The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-05-20
IKE silvsrbow. I guess-all Goat

what was that you saidF ne muh-
aged.
Harmon reiterated II.
"TOo much Sllverbow. Only they
| pumped the water out Of 1t sooner
than we will. That was FIVE years
ago."
At first. Hllliard was untouched by
the shock; the force Of 1t seemed TO
pass over him entirely; then all at
once as he was caught by the drift OF
| it, his hands began to tremble violent
ly; and his palms were clammy with
sweat. His stomach seemed to drop
out of him. and he was nauseated by
the tremendous purport Of his employ
er's cyniclsm.
"Mr. Harmon" he painted, under
his breath, "Mr. Harmon
The New Yorker looked at him In
| genuine surprise.
whats the matter, billiard? You
| look Sickl Or . d-n Ii, man,
| If that's another one of your bluffs,
| you're wasting your time. You haven't
worked up such a holy disposition you
believe in this mine have you?" He
moved uneasily. 81 wish you'd wipe
| that pious expression off your face-or
is it glued on?"
billiards voice shook uncontrolla-
| bly,.
"This this mine!" he STAN
mered. "You told me-"
an stand by everything I've ever
told you, billiard. I'll prove it, It's
an area of minerallzed schist with dis
seminated copper values. And we've
| got over a hundred acres Of 1t. And
| part Of the shaft, toow He laughed
noiselessly. "Of course, altogether
there's about five hundred square
miles of that same sort Of land in the
same state. but what's the odds as
longs you're happy? Tell me you
aren't wise? Rot! Why, you knew
all about 1t when we were on the
| boat u
billiards. muscles were working in
hysterical jumps. and his face was dis
! torted.
"Y-you y-youre saying
y-you're saying I've been selling
s-selling to my friends a piece
of d-n worthless property? Are
your"
"Shut up" The big man was domi-
nant, ugly. Understand me? You
| keep your mouth shut if you know
what's good for you! Didn't you come
up here to get square with your
'friendsT Your friends!" His accent
was superlatively contemptuous. you
knew 1t wasn't producing mine,
didn't you?"
you told me it was wonderful
prospect / knew it was long shot,
but l thought there was some value
there =. lot of it and
you said the shaft you always
said the shaft was"
Harmon reached for another ciga-
rette; there was undlsguised perplex-
ity on his face.
"Son, if you aren't n mighty good
actor, you're are you going to
| claim you didn't know what this mine
| is? After all that whining and squeal-
| ing of yours about your getting even?
Then what in thunder did you want to
come back here for?'
ITO make some money-to get some
| fun out of II. 1 wanted to make fools
Of people; I didn't want to swindle
anybody 1 thought was giving 'em
something for their money! +"
Harmon lighted his cigarette, none
too complacently.
"The funny part about It." he said
slowly, SIS that l don't honestly be-
lieve you're bluffing. But you
knew it was only a prospect"
"But thought 1t was good pros
pectl Never mind" He made as
though to rise. you've said enough.
I'm through with you"
The big mans jaw thrust out bel
ligerently, and he caught Hilliard by
the arm.
"Now, stop right there! Sit down!
Sit down. Maybe you thought it was
a good prospect and maybe you didn't,
but you're not through with me yet
not until / say so. Don't you make
any mistakes like that, my boy. Don't
you go off half-shot-not yet Re-
member our contract? Ever heard Of
promoters liability I'd certainly hate
to see you get into trouble, but If
you've made any wild statements
about material facts"
billiard was straining half across
the table.
"You told me the ore was there!
And / thought the worst that could
happen would be to tie up this money
for a few years-thats why a pros
poets so hard to sell knew darned
well 1t wasn't any whirlwind right
now, but 1 did think they'd
they'd at least make something good
out of It eventually
even If Il :"
"Ahw said Harmon, sneering, "but
you had every opportunity to learn the
facts-ev-e-ry opportunity. It's not
my fault II you went off half-cocked.
don't know what you've represented to