Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-06-18
cHAPTER xI-contlnued.

oueer thing for me to do-to check nm
your property. l mean-when you ana
/ have had such an intimate relation
ship as opponents. And | wouldn't for
the world have agreed TO it if it could
have had the slightest connection with
with your own private affairs
1t hasn't-it can't have. / give Won
my word on that; it's been settled
without the slightest reference to any,
thing else. But since it hasn't. and
since Rufus asked me as a favor
and promised to tell you about it
and it's absolutely commercial"
That's enough. I'm glad you're
going to do it." billiards. voice was
gruff; it was tribute to his compap-
ions code of ethics. "Know anything
about mining?"
"Not thing. But I'm to go to a law
Arm in Butte-and of course it's only
q :ormality, anyway. I'll probably find
it's better than you ever claimed. But
Bufe asked me-
81 see. Well-now about this other
matter -
Armstrong was watching the west
bound express as it felt it's cautious
way through Railroad avenue to the
station.
"YesY
billiard was suddenly ashamed of
himself; he was forced to concede that
his rival had the advantage of him in
p0ise and altruiSm. He shook himself
FREQ of tho cavaUa rocaDt, ,apt which
was stealing upon him.
Were only human-bo;h of us.
Perhaps-under the circumstances
the best thing we can say is to say
nothing =. except that / wish you
all the luck In the world. don't pre-
tend it isn't hard thing to say-but
I'm trying to mean it. And you GER
tainly deserve it."
And to you" said Armstrong cheer
fully. "And no bad feelings on either
aide. And l hope your mine makes a
million dollars for you"
Thanks" said Hilliard, grimly. 'T'll
need it. But don't be afraid to send
Rufus your honest opnion-will your"
'No-and I'll send it to you, too.
That's only fair. I'd better be
starting"
They shook hands again across the
wheel
You're a good sport, Armstrong
:. . don't think I've got any resent
@ent left -. except bit that can't
suite swallow on short notice. :"
Il know. But you don't need to
worry, old man. Your futures bright
eGOugh-as hope to wire Rufus about
Saturday."
Too late, Hilliard perceived that
they were talking at ss-purpOses-
Armstrong was evidently thinking
about the mine. But there was time
only for last gesture of farewell
and Armstrong had disappeared in the
depths Of tie trainshed. Armstrong
the vietor, and the inquisitioner
was on the road to Butte!
Work, hard work, the panacea and
Tne salvation of those who are sore
distressed, even this cheapest relief
vas denied Hilliard. He was left alone
With his problem, wrestling with it
once more in the black darkness of de
spondency, and knowing neither a
means of simplifying it, nor coun-
Seior to whom he could turn for aid.
He conceded that there was only one
thlng for him to do, and he intended to
90 1t, but he was harassed because be
naa so much time TO think about it.
TOT since the first stckening shock of
Harmon's revelation had he doubted
ais own purpose; it was merely the
machinery of it which perplexed him.
his confidence in himself gradually
Lsturaed he was abnormally calm and
Ne'efInlned; he had no more idea Of
eSlstihg his impulses than he would
nave had, in Flanders, of disobeying
als orders. The thing was there to he
upoe' and he, regardless of his own fu-
lure was there to do it.
overnight, he had occupied himself
WIN some elementary accounting.
win Harmon's check. his outstand-
'ns balance for expenses. and What
money he could raise by selling his
e"aoout and few personal posses
9,'us' ne had on hand matter Of
ue'y-six hundred dollars; Syracuse
"ao entrusted him with sixty-two thou
~, 10 compromise pro rata with
80 ereditors--this was apparently his
only resource, and yet how insufficient
Teparation it was! He knew that it
s. au oeen his duty to investigate the
ar,, property before he began to
SALIoit it; t.s knew that his self-intro-
Ion to Syracuse had been blatant
-. .ne,1eusable, and that not even the
~ mat ne had been carried away by
5, .iaIna Of it could ever be excused.
tb.. ,''flcate fabric Of deception. now
re- e inspected Il from this different
n,.,[., p''nL was hiwsy-shoddy. He
s. be traeed-if anyone cared TO
a. $50 me tirre, ana the energy, If
n -'1Iv1s- or Eufus Waring-cared
ga 4 Ter sxSmple. OF course,