The Little River news., 1920-08-07
Continued from page 3


 I'm a little mystifed The last knew of you two, you had testified against him in the high-grader trials at Cripple Creek, and he had pulled out under q cloud even after his &C., Quittal."
 Give a dog bad name, and it will stick to him." Webster retorted. "Of course I testified against him. As en- gineer for the Mine Owners associa- tion, I had to. The high-grade ore was found in his assay office, and the circumstantial evidence was complete, and I admit Billy was acquitted merely because I and others could not swear positively that the ore came from any certain mine. It was the same old story, Neddy. You can be morally certain that high grade ore has been stolen from your mine, but unless you catch the ore thief in the act, how can you prove it? I suppose you read the newspaper reports and believed them, just as everybody else | does"
 well forget it, Jack. It's all over long ago, and forgotten
 "It wasn't all over so long ago as you seem to think. I suppose you knew the Holman gang was after ward sent to the penitentiary for those same high-grade operations? Billy Geary's acquittal didn't end my interest in the case-not by jugful I fought the case against the friends of the Holman crew among the mine owners themselves; and 1t cost me my good job, my prestige as a mining en- gneer, and thirty thousand dollars of money that I'd slaved to get together | Of course you never knew this Neddy, and for that matter, neither does Geary. I wish he did We were good friends once. I certainly was mighty fond of that boy" He drew the letter from the en- velope and slowly opened it. And you never heard what became of Geary?"
 Not word. I was too busy won- dering what was to become of me I couldn't get a job anywhere in Colo rado, and I moved to Nevada. Made a million in Goldteld. dropped it in the panic of 1907, and had to start again."
 What have you been doing lately?"
 "Borax. Staked a group of claims down in Death valley. Bully ground, Neddy, and I was busted when I To- cated them Had to borrow money to | pay the filing fees and incorporation, and did my own assessment work. Look '" Webster held up his hands, still somewhat grimy and calloused. "The Borax trust knew was busted. | but they never could quite get over the fear that I'd dig up some backing and give them a run-so they bought me out"
 Somebody told me Geary had gone to Rhodesia," Jerome continued mus tngly "or maybe 1t was Capetown. l l know he was seen somewhere in South Africa"
 "He left the Creek immediately after the conclusion of his trial. Poor boy! That dirty business destroyed 1 the lad and made tramp of him, guess I tell you, Neddy, no two men ! ever lived who came nearer to loving each other than Billy Geary and his old Jack-pardner. We bucked the marts of men and went to sleep to- ] gether hungry many a time during our fve-year partnership. Why, Bill was like my own boy. Jerome l curse the day I took that boy out from un- dereroUnd and put him in tie assay office to learn tie business. How could know that the Holman gang had cached the stuff in his s.lack?'
 Well, it's too bad" Jerome an- swered duly. He was quite willing that the subject of conversation should be changed "I'm glad to get the right dope on the boy, anyhow. Have an other drink?"
 "Not until I read this letter. Now, who the dickens knew 1 was headed for Denver and the Engineers club? I didn't tell a soul, and l only ar rived this morning."
 He turned to the last page to ascer- tain the identity of his correspondent and his facial expression ran the gamut from surprise to a joy that was good to see.
 John Stuart Webster read it delib- erataly, after which he sat in silent contemplation of the design of the carpet for fully minute before reach ing for the lell. A servant responded | Immediately.
 "Iaing me the timetables of all roads leading to New 0rleans," he 1 ordered, '-alsO cable blank"
 Webster had reread the letter be fore the servant returned with the timetables.
 August. you go out to the desk like a good fellow, and ask the secre- tary to arrange for compartment foi' me to New Orleans on the Gulf States limited leaving at 10 o'clock tomor- row night" He handed the servant his card. "Now wait a minute until l write something" He seized the i cahlp hlanl halpad biDcnlf uDin-