The Bossier banner., 1922-06-08

running MS TancI-ulS biOOuy.Wcf's
rawnch' he calls 1t. Gets good FIJI
wad for ritlin round. an hires man
to do the work. But 1t was Gardner
put me on t this coal mine deal"
"Lei's get settled first. and we'll
talk aboni Gardiner and the mine aft
erward." said Harris. and they Joined
the throng that was now vending Its
way to the hotels.
Flows your thirst. Hiram?" In
quired Harris. after he had registered.
"Prettv sticky" confessed Riles.
"But they soak you quarter to wash
1t out here"
swell, | got quarter
"A quarter apiece. mean."
'sWell, got quarter apiece" said
Harris. ''Come on. !"
Rifles followed. astonishment over
Harris sudden liberality and misgiv-
ing as to how he himself could avoid
similar expenditure. struggling for
uppermost place in his mind.
''Pretty strong stuff they have
here" he said. after Harris and Allan
had "set 'em up" In turn. Keel You
over II you don't watch It"
.Does taste kind O. snaky." said
Harris. "Guess that's enough for this
time. Now come upstairs and tell us
all about this deal You have on.
When the travellers had thrown off
their coats and vests, and all were
seated in the little bedroom. Riles
cleared his throat.
| 'sWell, there ain't much t tell yuh
more'n said in m letter." he started
"As said. it's Gardner you'll have t
thank for this thing. good or bad. 1
ein't coal miner. an told him that.
an l told him you wasn't neither. but
I he says that don't make no difference.
He says there's all kinds O money in
1t, an l reckon that's what we came
out here for. ain't III"
"Yes. provided the things sound"
said Harris. "Anyone can see with
half an eye that there's easier ways
OF making money than Dustin up this
prairie sod for It. But you and me've
] worked hard for what we've got,
Hiram. and we want t go mighty care
full about spendin' It"
ri suppose you've sent home word
to sell your farm, have you'll" put In
Allan. you'll be chipping in at the
same timer
| "Oh, yes. I'll he chippin' in. OF
course. But didn't just say to sell
| the farm yet. I'll have t get back an
straighten things up some first. You
see, thought you'd get my letter be-
fore you left. an you could kind O.
make your deal then. an your pay
menf would hold the bargain bound
! until I could sell mine. v see, Har-
| risY' Riies was beginning to address
himself mainly to the older man.
'Don't take me up wrong" said Al
| Ian. "Tm in on this along with Dad.
II he's iii: an II he's out, I'm out. But
! was just kind O. curious about It"
| 'Tt'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 trap in the simplest
question, and feared that any minute
he might find himself floundering in a
mesh of contradictions.
'.Where is this coal mine and who's
got it?" said Harris.
IT ain't saw it myself" admitted
Rifles. "They're awful p'tic'lar about
lettin' people see It." he continued.
with sudden fash of inspiration.
"It's so vaiuble. = know"
"'Fraid somebedy'll bring 1t home
In their pocket. suppose" said Al
Ian.
Rifles pretended to laugh heartily.
"But where is its' insisted Harris.
"Is there railroad near, or how do
/ you get at III.
ats up In the mountains. an that's
ell / can tell you; but it's all right.
! an there's pile o. money In 1t.
guess | better bring Gardner down in
the morning, an he'll explain all
about it. Y see. he knows the fellow
at owns It. an don't. an he'll be
able to tell you. That is. IL you're
goin' In on 1t. Gardner won't say
much unless he knows you're goin' In
on It."
"Well. he'll have to say good deal
before he knows" said Harris. II
amt buyin' a pig in a poke. He's got
i t show ME, and then il it's all right,
why, it's all right
"Oh. IT'S all right" said Rifles, al
though inwardly he felt little enthu-
siasm over the attitude Of either fa-
ther or son. He was annoyed that Al
Ian should be present. On the whole.
1t would be better to leave the rest
Of the explaining. to Gardiner.
sWhat dye think Of it. Dad?" said
Allan, when Riles was gone.
May be all right" said Harris.
Wouldn't be surprised but 1t Is. At
the same time. amt goin' to put q
cent In 1t till I'm dead sure And any
way, there's no use lettin' Rifles think
j we're keen on It,"
"That's what ! think. You think
Gardeners all square in TT"
! II don't know. Likely he's getting
fat commission from, somewhere,