Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-23
CHAPTER X-COntinued.

He flung himself into a chair like a
very tired man and 1 sat on the edge of
the bed and talked and talked. l told
him everything, circumstantially and in
detail. While l was talking he kept whis-
thing softly between his teeth
| Il have heard something Of this be-
fore" he said slowly. "Jarndyce knew
something of 1t, but nothing Of this
Madame Trabajar. and Mora has thrown
a little light on the subject from time to
time. BY the way, that gentry can be
troublesome when they take it into their
heads. Do you believe this woman is
actually a sun worshipersY"
| 'She talks their jargon, and she looks
remarkably like that portrait in the
Chapel OF Saint Ynez."
by George, come to think of 1t, she
does. I remember that picture very well
and I was always wondering on the boat
who 1t was she looked like. Boy, it
looks to me like she's mighty near got
You hooked. Do you want to marry
herr"
J do your"
He slapped his thigh and laughed heart
lily. Your old questioning trick No,
I'm otherwise employed. So she asked
you to use your influence to win me over?
!
dyce. But. say, come to think Of 1t,
mightn't it be to Jarndyce's advantage
If we took her in with us? Why couldn't
we form a sort of partnership?
And me marry herr"
Pardon me, l hadn't gone 80 far as
to suggest that, Glad"
But 1 have gone so far as to consider
1t seriously" ] said. II believe hon
estly that It would be to Henry Jarn-
dyce's advantage If he should go halvers
with her in the mine; that Is, If she's
what she pretends she is"
Prothro's blue-gray eyes grew cold.
"Gladney," he said, you haven't con-
templated further step, have your You
wouldn't turn"
Listen, Prothro: I'm not Nelson. And
I'm Henry Jarndyce's guest here, as
much as II were in his dining room in
New York. Do you think his plate would
be safe with me in his house?"
Prothro laughed again, his big hearty
/ laugh that was so good to hear.
But, Glad," he unused aloud, III she's
all she preteuds she is. she wouldn't go
partners with Henry Jarndyce nor any
other millionaire in the world. There's
no halfway course open TO you. It's
either marry her and desert us, or it's
stick TO us through and through, and
risk your life in doing it.
| an stick to you" l said. "Ths wom-
an Is an adventures. whatever else she
| is, and her disgusting affair with Nelson
is moro than I can contemplate. You
see, although poor and an artist. l still
have some little shreds OF eh-respect."
Then DO this" said Prothro. Go and
Mt least pretend TO paint her. Put my
proposition before her and temporiZe as
| long as POSSIBLE. Meanwhile we may
/ have to fight these Aztec brigands any
day"
! The next morning at daybreak I went
with Prothro and Mora TO inspect our
machinery. That was the first opportun-
( ity 7 had to see Il at close range. There
/ was n great centrifugal pump with two
carloads OF plning. There was great
( dynamo and several motors. big West
/ lnghouse engine, a giant winch and drum
with a quantity Of cable for lifting the
/ buckets. a crusher, and about a dozen
centrifugal washing pans; In fact, com
plete gold mining outfit costing perhaps
cool half million dollars. There were
some Der cases, Of what nature did
not inquire.
! All this had been tied up and useless
! for days, and now this morning Prothro,
with his permit from Mexico City, was
ANXIOUS to begin to reload II at once
| to his narrow gauge road for Tteximal.
! The gang was ready and apparently
Waiting to go to work.
! Prothro spoke quietly to Bourke, who
had been appointed foreman, and Bourke
stepped out and called: Come on, boys,
| let's get reloadin' this stuff"
Not a man budged from his place.
| Come on up here, fellows, Wen skid
) this engine across first"
Not man moved in his tracks. Bourke
looked at Prothro for instruction, and
Barnette. who had started up the street
to go get some sleep, wheeled and walked
| back.
Men" asked ProthroO, whats the
matter?"
"We'ye struck" said a big fellow named
| spinks.
"struck for what?"
'Ten dollars a day, gold, and our
equal share in the company's takin's at
The mine"
Prothro stepped fearlesrly in among
them. "Say look here" he said, You
haven't worked out your passage yet
| YouIl work that out before you strike
or I'll clap the last one Of you in the
chain gang"
Just try IT," shouted Spinks, and
| Prothro landed him a blow to the point
| Of the jaw that sent him sprawling
backward across a pile Of scrap iron.
There was a rush SIX men made at
Prothro from all directions. But Bar
nette jumped in and engaged two of
them. Bourke, in spite Of his bad arm,
took on two more, and Prothro looked
after the other two. Mora drew q pistol
and stood the other of, and I followed