Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-09-24
CHAPTER xi-con.,nusd.

Il don't deny" said Armstrong
ilowly, that At first sight this is a
queer thing for me to do-to check up
Vour property. mean-when you and
have had such an intimate relation
ihip as opponents. And / wouldn't for
the world have agreed to 1t II It could
have had the slightest connection with
p. with your own private affairs.
II hasn't-it can't have. ! give you
ny word on that; It's been settled
without the slightest reference to any
thing else. But since II hasn't. and
since Rurus asked me as favor
and promised TO tell you about it.
and it's absolutely commercial"
That's enough. I'm glad you're
Eoing to do it." billiards. voice was
Eruff; It was tribute to his compan-
IONS code of ethics. Know anything
about miningY
mot a thing. But Pm to go to law
arm in Butte-and of course It's only
formality, anyway. I'll probably find
It's better than you ever claimed. But
Rufe asked me-"
II see. Well-now about this other
matter :"
Armstrong was watching the west
bound express MS 1t felt its cautious
way through Railroad avenue to the
station.
''Yes7"
Hiiiiard was suddenly ashamed of
himself: he was forced to concede thait
bis rival had the advantage of him In
poise and altruism. He shook himself
free of the savage resentment which
was stealing upon him.
"We're only human-both 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 a hard thing to say-but
I'm trying to mean 1t. And you GER
tainly deserve it."
And to you." said Armstrong cheer
fully. "And no bad feelings on either
side. And hope your mine makes
million dollars for you"
Thanks" said Hillinrd, grimly. "Tll
need it. But don't be afraid to send
Rufus your honest opinion-will you"
''No-and I'll send 1t to you, too.
That's only fair. . Z. I'd better be
starting"
They shook hands ngain across TIE
wheel.
You're good sport. Armstrong
don't think I've got any resent
ment left e. except bit that can't
quite swallow on short notice. :"
"I know. But you don't need to
worry. old man. Your futures bright
eneugh-as hope to wire Rufus about
Saturday"
Too late. Hilliard perceived that
they were talking at cross-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 the trainshed. Armstrong
-. /. tho victor. and the inquisitioner
was on the road to Butte
Work, hard work, the panacea and
the salvation of those who are sore
distressed, even this cheapest relief
was denied Hilliard. He was left alone
with his problem. wrestling with II
once more in the black darkness Of de-
spondency. and knowing neither a
means Of simplifying 1t, nor a coun.
selor to whom he could turn for aid.
he conceded that there was only one
thing for him to do. and he Intended to
do 1t. but he was harassed because he
had 90 much time to think about it
Not since the first sickening shock of
Harmon's revelation had he doubted
his own purpose; 1t was merely the
machinery OF 1t which perplexed him
His confidence In himself gradually
returned; he was abnormally calm and
determined; he had no more idea OF
resisting his impulses than he would
have had. In Flanders. Of disobeying
his orders. The thing was there to be
done. and he. regardless of his own fu-
ture. was there to do 1t.
Overnight, he had occupied himself
with some elementary accounting.
With Harmon's check. his outstand
ing balance for expenses. and what
money he could raise by selling his
runabout and few personal posses
sions. he had on hand n matter OF
ninety-six hundred dollars; Syracuse
had entrusted him with sixty-two thou
sand To compromise pro rata will
his creditors-this was apparently his
only resource, and yet how insufficient
a reparation II wasi He knew that Il
had been his duty to investigate the
Montana property before he began tc
exploit 1t; he knew that his self-intro
duction to Syracuse had been blatant
ly inexcusable, and that not even the
fact that he had been carried away by
the drama OF It could ever be excused
His intricate fabric of deception. now
that he inspected II from this different
viewpoint. was Enthusiastically. he
could be traced-if anyone cared tc