The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-02-10
CHAPTER x-continued.

dry ticket" he said, "but / figured IL |
ont, and he wants you To sell the farih
and buy a coal mine"
Harris read the letter through, not
without some difficulty. At first ne
vas inclined to laugh, but the earnest
less of Rifles Impressed him through
the makeshift English.
"What dye think of ii. DadT sald
the younger man, at length. III
course we don't know anything about
coal, but then"
ut must look good TO Rifles or he
wouldn't want TO put any money in IT,
commented Harris, after a few MN
utes' reflection. "Riles is pretty eau
tious. He's got money In the bank
irawin' three per cent; he's afraid 10
end II out among the farmers. Ana
ne Amt easy talked into new scheme,
either"
"D've suppose we could sell the
earm?" The idea of big, prohtable
speculation suddenly appealed TO Al
an with much greater force than the
prospect of three years on nome
stead. He knew that vast sums or
money had been made, and maze
quickly. In the Far West, but he had
never before thought OF himself or his
father sharing in this sudden wealth.
"D'ye suppose we could sell the
| rarm?" Ne repeated. II began 10 seem
| that the shortcut TO wealth hinged on
the possibility of selling the farm.
az guess we could sell IL, all right,
said Harris. "Maybe not for that
! much cash, but we can get cash on the
| agreement, If we need IT," lie was not
a man to act preclpltately, or risk all
On n single throw unless he were very,
very sure OF the result.
"Of course, maybe It's all right" he
continued. "But it's a good thing TO
buy your buggy before you throw
away your cart. If this things as good
as Rifles says, 1t will keep until we can
see II for ourselves. If 1t don't, some
thin else'll turn up"
eyes" said Allan, but II we find
it's all right when we get there. and
we've only a few meaSly hundred dol
lars along, Wen want TO kick our
selves all the way home. Lots OF fei'
lows are making big money just be-
cause they had some capital TO WORK
with, and why shouldn't we do 1t, too
Couldn't you fix IL some way TO get the
money without coming back, II every
thing looks all rightf Thatd save
time and expense, too"
"There's something in that. There's
time TO see Bradshaw yet before tho
train comes. Well kind o leave i
standin' in his hands,
They made hurried call on Brad
shaw, and asked him to be on the look
out for a buyer for the farm.
Mind. I'm not actu'lly putin IL VI
for sale" Harris cautioned him, "bu
want you to keep your eye open 10
a buyer. Forty thousand dollars take
the whole thing as goin' concern, an
the more cash the better. Get lin
on the buyer If you can, and If sem
you word TO sell, you sell, and If
don't send you word, don't do anythin
You understands
The lawyer wrote something on
Sheet of paper. "This Is power of al
torney. which will enable me to CON
plete the documents without the della
Of sending them to you, If you sh"ul
decide TO sell" he explained. Harri
signed the paper, and Allan witnesse
Il.
With this understanding the jou
ney westward was undertaken, an
completed without event of impo
lance.
Rifles met them on the station pla
form. He had met every train Tor
week. as II had been agreed that
would be better that the Hariss'
should not visit Gardeners ranch uni
plans we're more fully developed. il
was still there, and Gardiner insist'
i. that Jim should not meet Harris
. present. He Allowed Riles to thir
=, that he feared trouble If former Ell
ployer and employee should meet;
n matter of fact. he feared that II the
Z coal mine proposition should reach u
ears of Travers the young man won
| attempt 10 dissuade Harris from ma
ing anything to do with II, or at lea
would urge a fuller investigation thi
J L mlRDt ne utSlTdDlt. DNSiNNet ~ @.-~~
10 make of Travers an unwilling par
10 the affair.
Il Riles, in overalls and shirt-sleey'
leaned against the iron rail at the ba
Of the station platform. his big han
stuffed in the bullying band OF J
Il trousers, and his under-jaw busy WI
an ample ration OF tobacco.
| watched the passengers alighting frt
the train with little interest; he n
no particular expectation OF meeti
Harris on this occasion. and, II I
truth be told. he had little desire
meet him. Rifles had no pangs OF C
science over his part In the y
against his old neighbor, but he =
an uneasy feeling Of cowardice. Wh
! suddenly his eye fell on Harris and
big. strapping son, his FIRST impu
a was to slip away in the crowd beft
they should notice him. But II "
only for a moment; the next, Har
was calling. "'Lo, Hiram" and the Z