The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-12-11

Difficult to imagine" John Colt
murnured.
Many things that actually hap
pen are difficult to imagine Who
would have imagined, for example,
that the granddaughter of Garrett
Waterson would turn up on my boat
wearing false whiskers? Yet I give
you my word, John, that is exactly
what she did"
Neither Karen nor John Colt
seemed entertained.
Il see the American ambassador
20 Japan" Dick said; "and some
tobacco company boys, going out to
their stations IN China; and quite a
Sprinkling of movie stars from Hol-
lywoOd; and a gentleman who cut
a threat in Singapore, to my posi-
tive knowledge"
You are pretty well acquainted, I"
John Colt inquired suavely, among
cutthreats?"
''OnIy among those indigenous to
the Pacific. I also see here half a
dozen gentlemen that cannot quite
place. A few years ago I would
have said that they were American
fnanciers of the hit-loot-and-run
type. had understood that condi-
tons On the mainland were no long
er favorable to those types"
You seem well informed"
This is a crossroads Dick said.
~You get perspective upon both
sides Of the Pacific from here. But
: still can't make out those wan
dsring fnanciers. OIL get it now
Since they have been smoked out
Of the mainland, naturally quite a
few Of them would come here, of
course. Fugitive empire builders,
by God! John, see you are not
alone"
ssI71
Naturally" Dick said pleasantly,
quite a few of your type are here
already, looking around to see if
anything is lying loose. I must say,
John, that your plans seem better
thought out than most. I'm afraid
that YOU are the type that thinks
things through. Your prospects look
excellent, John, from the outside"
I'm inclined to think so myself"
John Colt said.
Would you say that your chances
are worth one hundred thousand dol
lars, John?"
Only the faintest suggestion of
contempt showed IN John Colts eyes
as he smiled. Have your brothers
authorized you to make that offer?"
at haven't seen them" Dick ad-
mitted; "they have already gone
back TO Alakoa. However, I think
you viii find it necessary to deal
with me. I'm afraid can't let you
dickeT with my brothers. They're
much too easy to cheat"
And am afraid" John Colt said,
his voice so rodulated that In the
general din of the lanai Dick had al
most to read his lips, that I'm not
interested in dickering with either
you er your brothers,"
You definitely refuse one hundred
thousad?''
Pm sorry"
=
counter offer?"
I'm sorry" Colt said again.
Tonga Dick Wayne looked at Kar-
n Waterson for a full minute, and
his frivolous manner dropped away.
Twice Karen met his eyes, but both
times dropped hers again. Dick
Wayne was looking at her with a
-o-I
''One proposition more, Colt" he
said, land this is my last. One
hundred thousand dollars to you, and
one-third share IN Aakoa to Miss
'Waterson."
Miss Waterson," Colt said, sis
not interested In any proposition at
all"
Karen" Tonga Dick said, "you
have just heard the end of your Pa
cIic adventure"
John Colts face was hard and Sc
Iious, but there was a CLINT of in
tense satisfaction in his eyes which
he could not repress.
Dent let him worry you," he
said softly to Karen. Hes shown
his hand-and it's just as I said.
The Waynes haven't a hope in the
world. That's exactly why there
has never been any reason for COM
promise, from the first Unless they
knew they were beaten, they would
offer no compromise at all.'
Dick Wayne emptied his glass,
snapped it down upon the table, and
pushed back his chair. ''I'u see YOU
N couple of days. he said to Kar-
en-, "on Alakoa."
That surprised an answer out of
her. "Alakoa? We're not coming to
AIakea.''
''Oh, yes, you are. Or at least he
s. He'll probably want to bring YOU
along" He turned to John Colt. 'sThe
offers I made, I made on my own
hook" he said 'aThey are now with
drawn But Pu tell you why made
them-it may interest you very
much"
Net particularly, John Colt
drawled. "You have a lost case,
Wayne"
Pm going to kill your case"
Dick said tonelessly. mo, I'm GO
ing 10 do worse to you than that
I'm going to give my brothers the
means with which to XIII your case.