The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-07-09
Is II Worth While TO Love Even if
II Is on a Dime? Asks the Man
She Loves.
Her Answer
Was :?

D1LL STRICKLAND was SO busy think
Id Ing about the bandits that he did
not at first notice the girl She was sitting
on the mining company office veranda
talking with Earl Lancaster. He stopped
short and stared
Bill hadn't seen woman for three
months, but even II he hadn't seen one
for three years he would have thought
her beautiful. She had red hair and deli
cately chiseled features and curiously
eager look about her.
she saw Bill over Earls shoulder and
smiled Then Earl turned around and
spied Bill too.
"Ah. Strickland come up and meet
Miss Wray Alyne. this is Bill Strick-
land. one OF our boys AS always. Lam
Casters tone was family patronizing
How do you do2" said Bill. He took
the hand she offered MIR Dana Wray's
daughter? Is he here2"
He's here But I'm not his daughter.
I'm lis niece | made him bring me
Curioisly he liked that. 1t gave you the
feeling that Dana Wray had been doubt
llA AJDtil JiailSiiIH IiAa tisEIG l1Wtl Hl1O IAtE
wilds Of Mexico and she had laughed at
his fears.
Almost Immediately Bill began think
ing about the bandits again and what
they might do II they knew that girl
as beautiful as Alyne Wray was at the
mine
"Nr Wray's inside waiting To see you.
Lancaster said II yon1l excuse us. /
was about 10 show Alyne through the
buildings :
Bin noticed The easy familiarity with
which lie called her by her first name.
fie never had liked Lancaster The tel-
low was overbearing He had family and
money behind him and never let you
forget the fact He had arrived at the
Wray mines the same day that Bill came
down Both we're Just out Of college.
Lancaster treated the experience as 4
ark Four months In the mines. he had
said, and he was gong back to New York
I'd assume d vice presidency ID his fathers
office
The ion 10 Bill was lar more important
He had neither family nor money behind
1liIflt sllDI #IuH1lEGL18&Is Alltl 1T NEW 4 f0Ik
ONCE. He had TO make good IN Mexico
Inside the TINY office Dana Wray was
engaged la conversation with jim Emer-
son. the mine superintendent Dana was
tall and spare and grap-haired big man
in his field lie saw Bill standing IN the
doorway
Hello, Bill. How goes It.? Fed UP
4. - I
you're looking tit
Thank you. sir Bill shook hanas
warmly Ut must be the climate ana the
work I'm fond Of both
WHAT'S on your mind, Bill?' Jim Em-
erson asked Yon look mighty con-
cerned ABOUT something
II am I've 3list been down talking with
Joe GiuIney, who's IN charge OF the No
sllalt gang He's worried Another at
tempt Was made 10 derail the supply
tram. Juan Ossorio trackWaIker. saw
the blockaGe and Jagged the train IN
time There's unrest among or men
They believe Pedro Gonzales IS behind
the trouble
Well. what have you done about 1t
EAA4 wat stG iIA44As 1hN tNGl ~ bAiE
Government lit l4iaeitas ana sent natives
bacS into tie allis On scouting expeul-
tiGas. One 0f the natives returned ana
reported finding nothing We haven't
heard FROM the otilel
Dana Way conlplesaed his i4ps Wen.
We licked Gonzales once aI4d We can du
IL agai.i. .IA.s oHae Ill make 4 pe4soAaI
appearance il court ana demand ,lat ms
sentence be Tor ate He paused, drum.
ming with a l5s4sA On second thought.
that ucails bioodsheu We can't have it.
Jim. the Iio.siAinellt mist send miei1 up
here 10 protect gs and i'd the country
OF this desperate
III youl paldon my saying 81. MI
Wlay, Bill put Ill. 1t seems 10 me unwlse
tor you 10 stay here He flushed AT
Wray's quick look. i mean, OF course
since youl niece is With 50u"
"Alyne? You're Wasting sola wor. Us
my boy. Ii she suspected Nc were III
danger OF an attack she wouldn't Dudge
dare say she hopes it will happen
Then, SAID Bill. grayely. i suggest
we don't mention the possibility OF being
attacked to any one"
But even with himself ana his superiurs
sworn to secrecy there was little hope
OF keeping the apprehension that was felt
a secret. During the week that followed
a growing uneasiness was evident among
the mine employees There was a tense
ness in the air. sense OF impending
danger It was nothing tangible, nothing
you could lay your finger on, yet It's
presence could not fail to be felt
OF Alyne Wray. Bill saw little She
spent most OF her time exploring the
mine shafts or riding with Earl Lancas-
ter And Bill did not interfere or ,ther-
wise assert himself He was not foo
enough to fancy himself as Il possible
suitoi Tor the niece Of Dana Wray. The
social breach between them was too
great
ToWaid the emo Of the first week.