The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-02-03
CHAPTER Ix-continued.


hSlliuilbil. W ait IuOllltHl. ANoN'
suppose that some strange eccentric
chap owns one OF these coal limits.
He lives up I'm the mountains, Il kind
of hermit, but we fall in with him and
offer him $4,000 for his limit worth,
say, 100000, or more if you feel like
it. He says, All right, but mind l
want the money In bills. and you'll
have TO bring II out TO me here. Now
can you think Of anything?"
Harris don't know nothln' 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
ierested. That's ALL Our business Is
90 get Harris, with the money in his
wallet, started up into those noun
tains. It's mighty lonely up there,
with timber wolves, grizzly bears,
precipices, snow slides, and trails that
lead to nowhere, and If Harris Is UNI
fortunate-well. he's unfortunate"
The plan gradually penetrated Riles'
slow-work!ng mind. At first II numbed
him little, and HIS face was Il strange
color as he turned TO his companion,
and said, In low voice, "Ain't it
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
we'll put over. l tell you, Rifles, It's
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 mlne?
Gardiner made gesture of exas-
peratlOn. you don't get me, Hiram.
Nobody owns the mine. That part Of
it's all q myth--a fairy tale manufac-
tured because we need II. But Harris
mustn't find that out-not, at any
rate, until it's too late. Then IL 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
l are taking in the sights OF Honolulu
or South America. Wen quietly make
an appointment for Harris TO meet the
mine owner somewhere up in the hills.
Wen direct him where TO go. and
leave 1t at that. or course we won't
go with him; we'll have other busl-
ness about that time"
Rifles looked at Gardiner with frank
admiration. 1t 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 ii with him. And
II seemed so safe. AS Gardiner said,
the mountains were full of danger,
and If something should happen to
Harris-welI, 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 a
steep. slippery bank, and drew up be-
side cluster of ranch buildings shell
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 Gardl-
ner. Another Manitoban chasing the
free land"
Travers at once recognized Rifles and
extended his hand. "Well. Mr.. Rifles.
we weren't looking for you here, al
though I suppose / shouldn't be sur
prised for there was some talk OF
your coming west before I left Plain
Vile. How's everybody? Harrises
well, l hopeY
Guess they're well enough, but get
tin Kind o. scattered for family
group. Beulah lit out when you did
but l guess | can't give you no infor-
nation about that"
The smile did not depart from Trav-
ers' face, but II Rlles 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 II saw Beulah the day ] left
Plainville, and / understood she was
going west on a visit. She isn't back
YETI"
"Innocent. amt chuhT' said Rifles,
in a manner intended TO be playful.
"Its all right don't blame you. Beu-
labs a good girl II bit highfalutln,
an few years roughln' It on the
homestead'll take ti.at out OF her"
But Jim had dropped the harness
and stood squarely facing Rifles. The
smile still fingered on his lips. but
even the heavy-witted farmer saw that
he had been playing with fire. Rifles
was much the larger man Of the two,
hut he was no one to court combat
unless the odds were Overwhelmingly
In his favor. He carried n scar across
his eve as a constant reminder OF his
folly In having once before invited
trouble from younger man.
What do you mean?" demanded
Travers. "Put Il In English"