Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-10-26
CHAPTER i-cortinusd.

Don't call me Liberty. Call me
Lib-just Lib; that's enough. But let
me tell you something. Never In all
my life have / ever come as near be
ing a rich man as | was just now.
had won-by George, l had so much
money stacked up In front OF me that
a muIatte from the North called me
'marster. And then a cog slipped. We
could hnve split aud had a small for
tune apiece"
LAUNDERING fool agaIn?" Drace In
quired.
"Yes, sir. and l was the fool. l
wanted to be a rich man-and came
within one of II. You know, some
times Fortune hesitates as TO whether
she shall crown you or slap you"
I'm your case. she didn't seem 10
hesitate long. Lib"
mo the ~hair-tangled hagi And
then do you know what she did just
as / was forced TO get up from the
table in as hot a fever as ever
at me. Now. III sMeart TO that Bat It's
all over. A fellow has his little day,
and then stretches out and let's the
undertaken measure him"
Yes, Lib, and I'd advise him TO
bring along extra tape when he
after you"
Shottle attempted to smile, but the
fever within him was still so hot that
his effort ended In a grim Tightening
of the mouth.
That's all right, Virgil. but you
must remember that you are one out
500 at poker and get up from the
table with money still in his pocket Is
beyond me. However, X means that
you haven't got poker In your blood.
which OF itself is a marvel. But I want
TO tell you that every man is food for
some sort Of desperate passion. II IT
isn't gambling, 1t may be love. How
about that7"
Hasn't caught ms yet" answered
Drace. stoutly. even though the pic
ture OF the girl In the passageway was
at the moment floating bright before
iiAr inAiiu eye vi ipuirts UE nun /
ed. ~ may marry. Liberty; that sort
Of thing runs In our family. you know.
But I don't think the subject very in
.teresting."
II grant you. In this we walk
shoulder to shoulder. But there Is
something OF vital interest. Just now
LOST
"Yes. and a very natural thing"
Drace agreed.
"No,-i II wasn't natural II was un-
natural that I should lose just AT that
II was an accident. Listen TO
me for just a minute. Anybody can
do the natural and expected thing. A
FOG or a cat or any other animal al
does. II rs doing the thing that
didn't intend that marks the
progress OF civilization. Now. I have
i proposition to make that may seem
before would make II. But you
never met such n man as 7 am, he
ore. You couldn't look forward and
zee me. Could Your (
II didn't Drace cheerfuiIy admit I
ed. {
And II would have been hard for
-ou TO believe that I exist. which | J
lon I. according to the belief of some /
f my folks. Now. then. what are we I
at7 Another stalker No. I 4
m not going TO ask you TO risk any
lore of your money. But his Is my ]
You let me have 800; I
7 I win. I'll pay hack all I owe. And {
I don't. I'll belong TO you-your
rup-rfy. body and soul - hut with K
his understanding. I am not to per-
prm ans mental service In public. n
nd II ls further understood and "
greed upon That II by any chance "
an raise 500. | nm to have the priv a
'ge OF buying my freedom The first {,
100 you understand. was n stake and b
Of a loan Before you decide. weigh u
We advantages ~ owning a man. ~
III he your Greek your ensIaved phi Oh
sopher. he your EpIctetus and turn IN
,ur mill. We viii revive the ethics Of 81
,cient society. Won't that prove that
story really does repeat it~eIfT" a,
~ ~. answered nraee. sbuf dent NJ
ire any more whether history re- III
zafs herself thsn I do that q ssan-
fling man rer~sts himself 60
Nov mr. d~sr friend soou to b. my vi