Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-03-10
Copyright. All Rights Reserved \
CHAPTER lx-Continued.

Hiram, I told you you had no im- agitation. Walt moment. Now, suppose that some strange eccentric chap owns one of these coal limits. He lives up in the mountains a kind of hermit, but we fall in with him and offer him S40,000 for his limit, worth, say, S500,000 or more if you feel like 1t. He says, All right, but mind I want the money In bills, and you'll have to bring 1t out to me here Now can you think of anything?"
 Harris don't know nothin' about coal" protested Rifles. "He wouldn't bite at anythin' like that"
 Your faith has been neglected as well as your imagination. You've got to paint 1t to him sos to get him in terested. That's all. Our business is wallet, started up into those noun tains. It's mighty lonely up there, with timber wolves, grizzly bears, precipces, snow slides, and trails that lead to nowhere, and if Harris is un- fortunate-well. he's unfortunate"
 The plan gradually penetrated Riles' slow-working mind. At first it numbed him little, and his face was a strange color as he turned to his companion, ard said, in a low voice, "An't 1t risky? What If the police catch on?"
 "They won't. They're all right for cleaning up a rough house, but don't cut any figure in fine art work like Wn'n I ta1l it,c absolutely safe. The main thing is to see that he has the money in bills; anything else would be risky and lead to trouble. Then this fellow that's supposed to own the mine must be kept in the background. We"
 But who does own the mine?''
 Gardiner made gesture of exas- peration. You don't get me, Hiram. Nobody owns the mine. That part of it's all a myth-a fairy tale manufac- tured because we need it. But Harris mustn't find that out--not, at any rate, until it's too late. Then if any thing ever does leak out, suspicion will be directed toward some mysterious mine owner, and the police will be wearing out shoe leather hunting the cracks in the foot hills while you and I are taking in the sights of Honolulu or South America. We'll quietly make an appointment for Harris to meet the mine owner somewhere up in the hills. We'll direct him where to go, and leave it at that. Of course we won't go with him; we'll have other busi- | ness about that time."
 Riles looked at Gardiner with frank admiration. It seemed so simple now, and in his growing enthusiasm he felt that he would have little difficulty in persuading Harris to raise all the cash possible and bring it with him. And it seemed so safe. AS Gardiner said, the mountains were full of danger, and if something should happen to Harris-well he would be unfortu- nate; but lots of other people had been unfortunate, too.
 Gardiner turned his team down a side road. forded the river, climbed steep slippery bank, and drew up be- side cluster of ranch buildings shel- tered with cotton woods and spruces. AS the team in their long, steady trot, swung up beside the stables, an alert young fellow came quickly out and busted himself with the unhitching.
 Guess you ought to know our wis itor, Jim, shouldn't yOu?" said Gardi- her. Another Manitoban chasing the free land"
 Travers at once recognized RileS and extended his hand. "Well, Mir. Riles. we weren't looking for you here, al- though I suppose I shouldn't be sur prised, for there was some talk of your coming west before I left Plain vile. Hows everybody? Harrises well, I hopeT
 Guess they're well enough, but get tin kind O scattered for a family group. Beulah lit out when you did but I guess I can't give you no infor- nation about that"
 The smile did not depart from Tray ers' face, but if Riles had known him as well as he should he would have seen the sudden smoldering light in the eye. But the young man answered quietly, 'T saw Beulah the day I left Plainville, and I understood she was going west on visit. She isn't back yetY
 Innocent. ain't chuh?" said Riles, in a manner intended to be playful. "It's all right; I don't blame you. Beu- lah's a good girl if a bit highfalutin, an a few years roughin' it on the homestead1l take that out of her"
 But Jim had dropped the harness and stood squarely facing Rifles. The smile still fingered on his lips. but even the heayy-witted farmer saw that he had been playing with fire. Riles was much the larger man of the two but he was no one to court combat unless the odds were overwhelmingly in his favor. He carried n scar across his eye as a constant reminder of his folly in having once before invited trouble from a younger man.
 What do you mean?" demanded 1ro1,ors