The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-12-18
CHAPTER vi.

II one OF the fortunate events OF MS
life. He had been working under the
spur of his passion for Irene, but now
this was to be supplemented by the
friendship of Edith. That it was more
than friendship on her part did not
occur to him at all. but he knew she
was interested IN him and he was
dOubly determined that he would
justify her interest and confidence.
But just at this time another incl
dent occurred which was to turn the
flood of his life into strange channels.
Dave had been promoted to the distinc-
ton of a private Office-a little siX-by-
six 'box STALL" as the sport editor de-
scribed it-but, nevertheless, a dis
tinction shared only with the manag-
ing editor and Bert Morrison, compiler
of the woman's page. Her name was
Roberta, but she was masculine to the
tips and everybody called her Bert.
Into Dawes sanctuary one after
noon in October came Coward. His
habitual cigarette hung from its &C
custOmed short tooth, and his round,
fiorid face seemed pulitzer than usual.
His aversion to any exercise more Wig
OrOus than offered by a billiard cue
was beginning to reflect itself in a
premature Fotundity of figure.
''Lo, Dave!'' he said. "Alone?"
almost" said Dave, without look
ing up from his typewriter. Then,
turning. he kicked the door shut with
| his heel and said, Shoot"
''This strenuous life is spelling your
good manners, Dave, my boy" said
Coward, laZily exhaling a thin cloud
of smoke. IF work made man rich
you'd die a millionaire. But it isn't
work that makes men rich. Ever think
of that?''
eff a man does not become rich by
| work he has no right to become rich
! at ALL Dave retOrted.
What do you mean by that word
! right Dave? Define it,
Haven't time. We go to press at
four"
That's the trouble with fellows like
you," Coward continued. you
haven't time. You stick too close to
your jobs. You never see the better
/ chances lying all around. Now sup
/ pose you let them go to press without
/ you today and you listen to me for a
while
Dave was about to throw him out
when gust of yearning for the open
/ spaces swept over him again. 1t was
true enough. He was giving his whole
life to his paper. Promotion was slow,
and there was no prospect of a really
big position at any time. He remem-
bered Mr.. Duncan's remark about
newspaper training being the best
preparation for something else. With
sudden decision he closed his desk.
Shoot he said again, but this time
with less Impotence.
That's BETTER said Coward
''Have you ever thought of the future
of this town.
well, 1 can't say that 1 have I've
been busy with its present"
That's what 1 supposed. You've
been too busy with the details of your
little job TO give attention to bigger
things. Now let me pass you a few
pieces of infOrmatiOn-things you
must know, but you have never put
them together before. What are the
natural elements which make Il coun.
try or city a desirable place to livei
I'll tell you. Climate, transportation
portunity of independence. Given
these conditions, everything else car
be added. Then there's transporta
ton This is one Of the few centers
in America which has a North-and
South trade equal to its East-and-WeS
trade. We're on the crossroads. Every
: settler who goes into the NOrth-anC
it is mighty NOrth-means more
North-and- South trade. 1 tell you
Dave. the movement is on now, anC
before long it'll hit US like a tida
. wave. I've been a bit of gambler
: all my life. but this is the biggest
: Jackpot ever was, and I'm going tC
sit in. How about your"
I'D like to think it over Promo
ton doesn't come very fast on this job
that's sure"
Yes, and while you are thinking il
over chances are slipping by. DOM
think it Over-pUt it over. 1 tell you
! Dave, there are big things in the air
They are beginning to move already
, Have you noticed the strangers il
town of late? That's the advance
guard
Advance guard of a real estate
boom?''
"Hish! That's a bad word. Get
away from it. Say industrial devel
opment'
''Let me elaborate. Wen say AlkaI
Lake is 4 railway station where lots e
begging at a hundred dollars each. II
drops 4 well-dressed stranger-buy:
ten lots at hundred and fifty each
and the Old-timers are chuckling Ovel
sticking him. But in drops another
stranger and buys a block of lots a
! two hundred each. Then the old
timers begin to wonder If they didn'
sell too soon-- By the time the fourth
. or fifth stranger has dropped in they
i are dead sure OF it, and they are try
} ing to buy their lots back. All sort:
| OF rumors get started, nobody know:
; how. New railways are coming, bis
J factories are to be started, mineral:
have been located, there's a secret wal
: on between great meneyed interests
The town council meets and changes
the name to Silver City-hayfng re
gard, no doubt, to the aIkaH In the