The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-04-16

their investment until it was a COM
pleted fact. Gardiner dropped In oc
casionally to learn II any word hau
come from Plainvile. hut II was NOT
until the afternoon of the four'h nay
that the fateful yellow envelope WI
handed in at the hotel. As IL nap
pened. Gardiner and Rifles were pres
ent at the moment. They slipped into
the back room and waited in iever
of expectation for Harris TO announce
the contents.
Harris and Allan read the message
twice before speaking; then Allan re-
peated it aloud:
Twenty thousand dollars proceeds
sale goes forward by wire your bank.
Correspondence follows. VIII explain
failure to get price asked.
"BRADSHAW."
Harris was torn between emotions,
and his face worked with unwonted
nervousness as he struggled win
them. That Bradshaw should have
sold the farm for half the price he
had stipulated seemed incredible. IL
was robbery: il was breach OF trust
Of the most despicable nature On me
other hand. if the amount available
would enable them to buy the mlne'
| the huge profit assured from that IN
yestment would much more than on
set the loss on the farm. Gardiner
and Rifles. too. were visibly downcast
when they heard the amount, hut Gar
diner promptly grappled with the
situation.
"It's less than we figured on" he
said. "hut perhaps we can get through
still. The thing to do is 70 get out to
the mine at once with this money. IL
will he sufficient to prove the genuine
ness of our intentions. and induce him
into town. Then Rifles can put up
some and can put up some. and that,
with the twenty thousand, should hold
the deal until Rifles can realize on MS
farm. Within q 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 q
new and important thought "Whert
do YOU come IN on this deal? Is YOU
old gink up in the hills coming through
for half?"
"Not a cent" said Gardiner. "A'
=, for where | come in. well, dealing
with old friends like Rifles and the
, Harrises. considered that sec
ondary matter. I fancy that wheT
they feel the profits in their pockets
they will be disposed to he not onl,
fair. hut generous. and. of course, If
), mt M part of the money I will eXpec
my share of profit But I'm not ask
. ing for any assurance; I'm just goin
:, to leave that TO YOU"
q well. that's decent. anyway" Har
. ris agreed. 81 haven't as much none
p as I expected. hut if we can pull
10 through it may he all right yet. Q
q course. you remember that | haven
10 promised to put ND a dollar unless
~ like the looks of the mine when | sc
n IT," Harris still had quams of hes
tation about entering into transa
\, ton so much out of his beaten pat
and he took occasion from time
d. time to make sure that an avenue {
. retreat was still open.
n THAT'S the understanding. exactly
q Gardiner assured him. You're Il
man with the money. and if you dor
~ like IT. don't pay"
Homie Of onno visited tho hont OF
:, returned shortly with the infOrmati'
- that the amount, less somewh
startling percentage for tranSmissi'
" and exchange. was already deposit
. to his credit.
"Then let us lose no more tim,
said Gardiner. with enthusiasm. "Y
will need a team and rig. and Y
better pack couple of blankets a
some CRIB. Make the stablem
!, throw in couple of saddles: y
n may have to ride the last part of
III trip. Rifles and will make II the Wit
ii way on horseback" Gardiner tn
a remembered that it would he nee
sary for him to go back to the ran
N and change horses. but he descrih
"A In deta'i the road they should Ia
Y and assured them they could not m
81 il. II was the main road up the ri,
Il valley-rp, and up-and if they Dire
. hard they would reach that night
= spot where an old. deserted cal
II stood back in a clump of poplars.
would he a good place TO spend {
night. and Rifles and Gardiner wO
meet them there. If. indeed. they
not overta,le them on the road. Neitl
Harris nor Allen had any fear OF
strange trail; they had been bred t,
sense of direction and location
their lives, and were confident Il
would find no difficulty in reaching
rendezvous.
Better make your own arran
ments about the horses" Gardi
whispered as they left the room. +"
can't he too careful to keep our b
ness secret"
,+. As they stood for a moment in
waiting room it occurred to Allan
some shooting might be found in
ady mountains. You haven't got a
the you could lend me, l suppose?"
TO said TO Gardiner.
what do you want a gun fl
lys. Gardiner demanded brusquely.
WIS might get shot at partridge
sale somthing. No harm in having
! olnnu &c thnrac ~