Evening star., 1921-10-23

d
toward the town. But 1 calc'late I'll
have to get theirn back. too, And.
Grandmother, you a'd James kin rest
easy. Hain't sayin' no more. Jest
wait, and don't worry. and don't say
nothin' to nobody. G-bye. Grand
mother Penny. G'-bye.
of Coldriver in his rickety buggy. No
body dared to speak to him, but. new
ertheless, he carried in his pocket
list of the towns investors in mining
stock, together with the amounts of
their Investments. He was not seen
again for several days.
Two days later Scattergood ap-
peared in the lobby Of the Mansion
House, in the county seat. He scru-
tinized the register. and found. to his
satisfaction. that Mr.. Bowman oi
Boston was occupying room LOG. MT
Bowman had signed the hotel register
in Coldriver as Mr.. Baxter. also OF
Boston. Scattergood seated himself
in a chair and lighted one OF the ci-
gars which made his presence 50 un-
desirable in an inclosed space. He ap-
peared to be taking a nap.
Fifteen minutes after Scattergood be-
gan to nod. Sam Bangs, a politician
with some strength in the rural districts
came down the stairs in company win
a young man of prepossessng appear
dnCe, anu ClOlflHs WHICH oiN N.Y. "
the beholder as either too gaudy or toe
stylish Indeed, the young man I'M
pressed the world as being a sober
conservative person, in whose judgment
it would be well to place confidence.
When Bangs saw Scattergood he
stopped and whispered moment 70
his companion. who nodded: They ap'
preached Scattergood. and Bangs
touched him on the shoulder.
"Mr. Baines." he said, Il want you
should meet my friend. Mr.. Bowman:
Mr. Bowman's a broker. Been buyin
some stocks ofrn him or calc'late to.
/ knowed you done consid able investin',
90 I took the liberty"
Scattergood looked drowsily at the
young man. "Set," he said. Set and
have a cigar"
THE young Mr.. Bowman accepted
I the cigar, but. after glance at 1t
thrust 1t into his mouth unlighted. The
conversation begain with national poll
tics, swung to crops, and veered final
ly to the subject of investments. Mr.
Bowman, backed in his statements by
Mr.. Bangs. spoke to Scattergood OF
certain mine whose stock could be had
for a song, but whose riches in min
eral, about to be reached by certain
shaft or drift or tunnel. were fabulous
Scattergood was interested. An ap
pointment was made for further dis
cussion.
The appointment was kept that even
ing. in the same lobby. and Mr.. Bow
man, while finding moro than ordinar!
difficulty in convincing this fat countr,
merchant. did. eventually succeed il
bringing him to point Of enthusiasm
Looks good said Scattergood
"calc'late a Teller could make a KILN
I'm a-goin' into it hair. hide and hoofs
Figger me rr not less'n five Thousand
dollars wuth of 1t. Ought to make M
fifty thousand il it makes a cent
You're conservative. Mr. Baines
conservative"
Always calc'lated to be. Mr.. Bow
man." He looked up as middle-age'
man with a dropping mustache ap
preached. ''Howdy. John? Still work
in fr the express company, be you?
"Calc'late to, Mr.. Baines. Got charg
Of the local Office. 'Tain't all pleas
ure. neither. In sight Of trouble thi
minnit."
Il want to know" said Scattergood
Stand to lose my job" said John
sadly. Dunno where I'll find me an
other"
what you been doin'. eh? wha
got you in bad?'
"One of the dummed gold shipments
from the state bank. Hadn't ought tc
speak about it, cause the comp'nyt
bein' awful secret Hain't lettin' 1t out
He glanced apprehensively at Mr.. Bow
man.
Needn't to be afraid Of Mr.. Bowman
John. What's the story?''
Bank shippin' bullion. Three chunk
Of it. Wuth ffty-odd thousand dollars
l know, cause that's the comp'ny's liza
bility wrote In black and white. Beef
STOLE" he said. after a brief pause.
"Where?"
"out Of my office. this mornin'. No
a trace. Jest up and disappeared. De
tectives and all can't run on to no clue
Might as we'll "a melted and rul
through a crack. Jest gone, and that
all anybody kin find"
Mighty sorry to hear it, John. Hop
you wasn't keerless. and don't figge
you was; as Cue. Guess sos. You wont a,, be olame'
'1f they ever do" said John
."G'night. Mr.. Baines. I'm might.
oneasy in my mind"
Scattergood turned the subject bacl
at once to mining stocks.
you set me down for five thou
have it. Got jest that sum comm
over to git it. and you fetch then
stock certificates along. Got 'em IL
that little satchel you're always
carryin'?"
my purse. l take no chances on rob
bers, like your express agent SPOKE
of, ! don't mind telling you that
have fifteen thousand dollars in tha
bag-and I intend to keep 1t there
DO tell!" exclaimed scattergood
'wa-al. you know your business
Now, then. II you want to drive oveI
us that money and I'll take thu
Good" said Mr.. Bowman. "Ar
early start. Can l take a train from
there? I'll be through here. l think,
mighty funny thing about that gold
now wan It? Three bars. Wuth fift!
thousand! Mighty slick work-tt
spirit it of and nobody never fins
"The criminal classes" said Mr.
Bowman, have produced some re
Baines."
"see you early in the morning." re
piled Scattergood.
After a breakfast, which Mr.. Bow
man watched Scattergood dispose o
with admiration and astonishmen,
started across the hills. In addition
to his small bag Mr.. Bowman brough
a large suitcase containing his ap
parel, SO 1t was apparent he was leav
| ing the county seat for good. TIL
morning came off hot and humid
Scattergood kept his eyes open for
spring, but 1t was not until they ha
| driven some miles that an oppor
] tunity to find water appeared.
+ 4 X \
U~ALCLATE we kin git a drin
there" said Scattergood, point
ing to a little shanty in a clearing
by the roadside. He stopped hi
horse. and they alighted and knocked