Askov American., 1924-09-11

4
his impatience by lettering far behind
During the past few days Jack had
| pushed his tentative suit boldly but
lightly. He understood that Joyce
was flirting with him. but he OWNED
that there had been moments when
the tide Of her emotions had swept
the young woman from her feet. She
was a coquette, of course. but when
HIS eyes fell like plummet into hers
they sounded depths beneath the sur
face foam At such times the beat OF
the surf sounded In his blood. The
spell OF sex. with all It's fire and pas
sion. drew him 20 this lovely creature
10 prodigal Of allure.
The leading couples stood for a mo
ment's breathing space near the sum
init. Beneath them the squalid little
town huddled In the draw and ran
sprawling up the hillsides. Shaft.
houses and dumps disfigured even the
business street.
Joyce gave a laughing little shud
der isn't II horrid little holeT
Jack looked at her In surprise. but
II was Moya that answered.
"oh. don't think 80, Joyce. or
course. It's not pretty. but-doesnt u
seem TO stand for something big and
well, indomitable7 Think OF all the
miles of tunnels and slopes. Of all the
work that has gone into making them"
She stopped to laugh at her own en-
thuslasm before che added: Gold.
banks stands TO me for the hope In
the human heart that rises In spite Of
everything. II IL the product Of an
idea"
Miss Seldom gave a little lift 10 her
superb shoulders. you're incredibly
romantic. Moya. It's only scramble
for money, after ALL"
Don't know about that. Miss Sci.
don." disagreed Captain Kilmeny. "Of
course It's gold they all want. But
gold stands for any number Of good
things, tangible and abstract--success.
you know. and home. and love, and
kiddies. the better development Of the
racial that sort Of thing"
IT'S that what II means TO the high
graders. tooY Joyce let her smiling
eyes rest with innocent impudence In
those Of the miner.
Kilmeny showed no sign Of discom-
nture. His gaze met hers fully and
steadily. 'Something Of that sort. ]
suppose"
"Just what II a highgraderr
Moya held her breath. The debonair
lightness Of the question could not rob
II Of It's significance. Nobody but
Joyce would have dared such home
thrust.
Jack laughed dryly. "A highgrader
is a miner who saves the company for
which he works the trouble Of having
valuable ore smelted."
"But doesn't the ore belong to the
companyr
There's q difference OF opinion
about that. Legally II does, morally Il
doesn't--not all of II. The man who
risks his life and the support OF his
family by working underground is en-
titled 20 a share Of the profits
'He gets his wages. doesn't her
Enough to live on--if he doesn't
want to live too high. But Is that all
he Is entitled tor Your friend'--he
waved a hand toward verinder. putting
up the trail a hundred yards below
draws millions OF dollars In dividends
from the work OF these men. What
does he do 10 earn itT
you're a socialist" charged Joyce
gayly. "or is II an anarchist that be-
lieves such dreadful thingsr
mfr. Kilmeny doesn't quite believe
all he says" suggested Moya quietly.
Don't IT, Behind Jacks quizxical
smile there was a hint OF earnestness.
II believe that Dobyans verinder is
a parasite In Goldbanks. He gobbles
up the product Of others toll"
Joyce flashed at him swift retort.
Then II you believe that. you ought
to be a hlghgrader yourself"
"Joyce." reproved Moya, aghast.
II mean. OF course. In principle"
her friend amended. biushing slightly
at her own audacity.
tttE htipuutuNN- umurtN tho hhthNhs
Perhaps I amin principle"
"But only In principle" she mur-
INJURED. fitting a radiant challenge at
him.
"Exactly--in principle" he agreed.
There was humor In his saturnine face.
Joyce ventured one daring step fur
ther. Ysut OF course In practice"
"You should have been lawyer.
Miss Seldom" he countered. IF you
were. my reply would be that by ad-
vice Of counsel I must decline to an
swer."
.oh. by advice OF counseli Dear
me. that sounds dreadfully legal.
doesn't n. Moyaf Isn't that what
criminals say when-r
when they don't want TO give
themselves away. l believe II is." he
tossed back with the same iightness.
Before I make confession shall want
TO know whether you are on my side--
or verinder's"
Under the steady look Of his bold,
possessive eyes the long sliken lashes
fell 10 the soft cheeks Joyce under,
stood the unvoiced demand that lay
behind the obvious one He had
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