The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-01-20

Does Taste Kind o. sosky." Said
Harris.
well. he struck soft thing out
here. To- sure. This lord I'm tellin'
you about's gone OF home over some
bloOmin' estate or other. an Gard ner's
running his ranch-his bloody well
rawnch' he calls II. Gets q good fat
wad for ridin' round. an hires a man
to do the work But II was Gardner
put me on { this coal mine deal"
Let's get settled first, and well
talk about Gardiner and the mine aft
erward." said Harris, and they Joined
the throng that was now vending its
way TO the hotels.
"How's your thirst. Hirsmr in
quired Harris. after he had registered.
Pretty sticky" confessed RIleA
But they soak you q quarter to wash
II out here"
"WelI, 7 got a quarter"
"a quarter apiece. I mean"
swell. I got a quarter apiece" said
Harris. "Come on"
Rifles followed. establishment over
Harris sudden iiberality, and misgiv-
Ing as to how he himself could avoid
q similar expenditure. struggling for
uppermost place In his mind.
"Pretty strong stun they have
here" he said. after Harris and Allan
had set 'em up" In turn. Keel you
over II you don't watch IT,"
Does taste kind O. snaky." said
Harris. Guess that's enough for this
time. Now come upstairs and tell US
all about this deal you have on"
When the travellers had thrown on
their coats and vests. and all were
seated In the little bedroom. Rifles
cleared his throat.
swell. there amt much Z tell yuh.
more'n ! said In m letter" he started.
"As I said. It's Gardner you'll have {
thank for this thing. good or bad.
amt a coal miner. an ] told him that,
an told him you wasn't neither. but
ne says that don't make no difference.
He says there's all kinds o. money in
II. an I reckon that's what we came
out here for. amt itr'
Eyes. provided the things sound"
said Harris. anyone can see with
half an eye that there's easier ways
Of making money than Dustin up this
prairie sod for II. BUT you and me've
worked hard for what we've got,
Hiram. and we want Z 60 mighty care
full about spendin' It."
81 suppose you've sent home word
to sell your farm. have you!" put In
Allan. "You'll be chipping In at the
same timer"
"Oh. yes, I'll he chippin' In. OF
course. But I didn't just say to sell
the farm yet. I'll have L get back an
straighten things up some first. You
see. I thought you'd get my letter be-
fore you left. an you could kind o
make your deal then. an your pay
ment would hold the bargain bound
until could sell mine. y see. Har.
risY" Rifles was beginning to address
himself mainly to the older man.
Don't take me up wrong" said Al
Ian. I'm In on this along with Dad,
n he's In: an II he's out. I'm out But
! was Just kind O. curious about It."
ats all right. It's all right" as
sured Rifles, with great magnanimity
Inwardly he was cursing Gardiner for
having left this task to him. He was
suspicious Of trap in the simplest
question. and feared that any minute
he might find himself foundering In q
mesh Of contradictions.
"where Is this coal mine. and who's
got IT." said Harris.
81 aint saw II myself" admitted
Riies. They're awful p'tic'lar about
Iettln' people see IT," he continued
with a sudden fash of inspiration
ats SO valu'ble. y know"
"'Fraid somebody'll bring II home
In their pocket. l suppose" said Al
Ian.
Rifles pretended TO laugh heartily.
"But where Is itY' insisted Harris
as there a railroad near, or how do
you get at itf'
"Its up in the mountains, an that's
all can tell you; but It's all right
an there's a pile o. money In 1t.
guess I better bring Gardner down In
the morning. an he'll explain al
about IT, Y see, he knows the fellow
at owns II. an don't, an he'll bs
able to tell you. That is. II you're
goln' In on II. Gardner won't say
much unless he knows you're goin' In
on IT,"
"well. he'll have to say a good dea
before he knows" said Harris. 81
amt buyin' a pig In a poke. He's go'
T. show me, and then II it's all right
why. It's all right"
"Oh. it's all right" said Rifles. al
though inwardly he felt little enthu
slasm over the attitude Of either n