Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-09-09
CHAPTER WII-contInued.

turned away with By Heck. He went
to the home of the Hecks ostenSibly
to have his fortune told-really, to
get his dinner. The old woman didn't
like him, but her Unborn spirit Of hos
pitality wouldn't permit her to refuse
him a meal. She felt that she was
almost even with him when, after
shutting and reading the cards. she
told him that it would be wise for
him to look out for big, tall, grey
eyed young man with an oak tree In
one hand and couple of cliffs in the
other.
=
Dale told Major Bradley and John
Moreland Of that which Golf had said
to him at the gate. The major sug-
gested forthwith that he go to meet
the man; it couldn't possibly do any
harm, and there was a chance that he
would learn something of Goff's In
tentions.
So Dale went.
Golf was already there, waiting. He
was sitting on stone on the More
land side of the river, whiting idly.
When he saw Dale approaching, he
smiled and nodded, rose and pocketed
his knife
IT want to make you an offer for
that COAL" he said at once.
"All right" Dale replied. IF your
offer is big enough, 1t will be consid-
cred. But no shyster price is going
to get that coal, Goff."
Golf frowned uneasily.
''You don't know coal, Mr.. Dale.
You don't know the business of min
fng-or I've got you sized up wrong.
Thousands of men have gone busted
trying to do things they weren't used
TO doing. There's big chance, too,
that the coal isn't what 1t looks to be
on the surface. You'd better take a
sure thing, and avoid a possibility of
loss. I'll give you five thousand, spot
cash, for that COAL"
Dale shook his head. you'll have
to come heavier than that, y'know, If
you get the Moreland coal"
''And an extra thousand for your
selfV'
Dale laughed low, queer laugh.
'e'You amuse me, Goff," said he.
''Seems to me you've missed your call
ing in life. What peach of king
villain you'd make in melodrama! You
wouldn't have to act, either; you'd
have to be just your natural self. And
you make me mad, too, Golf. Because
I'm on the square with the More
lands and everybody else-now, get
thatl"
The corners Of the shyster coal mans
mouth came down.
"Oh, bosh-don't pass me that vir.
tue stuff. Every man has his price
high or low. You've got yours, and
I've got mine. I'll give you five thou.
sand, spot cash, if you'll persuade
John Moreland to sell to me for five
thousand, and nobody'Il ever know
you got a rakedown from me- It's all
the coal is worth, that ten thousand
Well, yes?"
Dale was of the type that goes pale
with anger, and he was pale now. He
clenched his hands.
you can't insult me like that and
get away with it, Goff," he clipped
"We're going to fight, Golf, and Tn
going to put licking on you that
fifteen horses can't pull off. Get me?'
He threw aside his coat and rolled
his sleeves to his elbows. Henderson
Golf ran his right hand quickly to q
rear trouser pocket and brought back
a stub-nosed automatic pistol, which
he turned threateningly toward Bill
Dale.
$50 easy, friend" Golf said very
compIacently. There's no use in
getting sore. 1 want the coal, that's
all If I can't get it by fair means
I'll get it in another way. Oh, don't
mind telling you; one mans oath is as
good in court as another mans. II
you don't take me up at ten thousand
I'll give you so much trouble that
you'll be glad to sell It to me later
for half that amount. The Balls think
they own big interest in that coal
There's a lot of them, too, and they
can keep you from working the mine
Well, / can't waste time in dickering
with you. What do you sayT