The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-19
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t"Indccd. What difference can it
make to you?"
"A lot. It's like this: my boy
Buddy has took II terrible shine to
you, an he can talk about nothin'
else. was sort Of hopin'--'
"Ycs?''
"Budd's igncrunt. He'd ought to
20 to school. but he says he's too
big an he'd have to set with lot
Of little children. Him an Allies
alike, that way--it r'ars EN- up on
their hind feet to be laughed at"
Get a tutor for them
"a WHAT" When Gray had kX-
planned The meaning of the WORD,
Mr.. Briskow's face cleared. That's
what ! fingered on, but didn't
know what you called 'em. That's
why I'm sorry you're so well off
Y see I'd of paid you anything I'D
Of doubled whatever you're get
tin" The speaker raised hopeful
gaze; he paused as if to make sure
that his hcarcr was beyond tcmpta-
ton. Il thought mcbbc him and
you'd like to travel some-go to fur
rim placcs-scc the hull world. ! Nm
afford it,"
1t was a voice graver than usual
that the younger man spoke: "Bris-
kow, you're sensible enough to
understand plain talk. I'm not fit
man to tcach Buddy what he ought
to knoM In fact, I'm about the
worst person you could select"
The father sighed. Il s'rose you
know. but Well I'm disappointed
But it wasn't hully on that account
come to Dallas. Ma told me over
the telephone how nice you been an
what you done for her m Allie, so
says to myself I'll square things
by givin' him chance to make some
money
Gray stirred slightly in his 'chai.'
and regarded the speaker more
kecnly.
"Whcn oil come in at Ranger, no.
body thought it would get out our
way, but Ma had a dream !, lot of
oil Oh our farm. so |
got an outfit to come there an'drill.
Folks thought we was crazy, and we
didn't expect they'd find much, oytr
sclves-a few bari a day would Of
looked big-but l allus had ambi-
tions to be good an rich, so l got
options on quite a bit Of acreage. 1t
didn't take no money at the time,
cause land was what people had
most of. Along wisH the rest, there's
a hundred an sixty right next to
ours-hill stuff tina: wouldn't feed IA
goat. It's with Il lot of money now,
but the options most run out
"Whcn does it cxpirc?'
saturday."
That's tomorrow"
Gus Briskow nodded. ITS cheap
at thousand do.:ars an acre. an it
costs two hundred"
"Of course you'll take it,"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
Fer one thing, got lot of other
land just as good an mcbbc better,
an | been takin' it up out Of the
royalties that come in. We got
enough sure money in sight to do
us, but l promis ed Ma to play safe,
an'-wc can't take everything. You
kin have that option, Mister Gray,
for nothin.' You kin sell the lease
inside Of a week -n' make fifty thou
sand dollars, or you kin hold it an
make mcbbe a million. All it'll cost
you is thirty-two thousand dollars.
| don't make cent out of it,"
Gray nodded a::d smiled queerly
as he thanked the hester, then from
his pockets he removed several
crumplcd wads of currency and
handful of silver. These he counted
before saying: What capital have
is entirely liquid-it's all in cash.
There is eighty-seven dollars and
forty-thrcc cents. 1t is every dollar
in the world tina. possess" ~.
"Huh?" Gus r:iskow's bright
eyes searched the smiling counte-
nance before him. "You'rc-jokin. l
thought you said you was rich"
II am rich, l don't owe nickel,
and won't until my hotel bill is due.
day after tomorrow. I'm in full
possession of all my faculties. I'm
perfectly healthy and cheerful. |
know men who would pay a million
dollars for my heath alone, and an
other million to enjoy my frame of
mind. That's two million"
"Wcll--dOggone mel" There was
a pause. then. Briskow sighed. ~
could of sold it mysclf-thought /
had it sold to a bunch from Wich-
tia, but they tricked me. offered it
the day you was at our house for
eighty thousand and Nelson morc'n
half agreed to"
"Who"
Briskow looked up at the tone Of
this inquiry. Zone of the fellers
from Wichita Falls. l s'posc he
knowcd the option was about to run
out; anyhow, he's been holdin' me
off from day to day til it's too late
now fer me to-
"What is his name? Gray broke
in, sharply.
Names Nelson. Bell Nelson's
son. Bells hard-boiled, but" /.
Henry Nelson?"
"That's him."
Gray rose from his chair and
strobe swiftly to the window. He
stood there staring down into the
street for moment before sayink,
CURLY, "GO on!"
Continued in Our Next Issue)