Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-07-01
Copyright. All Right, Reserved
CHAPTER discontinued.


suppose that some strange eccentric
chap owns one Of these coal limits.
He lives up In the mountains, kind
Of hermit, but we fall In with him and
sner him $4,000 for his limit, worth,
say, 100000. or more II you feel like
It. He says. All right, but mind
want the money In bills, and you'll
have to bring 1t out to Inc here Now
can you think Of anything?"
Harris don't know nothin' about
coal" protested Rifles. HE wouldn't
bite at anythin' like that"
"Y0ur faith has been neglected as
well as your imagination. You've got
to paint 1t to him SOS to get him in
terested. That's all. Our business Is
TO get Harris, with the money In his
wallet, started up into those noun
tains. It's mighty lonely up there
with timber wolves, grizzly bears
precipices, snow slides, and trails that
lead to nowhere, and II Harris Is un-
fortunate-well. he's unfortunate"
The plan gradually penetrated Riles
slow-working mind. At first 1t numbed
him little. and his face was strange
color as he turned to his companion.
and said, In low voice, "Ain't it
risky2 What II the police catch onT
"They won't. They're all right for
cleaning up a rough house, but don't
cut any figure in fine art work like
we'll put over. tell you, Rifles, it's
absolutely safe. The main thing is to
see that he has the money In bills |;
anything else would be risky and lead
to trouble. Then this fellow that's
supposed to own the mine must be
kept In the background. We"
But who does own the miner
Gardiner made gesture Of exas-
peration. You don't get me, Hiram.
Nobody owns the mine. That part of
It's all myth-a fairy tale manufac-
tured because we need 1t. But Harris
mustn't find that out-not, at any
rate, until It's too late. Then If any
thing ever does leak out. suspicion will
be directed toward some mysterious
mine owner, and the police will be
wearing out shoe leather hunting the
cracks In the foot hills while you and
l are taking In the sights of Honolulu
or South America. Wen quietly make
an appointment for Harris to meet the
mine owner somewhere up In the hills.
Wen direct him where to go, and
leave 1t at that. OF course. we won't
20 with him; Wen have other busi-
ness about that time"
Rifles looked at Gardiner with frank
admiration. 1t seemed so simple now,
and In his growing enthusiasm he felt
that he would have little difficulty in
persuading Harris to raise all the cash
possible and bring It with him. And
1t seemed so safe. As Gardiner said,
the mountains were full of danger,
and II something should happen to
Harris-well, he would be unfortu-
nate; but lots of other people had been
unfortunate, too.
Gardiner turned his team down
side road. forded the river. climbed
steep, slippery bank. and drew up be-
side cluster of ranch buildings shell
tered with cotton woods and spruces.
As the team, In their long, steady trot,
swung up beside the stables, an alert
young fellow came quickly out and
busted himself with the unhitching.
Guess you ought to-know our WIS.,
ltor, Jim, shouldn't your" said Gardi-
ner. Another Manitoban chasing the
free land"
Travers at once recognized Rifles and
extended his hand. well, Mr.. Rifles,
we weren't looking for you here, al
though l suppose l shouldn't be sur
prlsed. for there was some talk OF
your coming west before left Plain
vile. How's everybody Harrises
well, hopef"
Guess they're well enough, but get
tin kind o. scattered for a family
group. Beulah lit out when you did
but l guess can't give you no infor-
nation about that"
The smile did not depart from Trav-
srs' face, but If Rifles had known him
as well us he should he would have
seen the sudden smoldering light In
the eye. But the young man answered
quietly. II saw Beulah the day l left
Plainyille, and ! understood she was
going west on q visit. She isn't back
yeti"
Innocent. amt chuh?' said Rifles,
In a manner intended to be playful.
Its all right: don't blame you. Beu-
labs a good girl II bit highfalutin,
an a few years roughin' It on the
homesteadn take that out of her"
But Jim had dropped the harness
and stood squarely facing Rifles. The
smile still fingered on his lips. but
even the heavy-witted farmer saw that
ne had been playing with fire. Rifles
was rnccl. the larger man of the two,
but he ~as no one to court combat
unless the odds were overwhelmingly
in his favor. He carried a scar across
his eye as a constant reminder Of his
folly II. having once before invited
trouble ron younger man.
What co you mean?" demanded
TsaverS. "l'ut II in English"
But Gardner interposed. "Don't be
TOO sensitive, jim" he said. "Riles
has forgot,cn his parlor manners, but
ne doesn't mean any harm. You
wereni insinuatinR anything. were