The Little River news., 1920-08-07


 made one hundred thousand d6liars."
 "Chicken-feed," Jerome retorted. "Johnny, I've been combing the min eraI belt of North and South America for you for a month"
 "Why this sudden belated interest in me?"
 q have fine jo; 5gr you, John"
 "Kings K" Webster interrupted, and showed both hands with the fin gers crossed. "No plotting against my peace and comfort, Neddy Haven't I told you I'm all dressed up for the first time in three years, that l have money in my pocket and more in primrose path for a year before I get back into the harness again.
 Jerome waved a deprecatory hand, figuratively brushing aside such feeble and inconsequential argument. Are you fOOt-loOse?" he demanded
 "I'm not. Pm bound in golden chains"
 Married, eh? Great Scott I might have guessed 1t. So you're on your honeymoon, eh?'
 No such luck, you vichy-drinking icoAoclast. If you had ever gotten far enough from this club during the past fifteen years to get a breath of real fresh air, you'd understand why l want to enjoy civilization for week or two before l go back to a mine su n-;r !. r. |, No, sir-ee. Old Jeremiah Q. Work and I have had failing out. Dad burn your picture, Neddy, I want some class I've been listening to a dago shift-boss playing the accordeon for three years-and he could only play three tunes. Now I want Sousa's band. I've been bathing in tepid, dirty water in a redwood sluice-box, and now I desire steam room and a nee dle shower and an Osteopath. I've been bossing Greasers and Italians and was forced to learn their language to get results, and now I want to speak my l mother tongue to my old friends. By thunder I'm going to have a new deal all around"
 every well, Jack Don't excite your self I'll give you exactly thirty days to sicllen of it all-and then I shall come and claim my property
 "Neddy, I'll not work for you. I'm mad. l won't play
 "You're it. I just tagged you.'
 "I require a rest-but unfold your proposition, Neddy. I was born poor, weak vessel consumed with a curiosity that was ever my undoing. I can only protest that this Is no way to treat friend"
 Nonsense! My own brother wants this job, and have refused to give 1t to him. Business is business-and I've saved it for you"
 finger confidentially on Webster's knee; whereat the light-hearted wan derer carefully lifted the finger, brushed an imaginary speck of dirt from 1t, and set it down again. "Be serious, you ingrate." Jerome pro- tested. "Listen! I've been working for two years on consolidation up near Telluride, and I've juss put it across. Jack. it's the biggest thing in the country Colorado Consolidated Mines Company, Limited English capital, Jack. Pay 'em 6 per cent. and they'll call you blessed There's twenty-five thousand year in it, with a house and a good cook and an au- tomobiIe and a chauffeur, and you can come to town whenever you please, provided you don't neglect the com pany's interestS-and ! i.noW you're not that kind of an engineer"
 Do l have to put some money into it, Neddy?'
 Not necessarily, although l should advise it. l can let you in on the ground floor for that hundred thou sand of yours, guarantee you d hand some profit and in all probability Il big T feel myself slipping, Neudy. New erthelesS, the tail goes with the hide. I'm no. in the habit of asking my friends to guarantee my investments and if you say it's right, I'll spread what l have left Of the hundred thou sand when l report for duty
 It's been tremendous job get ting this consolidation over, Jack.
 n pity's name. Spare me, I've heard all want to hear about your con ounded con oldation. News. News Give me news. have to beg for drink Nose you black sinner, how dare you appear before me without bringing q drinkE"
 Nose, the aged colored porter of fhe Engineers club, flashed row of worries and respectfully returned the democratic greeting.
 'I4etter for you, suh. The secre- tary told me to give it to you, Mistah
 'Thahk you, Nose. Speak up, Ned- dy and tell me something Ever hear anything of Billy Geary?"
 He was tearing the edge of the en- velope the while he gaZed at Jerome, who was rubbing his fat hands to- gether after the fashion of elderly men who are well pleased with themselves.