The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-04-14

P'etcu Inct. Gardiner dropped in oc-
cassonally to learn If any word had
come from Plainville. but it was not
until the afternoon of the fourth day
That the fateful yellow envelope wa;
handed In. at the hotel. AS ii hap
pened. Gardiner and Rifles were pres
ent at the moment. They slipped into
the back room and waited in a fever
OF expectation for Harris to announce
the contents.
twice before speaking; then Allan re-
peated it aloud:
Twenty thousand dollars proceeds
sale goes forward by wire your bank
Correspondence follows. Will explain
failure to get price asked.
BRADSHAW"
Harris was torn between emotions.
and his face worked with. unwOnted
nervousness as he struggled with
them. That Bradshaw should have
sold the farm for half the price he
had stipulated seemed incredible. 1t
was robbery; it was a breach of trust
of the most despicable nature. On the
other hand. If the amount available
would enable them TO buy the mine.
the huge profit assured from that in
vestment would much more than off
set the loss on the farm. Gardiner
and Rifles, too, were visibly dOwncast
when they heard the amount, but Gar
diner promptly grappled with the
situation.
ITS less than we figured on" he
said, "but perhaps we can get through
still. The thing TO do is to get out to
the mine at once with this money. 1t
will be sufficient TO prove the genuine
ness of our intentions. and induce him
into town. Then Rifles can put up
some and I can put up some. and that,
with the twenty thousand. should hold
the deal until Rifles can realize on his
farm. Within a very short time we
can turn the whole thing over to the
New Workers. and take in the profits"
"Say, Gardiner" said Allan. speak
ing as one who had been struck by
new and important thought. "Where
do YOU come in on this deal? Is your
old gink up in the hills coming through
for half?"
mot a cent" said Gardiner. GAS
for where l come in, we'll, dealing
with old friends like Rifles and the
Harrises, considered that a sec
ondary matter. 1 fancy that when
they feel the profits in their pockets
they will be disposed to be not only
fair, but generous. and. of course, If /
put up part of the money will expect
my share of profit. But I'm not ask
ing for any assurance; I'm just going
TO leave that to you"
''Well. that's decent, anyway" Har-
riS agreed. ''I haven't as much money
as 1 expected, but If we can pull it
through ii may be all right yet. Of
course, you remember that 1 haven't
promised TO put up q dollar unless
like the looks of the mine when I see
it." Harris still had qualms of hest
tation about entering into a transac-
ton so much out of his beaten path,
and he took occasion from time to
time to make sure that an avenue Of
retreat was still open.
That's the understanding, exactly"
Gardiner assured him. You're the
man with the money. and If you don't
like 1t, don't pay
Harris at once visited the bank, and
returned shortly with the information
that the amount, less a somewhat
startling percentage for transmission
and exchange. was already deposited
to his credit.
"Then let us lose no more time"
said Gardiner. with enthusiasm. you
will need a team and rig, and you
some grub. Make the stableman
throw in a couple of saddles; YOU
may have to ride the last part of the
trip. Riles and l will make it the whole
way on horseback" Gardiner then
remembered that it would be neces-
sary for him to go back to the ranch
and change horses. but he described
In detr'l the road they should take.
and assured them they could not miss
II. 1t was the main road up the river
valley-Cp, and up-and if they drove
hard they would reach that night q
spot where an old, deserted cabin
stood back in a clump of popIars. 1t
would be a good place to spend the
night. and Riles and Gardiner would
meet them there, If, indeed, they did
not ONcIlukc lnciu on the ROAD. Neither
Harris nor Allen had any fear of q
strange trail; they had been bred to a
sense of direction and location all
their lives, and were confident they
would find no difficulty in reaching the
rendezvous.
Better make your own arrange
ments about the horses" Gardiner
whispered as they left the room. 1--WE
can't be too careful to keep our bust
ness secret"
AS they stood for a moment in the
waiting room 1t occurred to Allan that
some shooting might be found in the
mountains. You haven't got a gun
you could lend me, 1 supposeT" he
said TO Gardiner.
What do you want a gun forY'
/ Gardiner demanded brusquely.
might get a shot at a partridge, or
somthing. No harm in having one
along, is there?'
"Oh, no, but I don't expect you'll
see anything to justify the trouble
Anyway, haven't got one"
There's a shotgun here" said the
hotel clerk. who had overheard the
last remarks. "if that would suit you
A Cholly who was taking a shori
/ course In DOker nut II nm a few davs