The Meeker herald., 1923-01-13
The CrOsS-Cut
By Courtney Ryley Cooper
asyLMaa aHov.Aoa
By Courtney Ryley Cooper

little sigh, Bardwell closed the book
and looked out at the dawn. forcing its
way through the binding snow.
-Yes, 1 guess we'll nnd . lot OF
things In this old book" came at last.
"But think right now that the best
thing any Of us can md Is little
Sleep"
Rest-rest for i've wcaried persons.
hut the rest Of cOntentment and peace.
And late In the afternoon. three OF
them were gathered in the old-fashion-
ed parior of Mother Hownrd's board.
Ing house, waiting for the return of
that dignitary from sudden mission
upon which Anita Richmond had sent
her. involving q trip to the old Rich
mond mansion. Harry turned away
from his place at the window.
"The district attorney 'ad a long
talk with Barnham," he announced,
land 'e's figured out wye for all the
stockholders In the Silver Queen to get
what's coming to them. As 1t ia,
they's about q 'unnerd thousand short
s0me'eres."
Fairchild looked up.
"What's the schemer'
ITO call q meeting Of the stock.
'olders and transfer all that money
over to q special FUND to buy Blue
Poppy stock. Well ave to raise morey
anyway to work the mine like we
ought to. And It d cost sonnet hing.
You always ave to underwrit. that
sort Of thing. 1 sort Of like II. even
II we'd ave to sell stock a little be-
low par. It'd keep Ohadi from get
ting q bad name and all that"
II think 70. too" Anita Richmond
laughed. ut suits me fine"
Fairchild looked down at her and
smiled.
~ guess that's the answer" he said.
"Of. course that doesn't include the
Rodaine stock. In other words. we
give 4 lot Of disappointed stock
holders par value for about ninety
cents on the dollar. But Farrell can
look after all that. He's got to have
something to keep him busy as At.
torney for the company"
A step on the veranda, and Mother
Howard entered. q package under her
arm, which she placed In Anita's lap.
Tho girl looked up at the man who
stood beside her. 81
II promised" she said. "that I'd
tell you about the Denver road"
| He leaned close.
| THAT isn't all you promised-jSss
before I laft you this inornins.". came
his whispered voice. and Harry, At
the window. doubled In laughter.
"why DIDN'T you speak 1t all out r
he gursied. II card every word"
Anita's eyes snapped.
-Wsll. ! don't guess that's any
worse thnn me standing behind the
folding doors listening to you and
Mother Howard gushing like couple
Of sick doves!"
THAT 'olds me-" announced Harry.
| ''That 'oids me. amt got q word to
syew
Anita laughed.
"Pefsons who live in glass houses,
you know. But about this explanation.
I'm going to ask q Hypothetical ques.
tlon. Suppose you and your family
were In the clutches Of persons who
were always trying to get you into
L pUSltiOu WucTc you Ue more NJ
their mercy. And suppose an old
friend Of the family wanted to make
the family 4 present and called up
from Denver for you to come on
down and get it-not for yourself, but
Just to have ar"und In case Of need.
Then suppose you went to Denver.
got the valuable present and then.
just as you were getting up speed to
] make the first grade on Lookout, yo,,
heard shot behind y,n and looked
around to see the sheriff coming. And
II he caught you. it'd mean a lot of
worry and the worst S!rh Of gossip.
and maybe you'd have TO go to jnIl
for breaking laws and everything like
that7 In q case Of that kind. what'd
you do7"
Run to beat bloody 'eilw blurted
out Harry.
"And that's Just whnt she did"
added Fairchild. "I know because ]
saw her."
Anita was unwrappinE the package.
"And seeing that did rum" she
added with q laugh, land got away
with Il. who would like to shnre In
what remains Of one. beautiful bottle
of Manhattan cocktails?"
There was mot one dissenting voice
] 1.-THE END]