Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 50: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, ‘All I can offer!—and I want to lease your mine for six months.” He gave the young women a glimpse of the lively thought that possessed him. He showed them the idle mules at the Watkins ranch, the field of rusting dump carts be- - hind Zeke Pelham’s livery stable, the dozens of good fellows of his own age who were out of work in the district; and Sam Schwartz’s little smelting plant struggling along at half time below the Boulton freight yard. “Tf we could get up a codperative com- pany—”’ “Steve!” cried Nell in wonder. “TI be- lieve—”’ “So do I,” said Janet. “Work? Of course it ‘Il work,” he de- clared. “ There’s nothing but work in it. No millionaires, no syndicates, no promoters taking their slice. No help wanted from them! Just labor—man labor and mule labor—earning its way as we go along— and the mine all yours!” Quickly Nell spoke. ‘‘ There must be a consideration to bind the bargain, so we can tell Mr. Lutwell it is closed. How much do you offer us.” He remembered a couple of Liberty Bonds at home, bought with his soldier pay. He offered them. “No, but just now—”’ She caught and opened his hand and looked over his treasures. She counted the silver, inspected the knife. Her fingers closed upon the plug of tobacco. ‘“ You need your knife and your money. This horrid thing you can spare. Janet, you are a witness that I accept it as ad- vance payment for a six-months’ lease of our mine.” The lessee straightened. ing,” said he. “ Neither am I, sir. mean business.” They shook hands just as the sound of Daniel Frazer’s voice came from the house. He was awake—and wide awake, if his tone was any indication. Nell slid down from the rock and sped “T’m not fool- Shake hands if you away, leaving behind her an exceedingly. solemn young man. Her father stood before the fireplace, his —— es vate = i ee oe oa ge Tames - al ec - = — —— é . oF OT ne a egg, aE ST a I SE ee ey ee ee ole ge ee ne a a ig ie” ¢~ agian nn hands clasped behind him, his shoulders back, his head high. The gleam of sardonic humor in his eyes was new, and so was the dry drawl in which he addressed Arthur Laird, down- cast and apologetic before him. Seated at the table, Mr. Lutwell lifted a perturbed hand for attention and parted his lips to speak, yet was silenced by a frown from the man on the hearth. ‘Such an outbreak against visitors under my roof is in bad taste, I know,” Frazer was saying. ‘‘ At the same time, I must tell you, Laird, that I am disgusted with you. Mineralogy was only a side line with me, after all. Professional honor was the main subject I tried to teach you. And you were the honor man of your class. Yet you have fallen so low as to serve as a jackal for this wolf.” He favored the squirming Lutwell with another scowl. “T can find excuses for him. He was born a pirate and can’t help himself. But you, Laird, were born a gentleman and edu- cated as one, and there can be no excuse for you.” Here both culprits spoke. Their speeches, utteféd simultaneously, neutralized each other and left the situation where it had been. ‘“T feel grateful to you, nevertheless,” Frazer went on cuttingly. ‘ Somehow, your presence here and your unspeakable proposal this afternoon have done me good, though not, perhaps, in the way you ‘in- tended to—er—do me good. Your visit has been most stimulating.”’ He saw his daughter, wide-eyed, listen- ing at the doorway. ‘Nellie, these gentlemen will be going back to Boulton in the morning. Will you speak to Stephen about it, and see that they have breakfast at daybreak?” CHAPTER V. A THEORY. MAN remembers his first success a long while, and never quite loses faith in the methods by which he won it. First success is a holy and wonderful 2A COPNICLMOOOKS EO) — - i oe Sean i res es Ea Se aM hy ia ie Me ee nag aaa ee