The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-07-09
CHAPTER xIII-continued

billiards. eyes blazed; the audacity
IF the suggestion was obscured by the
possibility of honor that it contained.
"Yes!" he said thickly. "Yes! You
bet l couidr
And you wouldn't be afraid to keep
on working for me? That is, if we got
this Silverbow scheme all Numbered
clean before we started something
-else?"
''Then listeni" The brokers' voice
was soft and homiletical. you've
thought some hard things about me.
Maybe you had some cause; I'm not
disputing that. But guess you've for
gotten something. Something told
J you when we first got together. / told
you If you got me what wanted I'd
help you get what you want. Well
you've done your best. / got to give
you credit. And maybe you've changed
some of my ideas too. Maybe you've
sort of worked me around to believing
] haven't given you square deal.
Well-let the past bury its dead. I've
I'm sort of tired of the old line Of
stuff; I'm thinking seriously of cut
ting it all out and going in for the safe
and sane. 1t isn't so juicy, but it's
safe. Am right or am / wrong? All
the cards on the table-Fm no fool,
Hilliard-and the bottoms falling out
OF this promotion game. So If you
nh ntrf infn vnOif-
innate salesman of high-grade bonds
of course there wouldn't be nearly as
much in it for you've got more than
half mind to give you the chance.
It's risk, but guess I owe 1t to you"
He slid his pudgy hand across the
table and smiled Practically. "Pve
taken strong fancy to you, son-let's
be respectable together. What do you
say to that?"
In his feverish joy billiard was will
ing to ignore the obvious fact that the
brokers' repentance was considerably
overdue, and that it was founded on
expediency and not on principle. The
thought of working longer for Har-
mon-even if the securities he had to
filed him with nausea; but if that
were the only way to save the stu
alton how could billiard decline? How
in his duty to himself, could he refuse
to work again for Harmon. If this were
the only means to save his friends
their money already lost? He felt his
veins thrObbing to his agitation.
iS fhot homo lido Of
fer?" he faltered. Harmon's hand
slapped the table for emphasis.
straight as string. To tell the
truth you're sort of on my conscience.
You're with me? All right! Then as
far as I'm concerned the contracts
Cancelled here and now. Got It with
you"
mo, +"
The brokers' face darkened. "Where
is it?"
billiard was disinclined to tell how
and why he had intrusted 1t to Cullen.
cts SAFE" he said. He could hardly
contain himself; he looked and looked
at Harmon. trying faithfully to recon
cile the man and his appearance and
his principles, and he failed-but here
was the great reality confronting
him-and the millionth chance had
magically come true. 1t was warped
honesty but it was honesty no less.
Harmon licked his lips.
swell, we'll clean up the whole
transaction today and start with a new
deal. That's settled. Oh, don't carry
on like that, Hilliard.-Now about this
chap, Waring-"
"Oh. you still want to see him. do
you"
Harmon hesitated. "Sure! Give
him q little surprise, Ell? If he's the
man who's been bombarding us Wen
spike his guns first.-WhatT He
laughed noisily and billiard was al
most too excited to dislike the laugh.
Don't bother to telephone the Onon-
daga: We'll just walk over"
"But l thought you wanted to stay
away from there?" billiard was dis
playing many of the symptoms of in
toxication.
along so smooth and nice! We can
go up in your room and have Warning
up there and be just as private as
anywhere else"
Accordingly, and to the chagrin of
a lowering waiter. they quilted their
booth and went out to the open air.
They reached the Onondaga; they ar
rived at the mezzanine floor; they
were safe in billiards. apartment.
"Myr said Harmon loosely. ~
wish I could afford to live like this
But you've got a rich hacker, and
haven't" He rubbed his hands in
great good nature; his eyes were spar
king and his fat body was a-quiver
with vanity. well. the first thing to
do Where did you say you
keep that contract of ours hiddeng"
SIS there any hurry about that now?"
billiard was fairly beside himself with
Joy.
well" The sudden whirr of the
telephone buzzer seemed to ruffie the
brokers nerves, for he started vio-
lently. "Who's that?"
"Just a moment. ;" billiard
took down the receiver. "Yes? :.
oh, yes, have him no; hold the
wire" He beckoned hilariously to
Harmon. Warnings downstairs now
You're ready to see him, aren't your"
The broker was suddenly plunged
into uncertainty.
"Yes-no! Nor
whats wrong?" billiard was WIS.,
tied by an unwelcome chill; he tried
to analyze it and couldn't.
The big man was breathing with diff
ficulty. 81 -. you go down and