Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-11-05

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hunting for his check-book.
1--WE don't need it, simply insisted
on keeping a 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 dor
Yes. Doctor. am"
The Doctor held his pen poised in
the air. I'm not sure I'm really en-
titled to It. Doesn't 1t really belong
to some Cue who was on the spot last
night7''
HIlliard's eyes twinkled.
You're ford of talking about mo-
lives. Doctor. You'd have let me
have that money yesterday. wouldn't
your"
Didn't ! offer It to your"
"Yes. sir; you did. But was It be-
cause you thought you'd make big
profit. or was 1t just TO help meT'
why"
you see" said Hilliard 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
days. And you're not the only one I
held a place open for-Rufus and
Jack are in it. too. 1t was my privilege
to make that condition-and | did"
The Doctor scribbled rapidly.
''Then I'll keep my promise But
would you mind telling me what ii is
I'm buyingP
Here's your receipt. Doctor" Hill
Hard laid n slip of paper on the desk;
took up the check. and scrutinized II
carefully. what you've bought" he
said, ''is 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 tand we've got more than
We need already and after that, we
may possibly sell out. or we may go
ahead and develop the mine ourselves.
/ 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 be7"
Hllliard laughed outright: a laugh
of utter happiness. Right now. If you
say So"
The Doctor puzzled.
You don't make 1t clear" he said.
"Then l will. Mr.. Embree. down at
the Trust and Deposit company, was
one of the men who wanted to get in
with us. and couldn't. He was just
too late. But when / told him what
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
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 Embree,
and written for fifteen thousand dol
lars.
"Why. Hilliard," he said. blankly.
"Is that good business? For Embree7
What's behind this?".
Hilliard fairly beamed his delight.
"Well. If you want my advice. don't
take It'll l told him I'd have to explain
1t 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 fiat
proposition of''-he caught his breath
-four - hundred = thousand dollars
for the contract! And your twentieth
share would be worth twenty thousand
dollars IL we took It'll But we're not
going to-because it's worth still more,
and we know it. Lots more-twice as
much-so-"
The Doctors expression altered
slightly; his chin sank a 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. "ever since
I first began to practice. I've been
working and waiting and hoping to
reach the point where l could give up
office work and do some research.
And here. in a few minutes, you dam
gle two years income in front of me
for no services of mine at all .
for no labor on my part not, as
I'd hoped. the result of service, but"
81 own quarter of the mine my
self" said Hilliard. with equal grav-
ity. "And I'm not thinking how I got
1t, Doctor; I'm thinking how much
good l can do with 1t . can't you
look at it that way toOf'
The Doctor nodded presently.
Cro BE CoNTINUEDD