Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-03-17

W - - ris?' 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, if he's in; an if he's out, I'm out. But was just kind O curious about it."
 ''It's all right, it's all right" as- sured Riles, with great magnanimity. Inwardly he was cursing Gardiner for having left this task to him. He was suspicious of a trap in the simplest question, and feared that any minute he might find himself floundering in mesh of contradictions.
 "Where is this coal mine, and who's got it?" said Harris.
 "T ain't saw 1t myself' admitted Riles. "They're awful pticlar about lettin' people see It." he continued, with a sudden flash of inspiration. Its so valu'bIe, V know"
 "'Fraid somebodyll bring 1t home in their pocket, I suppose" said Al- l lan
 Riles pretended to laugh heartily.
 "But where is it?" insisted Harris. "Is there a railroad near, or how do you get at it?'
 "Its up in the mountains, an that's all I can tell you; but it's all right, an there's a pile O money in 1t. l guess I better bring Gardner down in the morning, an Tell explain all about it. Y see, he knows the fellow at owns it, an I don't, an he'll be able to tell you. That is, if you're goin in on it. Gardner won't say much unless he knows you're goin' in on it."
 Well he'll have to say a good deal before he knows" said Harris. "l alnt buyin a pig in poke. He's got [ show me and then if it's all right why IFS all right"
 "Oh. ies an right" said Rifles, al- though inwardlY he felt little enthu- siasm over the attitude of either fla ther or son. He was annoyed that Ai- Ian should be present. On the whole it would be better 10 leave the rest of the explaining to Gardiner.
 "What dye think of it, Dad?" said Allan, when Rifles was gone.
 May he all right said Harris. "Wouldn't he surprised but it is. At the same time I ain't coin to put cent in it till I'm dead sure. And any way there's no use lettin' Riles think we're keen on it."
 That's what I think You think Gardner's all square in it?'
 v don't know. Likely he's getting fat commission from somewhere. but that's fair enough, if he makes the deal. But he won't see any O our money till I have the opinion of the best lawyer in town. That's all we can say till we see it."
 "NNhat dye say if we sell the old farm anyway, an then if this mine business don't look good we'll plunl 1t into farm land?"
 Might do worse" his father agreed. "WeU have look round for day or two. anyway
 In the aftcrr )on Gardiner and Riles drove into ton and met the Harrises in the wait room of the hotel. Gardiners fling was friendly, but not overfami ar, as became a man who had recently suffered some rehec- tion on his character. He shook liar ris and Allan by the hand, inquired after the cattle and the crops but dis creetly avoided family matters, hay ing learned from Riles that all had 1 not been going smoothly in their do- nestle affairs. Gardiner knew a little room at the back of the bar, to which i he escorted his guests. Having or l rrlo I,a table, he turned the key in the door.
 You can't be too careful" he ex- plained. You know, the walls have ears, and if it gets out that this coal mine can be picked up at the price we have on it. 1t will be taken before night. l understand sour money is not here yet, Mir. Harris?"
 NO. Not started. l guess. The fact is, 1 haven't sold the farm"
 Well, l don't want to hurry you but you've got to act quickly. or not at all. Of course, we don't figure on taking any chances. Our idea is to turn the property over at once, at good profit That's the way you feel about 1t too, isn't it?" "Tm not a coal miner"
 Exactly. Neither are the men who own most of the mines of this coun- try. There comes time, Mir Harris, when we realize that we don't have to | get down with pick and shovel to make ourselves some money9in fact, the man with pick and shovel hasn't time to make any real money. I am glad you feel like I do about it, for I have already taken the liberty of put ting the proposition up to a New York syndicate"
 You mean if we don't come through, they will?'
 (TO BE CONTINUED)