarry. Near the edge Of the big
pit new tracks were laid. large
weighing scale put In. derricks erect
ed, and scoops. elevating and lower.
ing machinery. Purcell hustled about.
the busiest, cheeriest being ever was,
md his son Arnold made frequent In
spectiOn visits to the old home at the
qunrry pit.
One day. like thunderclap. came
the news that the big plant was shut
down pending a reorganization. The
new superintendent had resigned.
Some outside stockholders had become
alarmed at the reports Of fast shrink
ing profits, and had thrown their hold
ings on the market at rulnous de-
cline.
That very morning train OF 80
gondola dump cars gracefully wound
round from the main railroad tracks
and half encircled the quarry pit. Each
car was weighed, the contents dumped,
Ashes. building debris. all the daily
accumulated rubbish and waste Of
great city was represented In this first
dumping into that useless. vaiueless.
almost fathomlees quarry pit
Thomas Wynne looked up from his
desk in the ONCE Of the deserted plant
as Gabriel Purcell entered. The found.
er's face was worn and drawn.
as It as bad as they say?' ques.
toned Purcell.
"Worse. Outside Of my wife's cap
ital I have no resources. I must have
two hundred thousand dollars to get
back where we were before this
chastity experiment was made, or go
into bankruptcy"
"Good" cried Purcell animntedly.
"I1l provide the deficit amount for a
like amount of stock"
"You?" cried Wynne incredulously.
Myself and my son, yes. You see,
old friend. the quarry pit. Arnold Is
the head expert in recovery md dis
posal work for the city. We are only
- miles away, and the nearest avail
able dumping pit. They have been
CARRYING the refuse out into the lake.
b,r pAk oa ha hopnrna
hibitiye. In fact, we have n ten years
contract for disposing Of the rubbish
at forty cents cubic yard. Fifty
cars day and all profit. but the
weighing. Figure 1t up. and don't won
der that we are able to anticipate a
million in payment any time we want
It."
HAnd uou nronoaa-u