The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-02-23
The CrOSS-Cut
By Courtney Ryley Cooper
COPYRIGHT Little Brown Co.
By Courtney Ryley Cooper

a little sigh, Bardwell closed the book
and looked out at the dawn, forcing Its
way through the binding snow.
YES, l guess we'll find a lot OF
things In this old book" came at last.
"But / think right now that the best
thing any Of us can find Is a little
sleep"
Rest-rest for five wearied persons,
hut the rest Of contentment and peace.
And late in the afternoon, three OF
them were gathered In the old-fashion-
ed parlor Of Mother Towards board
ing house, waiting for the return. Of
that dignitary from a sudden mission
upon which Anita Richmond had sent
her, involving a trip 20 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,
! and 'e's figured out a wye for all the
| stockholders In the Silver Queen to get
what's coming TO them. AS 1t is,
they's about a 'unnerd thousand short
sOme'eres."
FairChild looked up.
whats the sCheme?"
"To call a meeting OF the stock.
'olders and transfer all that money
over TO d special fund to buy Blue
Poppy stock. Wen ave to raise money
anyway to work the mine like we
ought to. And it d cost something.
You always ave to underwrite that
sort Of thing. | sort Of like IL, even
If we'd ave TO sell stock a little be-
low par. It'd keep Ohadi from get
ting a bad name and all that"
II think so, too" Anita Richmond
laughed. at suits me fine"
Fairchild looked down at her and
smiled.
IL guess that's the answer" he said.
"Of course that doesn't include the
Rodaine stock. In other words, we
give a lot of disappointed stock
holders par value for about ninety
cents on the dollar. But Farrell can
look after ali 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, a package under her
arm, which she placed in Anita's lap.
The girl looked up at the man who
stood beside her.
II promised" she said, that I'd
tell you about the Denver road"
He leaned close.
THAT isn't all you promised-just
before | left you this morning" came
his whispered voice, and Harry, at
the window, doubled In laughter.
"Why didn't you speak 1t all out2"
he gurgled. II card every word"
Anita's eyes snapped.
well, l don't guess that's any
worse than me standing behind the
folding doors listening to you and
Mother Howard gushing like a couple
Of sick doves !"
THAT 'olds me-" announced Harry.
THAT 'olds me. I amt got a word to
sye!"
Anita laughed.
Persons who live In glass houses,
you know. But about this explanation.
I'm going TO ask a hypothetical ques-
ton. Suppose you and your family
were in the clutches Of persons who
were always trying to get you into
a position where you'd be more at
their mercy, And suppose an old
friend Of the family wanted TO make
the family a present and called up
from Denver for you to come on
down and get ft-not for yourself, but
just to have around 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, you
heard a shot behind you and looked
around to see the sheriff coming. And
II he caught you, it'd mean a lot Of
worry and the worst kind Of gossip,
and maybe you'd have to go to jail
for breaking laws and everything like
that? In a case Of that kind, what'd
you dor'
run to beat bloody 'en!" blurted
out Harry.
And that's just what she did,"
added Fairchild. II know because I
saw her"
Anita was ~unwrapping the package.
And seeing that l did rum" she
added with a laugh, land got away
with 1t, who would like to share In
what remains of one beautiful bottle
of Manhattan cocktails?"
There was not n dissenting voice.
] 1.-THE END
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