The Ordway new era., 1920-09-03


Yes" The students voice was thin
with acerbIty. "Yes. you think you're
pretty smart-all OF you. Don't you?
| come In here to do you kindness
that anybody else it seems to me
would take ms n favor. and you nnd
Angela jump uli over me-wny doesn't
he deny II? That's what } want to
knowl Why doesn't he say some
thing?"
Cullen looked nt JIillIard and made
n swift deduction and spoke it.
''IIe's waiting for the rest of II. Go
on-you're only half through the yarn
you told u.s." .i-aa
'Oh, very we'll" Waring gathered
courage. You cnn have all you want
maybe more than you want. You'd
have had 1t sooner II YOU hadn't start
ed yelling at me. know what I'm
talking about: you people don't seem
TO realize I'm In the iawi I don't go
or haif-cocked. wrote to law firm
In Butte. Montana. that's what | did. ]
found out what was the biggest firm
there. and wrote 'em n letter. They
answered ii. too. I got my information
right from the ground. I've got let
ter that says"
Cullen swayed forward. his hand
outstretched. palm-upward. in n direct
challenge of Warnings truthfulness.
''Where is it?"
The boy withdrew a step and STAN
mered: II left 1t home"
'oh. you didw Cullen's laugh was
singing. That's iikeIyi"
Yes. that's exactly what did!
Think I'd bring an original letter out
of my ofiice-let 1t out of my hands
until It's time to make 1t OF record?
Not on your lIfel I've got 1t all right.
1t says the Silverbow Mining corpora
ton owns some acreage. fast enough.
but there isn't mine on it"
Cullen vented his abandon of rage
on the empty air.
"well. who in the devil ever said
there wns?"
"Why q. didn't you?" The appeal
was to HilliRrd; and 1t was made In a
tone OF astonishment which would
have been ludlcrous II there hadn't
been tragedy behind It.
NO" HilIiard shook his head.
"You can't accuse me OF that. at least.
. The only mine we ever mentioned
was one In prospect. l always said II
wns prospect. with an old shaft on
1t 1t. didn't II And so 1t isl But an
old shaft Isn't producing mine. nee
essarily. And-please let him finish.
Mr.. Cuiienr
"weli -" The boy had twin disks
of hectic fame in his cheeks. That's
only a detail. anyway (. they said
said the shaft had been abandoned
more than two years ago. because 1t
wasn't worth much of anything"
Cuilen's hands were closing and un-
closing apoplectically.
"FOr Heavens sake. who ever said
It wasn't! two years ngoi We ail
know that! Give us some news
| young man. give us some newsl''
Waring was breathing hard. and his
interest had switched to Angela. who
stood ndamant. Indeed, he was sud
denly transformed to the status of II
suppiIant rather than that Of prose-
cutting witness.
"Well they said 1t was offered
two years ago to anybody
who'd take 1t o.. for ten thousand
dollars and nobody'd take 1t as q
gift :"
"Oh. good I.ord!" Cullen was near
to bursting. Doesn't the fool know
what prospect is7 Hasn't he seen
the reports? And still he"
"And and the land next to 1t
was had a mine on 1t, the XLNC
mine. that's in pretty fnlr shape. but
that didn't signify anything. :" He
paused for moment. "And there
hasn't been any work done on II. to
speak of, for two years. :. And the
corporation report | got shows that n
fellow named Martin Harmon's the
president OF 1t. and Harmons n chenp
Wall street man in New York. The
Butte people don't consider him re.
linble. And I've written TO him four
times-and he won't answer"
"Ahr said Hilllnrd startled.
"Weil?" Cullen repeated his chal-
ienge.
"rhat's all" He gazed beseechlngly
at Angela. who sniffed and turned her
head away.
"All!" Cullen breathed stertorous-
ly. "And with n Hlmsy lot of rot like
that you've got the unmitiguted gall to
start sianderous story like this
about Henry Hilllard! You've got the
nerve to"
1.-The astonishing part of r." inter
posed Hilliard. with GOODNESS which as
tonishcd even himself. sis that every
single Item of 1t Is true. Don't blame
him, Mr.. Cullen. It's true-every
word"
Cullen shook himself"
"Of course it's true! Isn't 1t what
you've told us yourself, in a different
wayl It's the telling OF It tina,
} countsl''
: "Now listen 10 me moment !" Hill