The Holly chieftain., 1923-08-16

valuable man. under q superior, but
he is intolerant"
He didn't strike me that way"
said Sandy. "Me. set q good deal
on his opinion"
Il didn't imagine you knew much
about mining. Bourke." Keith looked
at his watch. "TH really have to be
going as soon as you have looked over
those papers. Hadn't we better call
BlakeT
Sandy looked out Of the window.
He saw Miranda Bailey's fivver halt
ing by the big car, Mormon walking
toward her, and wondered what had
brought her over. Then he saw Nor
mon leave Miranda and come toward
the office. bowling along at top speed.
Excuse me minute, Keith" he
said. my. partner wants to see me-"
Keith's face wore 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 cigar, bit of the end
savagely and lit 1t.
"Mirandy wants to see you." painted
Mormon. "She's found out somethin'
about Keith that sure shows his play.
He's been discardin'!"
The Keith chauffeur had wandered
of to the corrals where Sam was
showing Blake around. Miranda hand
ed Sandy long envelope.
"Hen Collins had an 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 70
takin' him in an putin him to bed
an sendin' TO the DOCTOR Don't open
that envellup. that Keith weasel might
be lookin'. I reckon you'll want to
spring It ON him sudden"
"Sure," said Sandy. "Spring what7'
"1'm flustered." admitted Miranda
Il usually talk straight. Now I'll
start to the beginnin'. When Keith
arrived on this trip he held quite a
reception In his private car. Ed was
there with the rest. He invited them
up TO cigars. Talked big about Casey
Town an gen'ally patted himself on
the back. Said 1t 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.
eThis time, when he come back yes
terday, he brings up the subject ag'in.
l don't know how many he saw or
Jest what he said. but this is what he
told Hen. That Casey Town was
boomin' big an that his own holdin's
was nettin' him 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 1t because,
says Keith, II It got out he was sellin,
stock, 1t would send down the price Of
the shares. Hen was sure tickled.
He wudn't have said q word about
It 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 went nosin' around Hereford
this mornin'. He got eight men
their names II inside the envelope
Cretl one Of 'em-to admit they
bought some shares. Mighty. glad
thsy wasto have 'em. Ed didn't tell
'em anything different, but he come
scootin' home at noon an borrowed
Hens certincut, seeIn' he was asleep.
An here 1t is"
"Mirandy," said Sandy, .T1l let
Mormon tell you what we all think Of
you. You've sure dealt me an ace."
He returned to the ONCE. Keith
eyed the envelope.
"Blake comingf' he asked.
'Not yet When do we get another
dividend from the Molly, Keithr
Keith laughed. Needing some
ready money!
"How about the dividendT'
"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 1t
wise always to pay dividends accord
ing to the, immediats production,
however. It is better, as a rule, to
average 1t, generally to develop the
mine as whole rather than work the
first sich veins"
"That why you boarded up the
stopesT
Keith's face grew dark. The veins
twitched at 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 1t and I've
got forty-nine per cent. Molly :"
"If you had fo'ty.nine per cent
wouldn't be worryin' 80 much"
"What the devil do you mean"
" took you TO a betteh gambler