Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-09-09

that COAL" he said at once.
"All right" Dale replied. IF your
offer is big enough, it 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
ing-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 it looks to be
on the surface. You'd better take a
sure thing. and avoid possibility OF
loss. I'll give you Eve thousand, spot
cash, for that coal"
Dale shook his head. You'll have
to come heavier than that, y'know. II
you get the Moreland coal"
"And an extra thousand for your
self"
Dale laughed low. queer laugh.
"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
that!"
The corners of the shyster coal mans
mouth came down.
ooh, 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'll 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 meT
He threw aside his coat and rolled
| his sleeves to his elbows. Henderson
| Golf ran his right hand quickly to 9
rear trouser pocket and brought bach
a stub-nosed automatic pistol, which
| he turned threateningly toward Bill
| Dale.
! $50 easy, friend" Golf said very
| complacently. There's no use ii
getting sore / want the coal, that!
all. If l can't get it by fair means
| Til get 1t in another way. Oh, | don
mind telling you; one mans oath is al
good in court as another mans. L
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 a. big interest in that coal
There's a lot of them, too, and they
can keep you from working the mine
Well, l can't waste time in dickerine
with you. What do you say?"
81 say" and Dale smiled an odd lit
tie smile. that your plan appears to
be perfect, except that you've over
looked one or two important details
For instance, there's the law, y'know.'
| 'The law-now don't go and foo
YOURSELF" exclaimed Golf. 1.-THE state
couldn't afford to keep hundred mer
here, month In and month out, just tC
protect your little mine. My patience
Is about gone, Dale-for the last time
what do you say?"
Il say that I'll beat you at any
game you put up against me-" very
quietly. Furthermore, say that you
are coward and scoundrel, anc
that you haven't got the insides in yor
to fight me fair mans fight. II you'll
only pocket that thing you've got ir
your hand, I'll NOW down half an acre
Of meadow bush with your body"
The other turned red. then white