The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-06-24
need this now. Nevertheless, ne was

on keeping place open for you, on
the chance that you hadn't changed
your mind"
you're fully satisfied it's the right
thing for me to do?
"Yes, Doctor, | am"
The Doctor held his pen poised In
the air. Pm not sure I'm really en-
titled to ii. Doesn't II really belong
TO some one who was on tho spot last
night?"
billiards eyes twinkled.
You're fond of talking about mo-
tives. Doctor. You'd have let me
have that money yesterday. woudnf
your"
Didn't offer 1t to your
"Yes. sir; you did. But was II be-
cause you thought you'd make big
profit. or was 1t just to help me?"
"Why-"
you see," said billiard cheerily,
"if you're going to have these merce-
nary motives, you've got to let me
have some, too. I've let friendship
interfere with business twice in two
N"!S' anu youI hOl lhS ohiy VhC
held a place open for-Rufus and
Jack are in il, too. 1t was my privilege
to make that condition-and did"
The Doctor scrubbed rapidly.
'Then I'll keep my promise But
would you mind telling me what 1t ID
I'm buyingT
Here's your receipt, Doctor" Hl
lard laid slip of paper on the DESK
took NJ the check, and scrutinized II
carefully. what you've bought" he
said, 81 twentieth interest in new
syndicate formed last night. Wen as
sumo the stock control in New York
when we get there, by paying some
more cash land we've got more than
we need all eady) and after that, we
may possibly sell out, or we may go
ahead and develop the mine ourselves.
l don't know yet which; that's what
Mr.. Cullen and are going West to de-
eide. But you'll be protected anyhow;
I'll see to that. And if you're in any
hurry to get your money back"
How soon do you think it'll te?"
billiard laughed outright; a .augh
of utter happiness. "Kight DOW, If you
say So"
The Doctor puzzled.
"You don't make it clear - said.
"Then will. Mr.. Embree, down at
the Trust and Deposit company, WIS
one of the men who wanted to get In
with u.s. and couldn't. He was just
too late. But when / told him what l
was saving out for you, he authorized
me to make you an offer I'm acting
as his agent, that is, and I've got
a check here, and if you want to en-
dorse that receipt over to him, you can
have this" He presented the bankers
check; the Doctor stared; it was pay
able to himself signed by Embrea
and written for fifteen thousand dol
| lars.
"Why, Hilliard !" he said, blankly
'Is that good business? For Embreei
What's behind this?"
Hilliard fairly beamed his delight
swell, If you want my advice, don't
take IL i told him I'd have to explain
II to you, and he agreed" He sat
straighter, pridefully. Jack Arm
strong sent another wire this morning
and the XLNC crowd, who own the
property next TO ours, know that I've
had this contract for all the SilverbOw
stock, and they've made US fat
proposition of''-he caught his breath
-four - hundred - thousand dollars
for the contract! And your twentieth
share would be worth twenty thousand
dollars If we took 1t But we're not
going to-because it's worth still more.
and we know 1t. Lots more-twice as
much-so-"
The Doctors expression altered
slightly; his chin sank little, and he
sighed, almost In regret.
"That hardly seems fair" he said
slowly. THAT hardly seems fair" He
smiled fitfully, and sighed again. For
years and years." he said, lever since
I first began to practice. I've been
working and waiting and hoping to
reach the point where could give up
office work and do some research.
And here, in a few minutes, you dan
gle a two years income in front of me
for no services of mine at all
for no labor on my part j.. not, as
I'd hoped, the result of service, but"
81 own a quarter of the mine my.
SELF" said Hilliard with equal gray,
ity. "And I'm not thinking how 1 got
1t, Doctor; I'm thinking how much
good ] can do with it >. can't yop
look at 1t that way, tooT
The Doctor nodded presently.