The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-01-06

make any difference TO me n you
spend your whole life sod.busting; It's
your llfe-spend II any way you like.
But It's only men who don't know any
better that 90 on to the land now
adays It's lot ensier TO make n liv-
ing out Of farmers than out OF farm
ing"
swell, p'r'aps SO. but that's more In
your line. never"
THAT'S just what say--you never
learn Now look NJ me. amt wear
ing my last suit, nor spending my last
dollar, either. and ! haven't done what
you'd call days work since ! came
west. There's other things so much
ensier to do"
"Meann'l-"
"Oh. lots Of things. Remittance
men. for instance These woods are
full Of them. Chaps that never could
track straight In the old ruts. and
were sent out here where there aren't
any ruts ri all. They're not bad
bunch: brought up like gentlemen
most Of EN-; play the piano and talk
kind Of stuff but they're simply dan
gerous with money. So when II comes
to hand, in the public interest they
have to he separated from IT,"
sounds lnterestin'." said Rifles.
"'Tis, too. especially when one OF
'em don't take to the treatment and
lays for you with a gun But my
M. q
wearing tall hat"
Tell me" said Riles his face III up
with interest. chow dye do it?'
'Twouldnt do you any good" said
Gardiner you've steered too many
pillow handles to be very nimble with
YOUR fingers But there's often other
game to be picked mp, If man knows
where to look for IT,"
swell, | wish ! knew" Rifles con
fessed. mot anythin crooked. y
know. but something like-well. some
thing like you're dom. I've worked
hard for ev'ry nickel ! ever made, an
I reckon II there's easy money goin'
I've a right { get some Of IT,"
"Now you're beginning TO wake up
Though. mind you some Of II isn't as
easy as II looks. You've got to know
your business, just like farming or
anything else. But you can general
~ land something 10 live on. even II IL
amt big stake. Take me now. for
instance amt doing anything that
a preacher mightn't do. Happened To
fall In with a fellow who owns n ranch
M the river here Cleaned him empty
ore night al cards-stOod him UP for
his last cent and he kind q took a
notion to me Well. he's the son Of
duke or an earl, or some such thing
and not long ago the governor goes
and dies on him.. leaving him few
cnStlrs and hric-a-brac like thar an
some wagon loads of money. SO Re
had Ia 90 ruur for the time being nnr
as he wanted someone to run his
ranch. who should he think of but me.
suppose he thought II | happened to
bet il al poker some night | wouldn't
lose IL. aud that's some consideration.
He's got 1000 acres or so of land up
there. with n dozen cayuses on il, and
:
board and lodging and open credit at
me trading company, to see that II
doesn't walk away IN his absence. Be
sides that, | hire man to do the
work and charge his wages up in the
expenses. Got good man, tOo-One
of those fellows who don't know any
better than work for living. BY the
way perhaps you know him-comeS
from Plainville part-Travers his
name is?"
"Sure," said Rifles. "IIe worked for
Harris, until they had row and he
III out II kind o. balled Harris up,
too. although he'd never admit 1t. II
he'd Travers there it'd be easier for
him { get away now"
where's Harris goingf"
"Ile amt goin'; he's comm. Comm
out here in few days after me. I'm
his kind O. advance guard, spyin' out
the land"
"You don't say? Wen, see and make
him come through with the expenses.
II ! was travelling for Jack Harris !
wouldn't he sleeping in a hen coop like
this. He's worth yards of money, amt
he?"
"Oh, some. guess, but perhaps not
so much mOren his neighhors."
"Nothing personal, Rifles. You've
got to get oveg that narrowness If
you're going 10 get into the bigger
game I've been telling you about. |
don't care how much you're worth
how much is Harris bringing with
him?"
Couple Of hundred dollars, likely
81 wouldn't show my hand for that.
How much can he raise?"
well, supposin' he sold the old
farm"
Now don't do any reckless suppos-
ing. VIII he sell the farmT'
sure. hen sell IL II he sees some
thing better"
"How much can he get for ltf'
"rhirty or $1,000"
THAT'S more like stake. Hiram,
It's un To Won and me Ia show him