The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-04-14
The
Hon7esteader
COpyrEAI Rasat. Reserved
CHAPTER x-esastesss

IL
"No, I mean that Well come through
and they'll come after US My idea
is not to take any chances. bet a. sell
the property, or as good as sell IL. be
fore we buy IL. So l sent a eaVera,
ment report on Il 20 this syndicate a.
i heard they were looking out Tor coal
lands in the West. and just took the
liberty OF offering Il 10 them for n
cool quarter OF a million. aud gave
them until tonight 10 Accept ar refuse.
by wire. I'm a little anxious for an
answer, although II they don't take Il
others will. You see. the old fellow
that owns It simply hasn't any idea
what it's worth. He has lived In the
hills until he looks like one OF 'em,
and a satchelful OF money In real bills
will simply dazzle him. check
wouldn't serve the purpose: he'd be
suspicious of IL, and he'd come down
to investigate. and some one would be
sure TO crimp our deal"
"And suppose l don't like the look
of the mine when see itg'
Then You bring your money back
down with you and put IL into farm
lands, or anything else that takes
your fancy. After you look II over. If
you don't want TO go in on IL. Mr.. Har-
ris, perhaps Rifles and / can raise
enough ourselves TO swing the deal,
but you see we thought of you from
the Arst. and we will stay with our
original plan until you have a chance
TO decide one way or another"
well, that sounds fair" said Allan,
md lie EaNh
haven't sold the farm, and until we
do 1 guess there isn't much money in
sight"
''Bradshaw'n sell the farm quick
enough if send him word" his IA
Their assured him. "He may not get it
all in money. but he'll get a good part
of il, and he has ways o. raisin' the
balance so longs the security is good.
I've half a mind Z wire him Z close
FER out"
AT this moment there came a knock
on the door, and boy presented n
telegram for Gardiner He opened
it, read IL. and emitted whoop
like a viii Indian. They're coming
through" he shouted. coming
through How does half of two hun
bred and fifty thousand dollars look
TO you, Mr.. HarrIs?"
Harris reached out eagerly for the
telegram. while Allan, his arm thrown
over his fathers shoulder, read it in
bOyish excitement:
If investigation confirms govern
ment reports we will pay two hundred
fifty thousand. Our representative
leaves at once for personal interview"
The name at the end of the tele-
gram was unknown TO either Harris
or his son. but Gardiner assured them
II was one to conjure with in the
financial world. Riles' excitement was
scarcely less than Allan's. Gardiner
choked n flood Of questions on his
lips with a quick imperative glance.
Even Riles did not know that the
telegram had been written a few
doors down the street by a stoutish
man in pepper-and-salt suit.
''I'll take a chance" said Harris. at
last 'T'n take a chance"
Chance nothingI" interjected Gar
diner, with momentary abruptness.
at was chance a minute ago; it's a
certainty now. It's the cinch of a
lifetime"
where's some paper?" asked Allan.
Lets get a telegram away right OFF. -
Gardiner produced a notebook and,
at Harris dictation, drafted a tele-
gram 10 Bradshaw. directing him to
dispose OF the farm at once along