The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-06-21

'eAN VH1AN tASt . v u oN'e 'N'f
on his opinion"
II didn't imagine you knew much
about mining, Bourke." Keith looked
AT his watch. I'll really have to be
going as soon as you have looked over
those papers. Hadn't We better call
Blake?"
Sandy looked out of the window.
He saw Miranda Bailey's flivver halt
ing by the big car. Mormon walking
toward her, and wondered what has
brought her over. Then he saw Nor.
mon leave Miranda and come toward
the office, bowling along at top speed.
Excuse me a minute, Keith" he
said. MY partner wants to see me-"
Keith's face wore a scowl as Sandy
stepped outside. His conscience was
not entirely clear and he did not like
the general atmosphere of the office
He took out a cigar. bit off the END
savagely and lit it.
"Mirandy wants to see you" painted
Mormon. shes found out somethin'
about Keith that sure shows his play.
He's been discardin' ="
The Keith chauffeur had wandered
off 10 the. corTals where Sam was
showing Blake around. Miranda hand
ed Sandy a long envelope.
Hen Collins had az accident last
night" she said. "Blew a tire on the
bridge by our place an smashed
through the railin'. Busted a rib or
two an was knocked out. We took
him In. Hen was grateful to Ed fo'
takin' him in an putin him 60 bed
an sendin' TO the doctor. Don't open
that enyellup, that KeitI, weasel might
be leokin'. | reckon you'll want to
spring II on him sudden"
Sure" said Sandy. Spring what?'
I'm fiustered.' admitted Miranda.
Il usually talk straight. Now I'll
start to the b%eglnnln'. When Keith
arrived on this trip he held quite q
reception In his private car. Ed was
there with the rest. He invited them
mp TO cigars. Talked big about Casey
Town an gen'ally patted himself ON
the back. Said II was too bad all the
stock Of the Molly wasn't held
locally. but Of co'se the pore promoter
had to have somethin' TO- his money.
He was real affable.
This time, when he come hack yes
terday. he brings up the subject ag'in.
/. Sy:'t know how many he saw or
jest what he said, hut this Is what he
told Hen. That Casey Town was
boomin' big an that his own holdin's
was nettin' him a heap That he
liked Hen fine an had picked him out
as q representative citizen. With a
lot mo- slush, the upshot of which
was that he lets him have a hundred
shares Of the Molly mine at par. Hen
was to say nothin' about II because,
says Keith, If 1t got out he was sellin'
stock, II would send down the price of
the shares. Hen was sure tickled.
He w'udn't have said a word about
II on'y Ed picks these shares up out
of the bed Of the crick an give them
to Hen afteh he'd been fixed up.
ED wen nosln' around Hereford
this mornin'. He got eight men
their names Is inside the envelope
Creel one of 'em-to admit they
bought some shares. Mighty glad
they was to have 'ein. Ed didn't tell
'em anything different. but he come
scootin' home at noon an I borrowed
Hens certlfcut. seem he was asleep.
An here II Is"
"Mirandy." said Sandy. "ITl let
Mormon tell you what we all think of
you. You've sure dealt me an ace"
He returned to the office. Keith
eyed the envelope.
"Blake comlng?' he asked.
Not vet. When do we get another
dividend from the Molly, Keith?"
Keith laughed. Needing some
ready money!"
"How about the d%ividend?"
"Why. that depends upon the out
put" Keith's voice purred but his
eyes had narrowed. 1.-THE output has
been big. The Molly has been a
bonanza. so far. | do not think II
wise always to pay dividends accord
ing to the tmmediat. production.
however. 1t is better. as a rule. to
average It. generally to develop the
mine as a whole rather than work the
| first rich veins"
THAT why you boarded up the
stopes?'
Keith's face grew dark. The veins
twitched az his temples.
look here. Bourke," he clustered
you've been listening to some fool
talk from that cub. Westlake. / know
my business. You've got some stock
in the mine. twenty-five per cent. I've
put money and brains into II and I've
got ~forty-nlne per cent. Molly :"
"If you had fo'ty.nine per cent /
wouldn't be worryin' so much"
"what the devil do you mean?'
II took You 70 a betteh gambler
| than to git mad" said Sandy. "I1I
Jest ask you q question on behalf of
myself an partners twenty-five per
cent. an Molly's twenty-six, me bein'
her guardian. Plump an plain. Is the
Molly pinched outi How about II"
sIt's a id f~alsehood."
Then why are you sellln' your
stock? 2"
The words came like bullets as
Sandy whipped the certificate out OF
me envelope and slapped II smartly
on the desk. Keith whitened. flushed
again. recovered himeslf.
IF was not friendly to you.