The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-03-31
CHAPTER Ix-continued.

offer him $4,000 for his limit worth,
say, 100000, or more if you feel like
it. He says, All right, but mind 1
want the money in bills. and you'll
have to bring it out to me here Now
can you think of anything?"
Harris don't know nothin' about
COAL" protested Rifles. HE wouldn't
bite at anythin' like that"
your faith has been neglected as
well as your Imagination. You've got
TO paint it 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,
pTecipices, snow slides, and trails that
lead to nowhere, and if Harris is IN
fOrtunate-weIl. he's unfortunate"
The plan gradually penetrated Riles'
slNw-working mind. At first it numbed
him little, and his face was strange
color as he turned to his companion,
and said, in a low voice, "Ain't it
risky? What If the police catch on2"
''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. I 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 a gesture Of exas-
peratiOn. you don't get me, Hiram.
Nobody owns the mine. That part of
it's ali myth-a fairy tale manufac-
tured because we need it. 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 VIII
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
I are taking in the sights of Honolulu
or South America. Well quietly make
an appointment for Harris to meet the
mine owner somewhere up in the hills
Wen direct him where to go, and
leave it at that. Of course, we won't
go with him; We'll have other bust
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 if 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 a
side road. forded the river, climbed
steep, slippery bank, and drew up be-
side a 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.,
itor, Jim, shouldn't you?" said Gardi-
ner. Another Manitoban chasing the
free land"
Travers at once recognized Riles and
extended his hand. 'WeIl, Mr.. Rifles,
we weren't looking for you here, al
though I suppose 1 shouldn't be sur
prised, for there was some talk of
your coming west before 1 left Plain
vile. How's everybody? HAIRLESS
well, I hope?"
"Guess they're well enough, but get
tin kind O. scattered for a family
group. Beulah lit out when you did
but guess I can't give you no infor-
nation about that"
The smile did not depart from Trov-
ers' face, but if Riles had known him
as we'll as he should he would have
seen the sudden smoldering light In
| the eye. But the young man answered
quietly, 81 saw Beulah the day I left
Plainville, and I understood she was
going west on a visit She isn't back
YETI"
innocent. amt chuh?" said Rfles,
In a manner intended to be playful.
SITS all right; don't blame you. Beu-
labs a good girl If a bit highfalutin,
an a few years roughin' it on the
homestead1l 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
he had been playing with fire. Riles
was much the larger man of the two,
but he was 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 in having once before invited
trouble from a younger man.
"What do you mean?" demanded
Travers- "Put 1t in English
But Gardiner interposed- Don't be
too sensitive, Jim.'' he said. '.RiIes
has forgotten his parlor manners, but
he doesn't mean any harm. You
weren't insinuating anything, were
you, Hiram?"
Course not" said Riles, glad of an
opportunity to get out of the difficulty
without direct apology. mo offense
intended, jim BeuIah's all right; an
you're all right, an that's what I al
ways said"
Travers was not In the least de
ceived as to Ri1es' high-mindedness
but he realized that the man was the
guest Of his employer, and he decided
not to press the point. Gardiner and
RfIes went to the house, and jim