bacon frank - lightnin' _ after a play of the same nam - frank bacon
TRANSCRIPT
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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lightnin',
by Frank Bacon
This eBook is for the use of anyone
anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You ma
copy it, give it away or
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Title: Lightnin'
After a Play of the Same Name by Winchell
Smith and Frank Bacon
Author: Frank Bacon
Release Date: November 11, 2010 [EBook#34280]
Language: English
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*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK
LIGHTNIN' ***
Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier,
Mary Meehan and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
at
http://www.pgdp.net
LIGHTNIN'
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BY FRANK BACON
After the Play of the Same
Name by
WINCHELL SMITH andFRANK BACON
With Illustrations fromPHOTOGRAPHS OF THE
PLAY
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
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Copyright 1920, by Harper &
Brothers
Printed in the United Statesof America
Published February, 1920
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YOU LOOKED INTO
LIGHTNIN'S SHREWDLY
HUMOROUS EYES, ANDYOU SMILEDSMILED
WITH HIM
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VIICHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XICHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
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CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIXCHAPTER XX
By BOOTH TARKINGTON
By MARY ROBERTS RINEHARTBy GENE STRATTON-PORTER
By ZANE GREY
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ILLUSTRATIONS
You Looked into Lightnin's Shrewdl
Humorous Eyes, and You SmiledSmile
with Him
"Promise Me You Won't Sign the Deed" .
Bill Hesitated
Lightnin', in His Faded G. A. R. Unifor.. Listened Attentively
..He Took It from His Pocket, Saying
"Millie, I Want to Show You Something"
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LIGHTNIN'
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CHAPTER I
"Him?" the local postmaster of Calivad
would say, in reply to your question abou
he quaint little old man who had jus
ambled away from the desk with a bundl
of letters stuffed in his pocket. "Why
hat's Lightnin' Bill Jones! We call him
Lightnin' because he ain't. Nature didngive no speed to Bill. No, sir, far as
know, Lightnin' 'ain't never done a day'
work in his lifebut there ain't none of u
ever thinks any the less of him for thatBill's got a way with him, an' he kin tel
some mighty good yarns. Lightnin's al
right!"
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And when you met Bill Jones you agree
with the postmaster. You looked into
Lightnin's twinkling, shrewdly humorou
eyes and you smiledsmiled with himYou thought of the reply he made to a
stranger who protested against hi
ndolence.
"Well," Bill said, with that shrewd glance
of his, "I ain't keepin'you from makin'
million dollars, am I?"
Old Bill was full of remarks like that, an
sometimes those about him were not s
sure as to his lack of speed, in spite of hi
aimless, easy-going habits. You never canell from the feet alone. Those closest t
him were not sure at all; he "had the
guessing." There was no doubt that hi
wife, simple, earnest, hard-workin
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woman that she was, loved him. Sh
mothered him and did not seem to worr
much about his shiftless ways. He was he
husband, and that was enough for herWhat Mrs. Jones thought of her husband'
mental acumen would be another question
perhaps, but up to the present she ha
always consulted Bill's wishes and soughhis advice. Their adopted daughter
Millie, a pretty, wholesome, brown
haired girl of nineteen, worshiped Bil
Any one who said a word against "daddy
had Millie to deal with. The third perso
Bill had guessing was John Marvin,
young man who owned a tract of land ana cabin a few miles down the trai
Marvin had a lot on his mind, and wa
studying law all alone in the cabin a
nights into the bargain, but he liked t
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have Bill drop in, liked to hear him talk
Bill could tell some pretty tall yarns, bu
he told them so well you had to swallow
hem. There was an odd, friendlyunderstanding bond between the ambitiou
young fellow and the easy-going
humorous old man. They confided in eac
other a great deal, andwell, like MrsJones and Millie, Marvin frequently foun
himself crediting Bill with a semblance o
mental speed. But then his mind woul
picture the ambling, aimless figure of Bil
Jones with its shock of disordered gra
hair and half-shut eyes, and Marvin woul
smile to himself and turn his thoughts tsomething else. But he wondered
nevertheless.
At the present moment, the afternoon of
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ate summer's day, Bill Jones was doing
ittle wondering himself, though no on
would have suspected it as he amble
azily up the trail, bound for home. Thingwere not going well with the Jones family
Mrs. Jones and Millie were worrying, an
Bill knew it. Characteristically, he had
evaded the issue for several years, conteno let each day take care of itself as best i
could, but now matters were reaching
crisis and circumstances were forcing Bil
o consider it. They had been selling th
imber on the land, but that did not help
much; and now they were taking summe
boarderswhen they could get them, foboarders were scarce. Again, this onl
made more hard work for Millie and Mrs
Jones.
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t was of this Bill was thinking as he wen
along. He had been sent to get the mail an
o meet the morning train from Sa
Francisco for the purpose of enticing few boarders to the Jones establishment i
possible. He should have been home hour
ago with the mail, and there were som
odd jobs awaiting him, but he had dallien the little local town. This was his usua
habit, for, like a good many lonely souls
Bill was also a social one. People liked t
buy Bill drinks and cigars in the taver
and listen to his yarns. But to-day Bill wa
ingering intentionally; he knew that hi
wife and Millie expected to take him intconsultation this afternoon in regard to th
critical state of the family affairs
aturally Bill dreaded such a proceeding
but there was something more than that t
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t to-day. His old heart, usually full o
happy-go-lucky sunshine, was harborin
shadows, for he knew that he ought to hel
and wanted to. But how? As he had turnedslowly homeward, Lightnin' hadn't th
faintest idea.
Then suddenly, when about a mile frohe house, Bill paused in the middle of th
rail, chuckled, and then sat down on
fallen tree. He pushed back his battere
old hat, drew a bag of tobacco and Manila paper from his pocket, and rolle
himself a cigarette. All signs and
manifestations indicated that Bill Jone
was overwhelmed by an idea. He sapuffing the cigarette and grinning t
himself for a few minutes; then he aros
slowly and ambled on; but now the ambl
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was not so aimless. It had a suggestion o
he walk of a man with a purpose, an
here was a gleam of satisfaction an
humorous self-importance in his half-shueyes.
earing the house, he observed his wif
sitting on the broad veranda, rocking tand fro, obviously on the watch for him
From force of habit, Bill tried to make
detour with the intent of entering unsee
hrough the back door; but, knowing hiways, Mrs. Jones was too quick for him
She called to him, and, with the air of on
who had no intention whatever of enterin
by the back door, he came up on the porcand dropped into a chair beside her.
"Well, mother," he said, amiably, "you
ook all tuckered out. Glad to see yo
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restin'."
"Where you been all day?" she asked
gnoring his remark. Her tone was nonoo tender, but there was a gentle gleam i
her motherly, tired eyes as they sought he
husband's, sheepishly hiding behind half
closed lids.
"Just takin' a look at town," Bill drawled
"Just takin' a look." He settled himsel
comfortably in his chair and rolled cigarette.
"Don't you know there's some new
boarders come?"
"Sure," said Bill, easily. "I sent 'em, didn
? Told 'em you was the best cook in two
states, mother. Guess I ought to know."
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Millie, an apron over her neat and simpl
house dress, came out and drew a chai
between her foster-parents. She glance
quickly from one to the other, and then hegentle brown eyes came to rest lovingl
on old Bill. He returned her smile.
"What a long time you were, daddy!" shsaid. "I bet you stayed away just becaus
you knew mother and I wanted to talk t
you to-dayown up, daddy!"
Bill grinned delightedly, despite hi
knowledge of the rather grave situation th
girl's smiling comment covered. "Well
Millie," he answered, "I'm here now, ain? Guess we can have a little talk befor
hem boarders begin to yell for thei
supper. I kinder wish as you didn't have to
cook for 'em, motheran' Millie waitin
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on 'em. 'Tain't fair."
Mrs. Jones's lips twitched; the weight of
hard day was on her."It ain't no use puttin' it off, Bill," she said
wearily. "We got to do somethin'. Mr
Townsend was here this afternoon."
"What o' that?" asked Bill.
"Well, he's pretty shrewd, you know, an
he's thinkin' about us, Bill. He seen howmuch of the timber's gone. He knows w
sold another strip o' land last month fo
next to nothin'"
"What's that to him?" Bill queried, rollin
another cigarette and apparentl
completely absorbed in the operation.
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"Hehe's just worried about us, an' it'
nice of him, Bill, him knowin' us all thes
years. Hehe thinks as we might mov
ntointo one o' them little cabins dowhe trail an'"
"Lem Townsend's all right," Bill cut in
azily, "but we ain't goin' to move, motherAn' it ain't nobody's business, neitherno
even Lem Townsend's. I hope you told
him that."
"Why, Bill!" Mrs. Jones exclaimed
sharply. "I told him no such thing! An'
ain't so sure but what I ain't goin' to tak
his advice!"
Bill looked at her, a hidden smile in hi
eyes. "It's your property, mother," he said
quietly.
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Tears sprang into the woman's eyes and
she made an impulsive gesture.
"You mustn't think that way, Bill!" shecried. "I know you deeded the whol
place over to me when we were marrie
and it was all you had! I wasn't thinkin
o' that'ceptin' as I always think. Youmust say our place, Bill. It's yours an
mine an' Millie's. We'll stick together. Bu
we got to dosomethin'."
Bill glanced slyly at the girl, whos
brown head was bowed thoughtfully
"What you think, Millie?" he asked.
"I don't know what to say," she replied
slowly. "I could go back to San Francisco
and work as I did last year. But maybe w
could pull through this winterif only w
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could get boarders. I don't mind the work
andand I'd rather stay home here."
Bill's eyes suddenly twinkled. "What's thmatter?" he chuckled. "John Marvin com
back from the city to stay at his cabin?"
Millie blushed. "Daddy!" she pouted.
Mrs. Jones did not seem any too please
at her husband's remark. "John Marvi
ain't got nothin' to do with it!" sh
exclaimed. "I don't see what he come
foolin' around here for, anywayMilli
ain't got himon her mind!"
"I should say not!" Millie echoed, thougt occurred to Bill that the softness of he
brown eyes belied the petulant toss of he
head. "Perhaps, after all, it would be bes
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for me to go back to Mr. Thomas's office!
Bill turned his half-shut eyes on he
quickly, but Millie did not note thexpression of genuine concern in them. H
sat lost in thought. The last winter ha
been the most difficult of all for them
Millie, feeling that it was time for hebeing some help, had studied typewritin
and stenography and had obtained
position in the office of Raymond Thomas
a San Francisco lawyer. Presumably on vacation, Thomas had chanced to spend
week at the Jones place the previou
summer. Millie had told him of her desig
o help the family, and Thomas hadsuggested that she take the position ope
n his office.
But that had been a dreary and lonel
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winter for Bill and his wife. Millie'
pretty face and youthful ways had bee
missed sorely; the girl had come to be al
n all to the old couple, and they could nobear to see her go away again for anothe
ong winter.
Then, too, Bill had his own reasons fofeeling grave and down in the mouth whe
Millie suggested her returning to work i
he office of Raymond Thomas. Bill Jone
was not one to analyze, or to voice oexplain his thoughtseven to himself
unless he took a notion to, or considere
hat the right moment had arrived; it wa
all too much trouble, anyway. Certaihoughts were running through his min
now, however; running a little at random
o be sure, but they were there. His youn
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friend, John Marvin, had worked i
Thomas's office for a timewas workin
here when Millie entered the office
ndeed, that was how Marvin had meMillie and found, to his delight, that the
were neighbors up in Nevadathat sh
was the pretty daughter his friend Bil
Jones was always mentioning.
But Bill was thinking now especially o
he fact that Marvin had left Raymon
Thomas's office suddenly, and had toldBill precisely why he had left.
"Don'tyouthink it would be best for me t
go back, daddy?" Millie questionednterrupting his random musings. "Mayb
mother could manage here, with one o
wo boarders and the money I shall sen
her. And there will be your army pension
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Mr. Thomas is coming to pay us a visit to
morrow, you know, and I'll ask him a
once for my old position. I know it will b
all right, for he's always been perfectlsplendid! He told me the position woul
always be open to me. You have no idea
how kind and considerate he is, daddy
Then maybe next summer"
"Next summer we're all goin' to be rich!
said her odd foster-father, unexpectedly
"Yes, sir, meanin' you an' mother, Milliegirl, next summer we're goin' to be awfu
rich. Leastways, you an' mother is. Bein
rich wouldn't mean nothin' to meI'
above it!"
"Why, daddy!" Millie exclaimed, starin
at him. "HowWhat do you mean
daddy?"
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Slumped away down in his chair, Bill'
eyes were now all but closed tight and h
was grinning.
"Nothin' particular," he answered, softly
"'Cept that maybe Bill Jones ain't calle
Lightnin' for nothin'."
"Bill," said his wife, "this ain't no time fo
o be smart! If you have anything to say,
wish to goodness you'd say it!"
Bill half opened his eyes and glanced a
her. "Millie ain't goin' back to that tailor
made lawyer's office," he said.
"Daddy, please!" said Millie, flushing.
"You mustn't make fun of Mr. Thoma
when"
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"All right, Millie," he stopped her, restin
his thin hand on her brown hair for a
nstant. "I wouldn't say nothin' as woul
hurt you. But you won't have to go backmy dearnot unless you really want t
eave us. I got an idea, motherthat's wh
was late gettin' home. Ideas take time
specially when they're good ones! I got good one what'll fix this whole business!"
Bill stuck his thumbs in his faded old shir
comically. Even slumped down in hichair as he was, the suggestion of
harmless swagger was in his mannerth
easy swagger of one who, hithert
unconsidered, has astonished the skepticby giving birth to an idea and solving
problem. There was something about Bil
hat suppressed the gentle but none the les
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amused smile that was dimpling Millie'
cheeks.
"Out with it, daddy!" she demandedrestraining a desire to pull his ear.
"If Lem Townsend is so anxious to help
us," he stated, "he can arrange all th
details for you, mother. I 'ain't got time fo
detailsthat's what I told Grant once
when we was havin' supper befor
Petersburg. Got enough to do with thdea. Lem can put the ads. in them Ren
papers, an' hire the maids for you, an
hings like that." Then Bill suddenl
stopped, hugely enjoying the mystificatioof his two listeners.
His wife sat up. "Bill Jones," she said
"you been drinking again down to town
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hat's what I think!"
"Go on, daddy!" Millie encouraged
putting her hand on his arm. "I feel thayou've thought of something! Tell us!"
gnoring his wife's accusation, Bill gav
Millie a grateful glance and resumed, i
his slow drawl:
"I got an ideasure enough, mother an
Millie! It didn't hit me until I was half
way home to-day, but I got it lookin' at th
mornin' train what goes on through t
Reno. I've looked at a pile o' trains in m
ime, but I never got no idea from 'e
before. Look here, don't the state line ru
plumb through the middle o' this house
so's half of it is in California an' the othe
half in Nevada? Well, what's the matte
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with makin' this house a hotel temporar
for busted hearts what takes six months t
cure? Lots o' them rich folks from the Eas
who goes on down to Reno to git divorcewould like to live on the lake, but the
can't because they got to live in Nevad
for six months. They can live on one sid
o' this house an' be in Nevada. An' at thsame time they gits all the good o' livin' i
California! They'd be tickled to death an
hey'd be comin' in shoals all year, winte
an' summer. An' what they pays ain
nothin' to themthe Reno hotels is so ric
off them they don't want to take in no on
what 'ain't a busted heart! You better starright away gettin' ready, mother!"
Mrs. Jones and Millie gasped. Bil
however, having spoken at considerabl
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ength for him, merely reached for hi
eternal bag of tobacco and paper and idl
rolled himself a cigarette.
Millie clapped her hands. "Why, mother!
she cried, "daddy's rightit is an idea
And so simple!"
"All big things is simple," Bill remarked
with the air of one who ought to know.
Mrs. Jones stared from her husband t
Millie. "Oh, Bill," she said, finally, "
really think we can do it! And now I'll tel
you somethin'. II was goin' to sugges
his very thing some time ago, butbut
hought you wouldn't approve of it o
account o' Millie. Lem Townsend put the
notion in my head when he was talkin
about our sellin' the timber."
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Bill looked up. "Lem thought of it, eh
Didn't think Lem had that much sense
Anyways, I bet I thought of it firstI mus
a' been thinkin' of it for a long timwithout knowin' it. Why shouldn't
approveon account o' Millie, mother?"
"II don't know," said his wifeuncertainly. "I hear some of the
divorcers isis"
"Shucks, mother," Bill stopped her"They're human beings, ain't they? An
hem as ain't we needn't take. But they'r
all right. I seen a lot o' them on the trains
Right smart lookers, most o' them! Thecan't help it if their hearts gets busted, ca
hey? Human beings is human beings
Besides, we gotter look at it from
business point o' viewas Lincoln said t
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me about the Civil War. I was a business
man once an'"
Millie laughed, and Bill, remembering thahe was in the bosom of his family and tha
here were certain things he couldn't "ge
away with" there, subsided.
Evidently Mrs. Jones had been thinkin
hard during the past few minutes, and now
she spoke. "We'll do it, Millie!" she said
"Some o' them Reno hotels got starteovernight, just like this, an' we can do th
same. It'll be kinder queer at first, turnin
our home into a hotel, but maybe we ca
soon make enough toto make it a homagain. Shall we try it, Millie?"
"Of course!" Millie exclaimed. "I think i
will be great fun! You're awful clever
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daddy, to think of it!"
Bill, who had rolled and lighted anothe
cigarette, arose and stuck his handcarelessly in the pockets of his worn
baggy old trousers. "'Tain't nothin'," he
remarked, swaying on his heels and toes
"Nothin' at all! I think o' lots o' things likhat, but I don't tell 'emtoo busy! Well
mother, as Lem Townsend's comin' ove
o-night, you better have him fix the
details. I got to go an' think some morabout the idea!"
He moved away with elaborate unconcer
and started to amble down the verandsteps. His wife suddenly remembere
several odd jobs he should be attendin
o, but she did not stop him. Her mind wa
full of plansand one is naturally timi
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about asking a Man with a Big Idea t
perform menial tasks.
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CHAPTER II
After supper the following evening Bil
slipped from the house and amble
hrough the woods to the lake border
where a young moon, cradled above th
western ridge, sent its shafts of silver ligh
across the darkened waters. It was eviden
hat Bill Jones wanted to be alone. Hsettled down on the trunk of a fallen tre
and absently rolled himself a cigarette
When it was satisfactorily lighted h
glanced down the shore. It was desertedbut a little way back, on the woodlan
path, he observed two people strolling i
he dim shadows of the pines and cedars
He knew that the girl in the white dres
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was Millie, and he guessed that the ma
with her was John Marvin. Bill was no
especially romantic, but there was n
doubt that the sight of those two togethepleased him. He knew that the pair had no
seen much of each other of late, and h
wondered why. He himself had not seen
John Marvin for nearly two weeksThough he did not indulge in romanc
personally, he understood much, and h
sighed deeply as he watched the di
figure of the girl strolling along the path
His mind wandered off through a vista o
past years to the time when Millie ha
first come to the Tahoe region and to theJones family, a bit of a girl of three
Sinking into a reverie, Bill failed to not
hat the pair had finally parted, Marvi
striding off up the trail in the direction o
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his cabin. A pull at his ear brought him
back to earth.
"Why, daddy! What are you doing out herall alone?"
Millie sat down beside him, putting a
arm around his neck.
"Hello!" said Bill, reaching for his bag o
obacco and papers. "Where's John?" h
asked, a humorous gleam in his eyes, as h
met hers.
Millie seemed to hesitate befor
answering: "He's gone back to his place.
old him Mr. Thomas was here and hwouldn't even come in to see him! He say
he does not like it. I don't think it is any o
his business," she added, giving Bill
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hug.
"Why ain't it?" Bill asked.
Again Millie hesitated, then said, "MrThomas is just as nice as he can be daddy
and"
"His yaller gloves is nice. So's his caneMust take him an awful long time t
dress."
Millie took her arm away and looked ahim. She caught the lift of his eyebrow
and the peculiar expression of his half
open mouth and half-shut eyes, a
expression which always decorated Bill'face when he gave vent to sentiment
which Millie had come to regard a
"Daddy's intuitions." Bill always use
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rivial words at such moments, but that di
not minimize the effect.
"But, daddy, it seems so hard to make youunderstand how good Mr. Thomas ha
been to me! Mother understands. He too
such pains with me. I was a perfec
greenhorn and didn't know the first thinabout office work. No matter wha
mistakes I made, he was just as patient a
he could be. And he says he loves thi
beautiful country up here! He liked to heame tell about our wonderful waterfall."
Bill puffed his cigarette, an odd gleam i
his eyes, perhaps of amusement, perhapof wisdom. Millie glanced back towar
he house; then her eyes swept the shor
and finally came to rest on somethin
barely visible far up on the mountain
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John Marvin's cabin. She sighed an
continued to gaze in the same direction
Bill stole a look at her.
"Liked to hear about our waterfall, eh?" h
remarked. "I thought so."
Millie started. "Thought what, daddy?
she asked, her brown eyes trying to rea
his face.
"Nothin'. Nothin'," he replied, with a not
of finality that she had long learned t
know as indicating the futility of furthe
questioning.
"Well," she said, rising, "I think you'dbetter come up to the house, daddy.
suppose you left Mr. Thomas all alon
here on the veranda, didn't you? You
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might have stayed and entertained hi
until I got back."
"Guess he entertains himself pretty well,said Bill. "Besides, mother's with him."
"But you ought to be there, too, daddy
you're the head of the house, you know!"
He gave her an amused glance as sh
cuddled his arm in hers and walked hi
off. "All right, Millie, but I kinder keep
fergettin' that part of it."
Coming up the veranda steps, they foun
Mrs. Jones sitting there with a handsome
perfectly groomed young man of possiblwenty-seven. Raymond Thomas looke
actually too good to be true in tha
backwoods region. He arose quickly
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placed a chair for Millie, and then drew
one beside his own, urging Bill to occup
t.
"Please sit right here, Mr. Jones!" h
nsisted, with an easy, flattering smile
"Where did you disappear to after supper
've been looking all over for you. I wano hear some more of those famous storie
of yours! Tell me how to get him started
Miss Buckley," he added, with moc
appeal and turning his dazzling smile oMillie.
"Oh, daddy just starts himself!" sh
answered, laughing.
Bill dropped into the chair and crosse
his legs. Gingerly he took the ciga
Thomas offered him.
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ong pull at the cigar. "I was i
Washington on private business when
hem two was goin' on. I was greatl
disappointed."
"I can imagine so!" exclaimed Thomas.
"You can imagine a lot o' things, can
you?" said Bill, unexpectedly. "I ofte
magine I never saw some people. I
makes you feel better. But about the
battles. Ye know Grant 'd never won thebattle of Lookout Mountain if it hadn
been for me"
"Indeed!" cried Thomas, in a tone o
pleasant surprise.
"Nope. I was the only man he would le
ook out."
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Thomas laughed effusively and gentl
apped Bill on the back. "Capital!" h
exclaimed. "You must tell me some more
ater on. And you've got to come to townwith me some time, Mr. Jones. But"and
for a moment he turned his brilliant smil
on Millie and Mrs. Jones"I've bee
hinking ever since supper of that greadea of yours about turning this place int
a hotel for the broken-hearted. Really, I'v
given much serious thought to it, as I wa
elling your wife just before you and Mis
Buckley joined us. I am so interested i
you all that I hate to act like a damper, bu
have very grave doubts about it being paying proposition. And then I fear non
of you have taken into consideration th
vast amount of work, preparation, an
alteration the scheme will entail. Now, a
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Mrs. Jones and Millie greeted Townsend
cordially and the girl placed a chair fo
him while he turned to shake hands wit
Thomas, who had recovered his slightlshattered poise and risen gracefully
Townsend shook hands genially, but there
was a lurking frown in Raymond Thomas'
eyesmore than a suggestion that he waannoyed at the interruption, and, fo
reasons of his own, resented the presenc
of another person on the veranda. Hi
dazzling smile was at work, however.
"It is a pleasure to meet the future lega
ight of Washoe County!" he said.
"That's rightbetter make yourself soli
with him now," said Bill, throwing awa
he remains of the cigar and bringing ou
his tobacco and papers. There wa
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something in his voice that somehow di
not bring a laugh.
"Why, daddy!" cried Millie. "I don't thinhat's funny at all!"
Bill merely glanced at her and went o
rolling his cigarette. Thomas had give
Bill a keen, puzzled look; but no one coul
ever tell from Lightnin's expressio
whether or not any special meaning la
back of his words.
Mrs. Jones created a diversion. Eagerl
she imparted Bill's great idea t
Townsend and their intention of carrying i
out at once. Millie joined in and aske
him if he would help. He declared himsel
at their immediate disposal.
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"I'm very glad you are going to do i
mother!" he said. "In my judgment, it is a
excellent solution of your problem. You
will recall that I suggested this"
"But I beat you to it, Lem!" Bill cut i
quickly. "Forethought and execution is th
whole carnage!"
Raymond Thomas had been listenin
closely. If there was disapproval and
annoyance at the turn things were taking, idid not show in his face.
"But are you sure this venture will pa
hese good friends of ours, Mr
Townsend?" he asked, in a tone of grave
doubt. "Those divorce peoplethey ar
mostly women, you knoware generall
on short rations, though they have bee
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used to having a lot of money to spend. I'
afraid they'll demand comforts an
uxuries that will run expenses into bi
figures, and they won't want to pay enougo make a reasonable margin of profit."
"I am certain it will pay splendidly!
replied Townsend. "Look at the Renohotels! Oh yes, I strongly advise ou
friends to tackle it!"
Thomas frowned slightly. "Perhaps yoare right, Mr. Townsend. I presume you
have investigated the matter. But there i
another point to consider. I don't think
well, personally, I do not think it ialtogether a good plan toto brin
women of that sort into contact wit
women like Mrs. Jones and Mis
Mildred."
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He turned to Millie, his expression one o
delicate concern and appeal.
"It's fine of you to speak like that, MrThomas," she said, flushing slightly, "bu
mother and I have talked over all that. We
do not mind. And, besides, I don't think i
right for us to feel that way about it. I'sure most of those women are nicean
maybe they need just the sympathy an
care we can give them."
Lemuel Townsend, on hearing Thomas'
statement, had sat bolt upright. "Sir," h
said, in tones of personal injury, adjustin
his glasses and eying Thomas from head tfoot, "I think that a rather broad an
sweeping statement for you to make. Mis
Mildred is perfectly correct in he
surmise. I must remind you that I am
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evada attorney. I have known, in my life
many of these young women, and I hav
found them most estimable!"
"Ye like 'em, don't you, Lem?" remarked
Bill, chuckling.
Townsend flushed; he looked appealingly
at Mrs. Jones and Millie, his judicia
manner gone. It must be confessed tha
Millie suppressed something resembling
giggle.
"You old fogies up here in the mountain
have the wrong idea!" Townsend said
urning to Bill. "Why should two peopl
be hitched together when they are pullin
n different directions? That doesn't ge
hem any place." He rose and reached fo
his hat on the veranda rail. "Well, I mus
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be off. I'll get to work at once, Mrs. Jones
The Reno papers shall have your ad. to
morrow, and I'll get busy on some othe
hings at once."
The two women rose, profuse in thei
hanks, which he smilingly waved aside
With a nod to Bill, and a rather formabow to Thomas, he went down the steps.
Thomas resumed his seat and his dazzlin
smile; there was nothing in his manner tshow that he had been thinking quickly. H
crossed his legs easily and drew ou
another cigar.
"Have you ever thought of selling th
place, Mrs. Jones?" he asked, suddenly.
"Whywhy, no! Can't say as we have!
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she answered, evidently surprised. "An'
don't know as we could if we wanted to
Ain't much call for a place like this, Mr
Thomas!"
"But you can't always tell about thes
hings, my dear lady," said Thomas
addressing himself exclusively to MrsJones. "It might not be so hard to find
purchaser, and at a good price, too."
"II don't think Bill would like to sell,she replied, doubtfully. "Would you
Bill?"
Her husband made no reply. He sat gazin
straight ahead, his eyes half shut as usual.
"Perhaps Mr. Jones is indifferent on th
subject," Thomas resumed. "Now I a
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sure that if he felt that you and Mis
Mildred were well provided"
"Say, you're kinder full of ideas yourselfain't you?" Bill interrupted, unexpectedl
urning and bringing his thin, unshave
face close to the other man's, quit
unwonted force and anger in his manner.
"Daddy!" Millie cried, while his wif
stared at him.
The anger left his face and the old
shrewd, humorous light crept back into hi
eyes.
"I don't believe in more 'n one idea at ime," he said, grinning. "NoI gues
mother an' me an' Millie 'll try out tha
ittle busted-heart notion o' mine first
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afore we tackles any other notions. Gues
'll turn in, motherhad a kinder tall day
Look sorter all in yourself. Better com
along. Tirin' business, havin' ideas. If MrThomas 'ain't been entertained ernough
maybe Millie 'll stay down an' keep th
show goin'." And he got up slowly, stuck
his hands in his pockets, and ambled inthe house.
"I think we'd better go in, too, mother,
said Millie, rising. "I know you're jusfagged out, and it's late, anyway. You
won't mind if we leave you to finish you
cigar, Mr. Thomas, will you?"
"Not at all! Not at all!" Thoma
exclaimed, with his smile. "A thousand
pardons for keeping you up so latei
was thoughtless of me!"
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He sprang to the screen door, held it open
for them, and called a cheery "Good
night!" as they disappeared up the stairs
Then he sat down again and thoughtfullfinished his cigar. He appeared to have
ot to think about, to figure out. Whe
finally he went up to his own room a ligh
burned there for an hour longer.
n the morning Bill Jones was up an
about unwontedly early. He got himsel
some breakfast, then went to the little deswhere the few boarders habitually left th
etters they had written the night before fo
he outgoing mail, which he took to th
post-office. He found some half-dozeetters on the desk this morning, and h
examined the addresses deliberately. On
n particular seemed to interest hi
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mmensely. It was in a handwriting he had
seen before and recognized as that o
Raymond Thomas. He put a finger to hi
cheek and gazed up at the ceilingwhics the same as saying that Bill Jones wa
making a careful mental note of the nam
and address on that letter. It wa
addressed to one Everett Hammone, thGolden Gate Land Company, Sa
Francisco. It was quite obvious that Bil
Jones had a strong desire to know th
contents of that letter; but he dropped i
carelessly among the rest, bundled the
up with a string and stuffed them in hi
pocket as he strolled out of the house ohis daily journey.
Out on the trail a bit, his ambling fee
came to a pause. He took out his tobacc
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and papers and rolled a cigarette. Lightin
t, he turned around and gazed up th
mountain, his eyes blinking in the mornin
sunlight as they rested on the dot that waJohn Marvin's cabin. For a moment i
seemed as if Bill had it in mind to chang
his direction and go up the mountain.
"I sure would like to have er talk wit
John," he mused. "Sure would. 'Ain't had
alk with him for some time. But I guess a
John is pretty put to it with that therimber propositionthings must be gittin
some excited up there! Maybe I'll go up
o-morrer."
And having characteristically decided t
do it to-morrow, Bill continued hi
morning stroll toward the post-office.
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CHAPTER III
For reasons obvious and otherwise, Bil
Jones did not carry out his intention o
visiting John Marvin's cabin "to-morrow.
n spite of himself, Bill naturally wa
drawn into the vortex of work an
preparation necessary to turning his hom
nto the Calivada Hotel. The period ochange was a nightmare to Bill, the onl
eaven in his misery being the astonishin
fact that he actually evolved quite
number of ideasideas which MrsJones, Millie, and Lem Townsend not onl
O.K.'d, but put into instant executionan
found exceedingly workable. He mad
many attempts to disappear from th
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premises, but his wife, or Millie, or Le
always had an eye on him and managed t
frustrate his hasty sorties or more subtl
schemes to take French leave. This wenon day after day, and now Bill had
endured nearly six weeks of more or les
pleasantly enforced captivity.
n the mean time the mysteriou
"excitement" up the mountain about whic
Bill had mused that morning on the trai
had come to a head, and John Marvin'ittle cabin seemed to be the center of it.
t was shortly after sundown one evenin
hat a big, red-headed lumberjackobviously a Swede, put his head in th
door of the cabin and glanced quickl
around the one room. Seeing that ther
was no one inside, he entered, closing th
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door behind him. Going to the window, h
ooked out through the thick grove of pine
and cedars, but evidently could see n
one. He was breathing hard, as if frorunning, and he sank into a chair.
His rest was short-lived. There was a ra
at the door, which was instantly pushedopen, and a lanky, sinewy man i
sombrero and riding-breeches, with tw
revolvers at the belt, strode in. Th
Swede, on his feet in an instanrecognized the intruder as Nevin Blodgett
sheriff of Washoe County.
"What you want?" the lumberjack askedn his heavy voice.
The sheriff did not answer at once, bu
ook a quick survey of the cabin's contents
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his eyes lighting up as they rested upon th
unwashed dishes on the table, telling of
recent meal. There was a self-satisfie
swagger about the sheriff as he walked upo the Swede.
"You're John Marvin, ain't you?" he
demanded.
"No, sir," replied the Swede, with a heav
frown.
The sheriff looked puzzled for a momen
hen it seemed to dawn on him that it wa
ust possible that a big, red-headed Swed
was not likely to be John Marvin.
"Well!" he snapped. "Then I guess you're
working for him, ain't you?"
The lumberjack shook his head and wen
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close to Blodgett, emphasizing his words
"Who I work for bane my business!
There was no fear in his manner as h
stood looking into his interrogator's facwith a grin that boded ill for any on
ooking for trouble.
Blodgett backed away, his eyes followinhe breadth of the Swede's husk
shoulders and the line of his powerfu
arms.
"None of that!" he said. "You're with the
gang that's been chopping down tha
imber out there. You know well enough
hat Marvin's stealing that timber, donyou?"
"Stealing?"
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"Yes! He's stealing it from the Pacific
Railroad Company, and I'm here to arres
him for it!"
"Humph!" The Swede shrugged hi
shoulders and wheeled around, gazin
anxiously out of the window, where th
path through the forest was visible.
"You know where he is, don't you?
Blodgett asked.
"He gone away."
"Where?" Blodgett stamped his spurre
boot.
"I doan' know."
"When did he go?"
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"Maybeyesterday."
"When's he coming back?"
"I doan' think he coomin' back." ThSwede deliberately put a kettle on th
stove and whistled indifferently.
Blodgett was evidently torn between desire to maintain his dignity and authorit
as sheriff and a rather healthy reluctanc
o have any trouble with the great, hulkin
Swede.
"It's going to be hard for you if you'r
ying"
He got no farther. The Swede stepped up
o him with blazing eyes.
"You call me liar?" he yelled. "I throw
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you out the door!"
Blodgett backed quickly awayver
quickly. His hand sought the latch behindhim. "If you threaten me, the next thing yo
know you'll find yourself in jail!" h
cried, shaking his fist.
The Swede's only answer was an ugl
grin. Blodgett opened the door, slammin
t after him as he went away.
The big lumberjack stood quiet for severa
minutes, listening to the sounds of retrea
beaten by the hoofs of Blodgett's horse
Assured that the sheriff was safely out o
he way, he crept to the window, thrust hi
head over the sill, and gave a low whistle
There was a stir in the soap-plant outsid
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and Marvin emerged, hurried around t
he door, and entered the cabin.
"Good work!" he exclaimed, laughing anclapping the grinning Swede on the back
"You got rid of him very well, Oscar
ow I'll go on with my supper!"
He took off his coat and went over to th
stove, where he began to shake the dampe
o let out the ashes. Oscar came and stoo
beside him.
"He tell me"
"I know what he told you," Marvi
nterrupted, continuing to shake the ashes.
"Do that land belong to the railroad?
There was a slight note of alarm in th
Swede's voice.
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"It does now, Oscar," Marvin replied
hrowing some paper and wood into th
stove and lighting it; "but I sold the timbe
a long time before the railroad got thproperty, and I'm trying to save the timbe
for the man who bought it from me."
"Oh!" The Swede turned toward the dooras if to go. "Bane they arrest you for that?
"Not unless they find me!" Marvi
chuckled.
"An' me an' the boyscan they arres
oos?"
"No, Oscar," Marvin laughingly reassuredhim. "You fellows are working for me and
you are not supposed to know anythin
about my affairs."
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"Oh!" The Swede gave a satisfied nod o
his head. "I seeyou know that from
from your books." He jerked his thum
oward a table in the corner on whicsome law-books stood.
"Yes," said Marvin, looking into the
coffee-pot. "Anyhow, you'll be gone in thmorning. The job's done, thanks to you an
he boys."
The lumberjack stood for a momentnodding his red head; then he turne
slowly and went out.
Marvin put the coffee-pot on the stove
watched it a minute, and then san
houghtfully into the shabby bu
comfortable arm-chair at the end of hi
reading-tablewhich also served as
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dining-table. He sat there for severa
minutesuntil the coffee, boiling over o
he stove, brought him out of his reveri
and to his feet. At the same moment hcaught the sound of remote but high word
coming from that part of his land wher
he recently cut timber was stacked.
"I tell you he bane gone away!" he heard
n Oscar's heavy, threatening voice.
Hurriedly pushing the coffee-pot on to thback of the stove, he sprang to the door
but before he could reach it it was thrus
n against him and he was thrown bac
nto the middle of the room, where hstood, perforce, facing a tall, athletic
ooking man in motor togs. The man'
strong, intellectual face, undoubtedl
pleasant and agreeable ordinarily, wa
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now clouded with anger, his jaw set and
grim.
At sight of him, however, Marvin's fistunclenched and he smiled amiably
despite the other's attitude.
"Why, hello, Mr. Harper!" he exclaimed
holding out his hand. "You're just the man
've been looking for! But you seem a bi
upset. What's the trouble?"
gnoring the outstretched hand, Harpe
hrew off his duster and tossed it, with hi
gloves, on the table.
"Just a minute, young man," he said, with grim tightening of his jaw and his kee
eyes boring into Marvin's. "Just a minute.
came here to have a look for myself and t
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see precisely where I stand." He turne
and carefully closed the door.
Marvin went to the stove and calmlpoured himself a cup of coffee. "Well," he
remarked, with a laugh, "won't you have
chair and some coffee firstyou ca
shoot just as easily sitting down."
Harper, his hand at his belt, glared at him
"You don't think I mean business, do you?
he said, grimly. "Or perhaps you think yo
have beaten me to it, eh? Now what sor
of man are you and what nice little gam
s this you are playing? Here I buy a grov
of timber from you, and while my back i
urned you sell the property, timber and
all, to the railroad! I want an explanatio
and I want it now!"
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"You have the facts a bit mixed up,
Marvin replied, still smiling and noddin
oward the chair, at the same time placin
he coffee on the table. "Sit down anwe'll talk it overand I think you'l
decide not to shoot!"
Harper, however, was adamant.
"All right," said Marvin. "In the firs
place, when I sold you the timber you sai
you were going to cut it at once"
"Correctcorrect! But something came u
and I could not attend to itand I don
see how that exculpates you in the least!"
"It doesn't," replied Marvin, adding, as h
ook up his coffee, "if you won't join me
'll have to go it alone, as this is the firs
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've had since morning. Well, when I sold
you that timber I never thought I woul
sell any of this property. My mother loved
every inch of it. It was our dream thawhen I received my diploma an
established a practice we would make
home here; but she was taken sick"
"Yes, I remember your telling me abou
her being in the hospital." Harper's voic
softened a bit.
Marvin was silent a moment. "I took her t
San Francisco. She died there."
Harper fumbled with the buckle of hi
belt. His heart went out to the younge
man; yet he felt that right was on his side
He picked up a picture of Mrs. Marvi
hat stood in a small frame on the table
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"I'm deeply sorry," he said, softly. "I did
not know."
"There is no need to apologize," Marvianswered, quietly. "You have a perfec
right to demand an explanation about tha
imber." With a last swallow of coffee, he
put down his cup and stood squarelfacing Harper, and his own expressio
was grim as he continued:
"When we got to San Franciscomotheand Ia lawyer in whose office I ha
been a student came to the hospital and go
nto her good graces. He had taken a grea
nterest in me and I would have taken aoath as to his integrity. But when I cam
up here to sell you the timberand mothe
and I needed the money desperately at th
imethis man took advantage of m
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absence to persuade mother to deed hi
fifty acres, nearly the whole of th
property! It was to be a pleasant surpris
for me when I returned! Instead of cash, hgave her a batch of stock in the Golde
Gate Land Company, stock of which
have been unable to dispose. And the nex
day he resold the property to the PacifiRailroad Company for three or four time
he price represented by the stock he gav
mother. I found that out later, of course
Well, after mother's death I hurried up
here, only to discover that you had not cu
he timber I sold you before the propert
was sold. I got busy at once and have beestaying on here until the gang out ther
finished cutting it and piling it on what i
eft to me of the property. Your timber is
ready for you, Mr. Harper, any time you
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are ready to haul it away."
t was Harper's turn to put out his hand
"I'm mighty sorry I misunderstood youMarvin!" he exclaimed, as the latte
returned the clasp. "But look here! Can
you do anything about this fellow, thi
awyer? What's the rascal's name?"
"Raymond Thomas. He's up in these part
quite frequently of late. Made himsel
solid with some dear friends of mine, I'sorry to say, and I'm worried about it.
can't help believing that he's up to som
new game, though I can't just see what i
s. He's a remarkably smooth customert's very hard to pin anything on him. I'
going to make him disgorge my property i
can, but I shall have a difficult legal figh
on my hands."
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Harper nodded understandingly. "I see,
seecovered himself cleverly. I don
know the gentleman, but I'll be only to
glad to do anything to help you, Marvin.He took a turn about the room, whil
Marvin leaned against the table. "I'll hav
he timber hauled away at once. I didn
have it cut, myself, becausewell, I'vhad a lot of trouble myself. Had a strike a
he mill, andoh, hang it all! It's my wife
Marvin! She's packed up in a hurry an
eft me!"
He flung himself into the chair and stare
ruefully, comically, at the younger man
who, not knowing what to say, saidnothing.
"I didn't mind the strike so much, nor thi
imber mix-up!" Harper rushed on, wit
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he air of a man who must tell some one o
explode. "It was my wife, young man! It'
her being so unreasonable that makes m
sore. I bought her a present when I waEast and had it shipped to the office. I
happened to arrive about the time Mrs
Harper was to come to the office in th
machine to take me home, and she walken just as I was showing it to m
stenographer. Of course my wife thought
bought it for Miss Robbins, andwell
what's the use of talking about it?"
With a gesture of dismissal for the subject
he stood up and took out a wallet.
"How much do I owe you?" he asked. "
figured it would cost about eight hundre
dollars to do that job out there"
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Marvin put up a deprecatory hand. "I can
ake it now, Mr. Harper," he interrupted
"You haven't got that timber yet, and"
"The railroad will have some job on it
hands to get it away from me!" sai
Harper. "And unless they do I owe you
eight hundred dollarsdo younderstand?"
A faint noise outside broke into thei
conversation. With a warning gestureMarvin tiptoed to the door and put his ea
against it. Harper, thinking that it might b
a railroad employee who had come t
eavesdrop in order to report their plansstood with his jaw set, his hand on th
revolver at his belt. With a quic
movement Marvin jerked open the door.
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nstead of a railroad employee, or th
sheriff, it was only Lightnin' Bill Jone
who stood there, leaning idly against th
doorframe, his hands in his pockets. Hambled silently into the middle of th
room, his half-shut eyes blinking in th
sudden light.
"I guess I must 'a' been out there som
ime, come to think of it," he remarked
meditatively, and addressing himself to
he ceiling, quite as if he were alone. Thehe turned carelessly to Marvin.
"I knocked, toobut I guess maybe yo
wasn't expectin' me."
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CHAPTER IV
With a laugh, Marvin shut the door. "It'
all right," he said, winking at Harper
Smiling, he went up to Bill and swung hi
around to face him.
"Hello, Lightnin'!" he exclaimed. "I'
mighty glad to see you. What do you mea
by staying away from me all this time
And you were so quiet and mysteriou
outside there that we thought some on
was spying on us!"
"I was a spy oncewith Buffalo Bill,
said Lightnin', conversationally. He stared
nterestedly at Harper. "Friend of yours
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John?"
"This is Lightnin' Bill Jones, Mr. Harper
This is the gentleman I sold that timber toBill." The two men acknowledged th
ntroduction.
"Have you had any supper, Bill?" Marvi
asked, resuming operations at the stove
"If not, you'd better stop and have it wit
me."
Bill shook his head with an air o
mportance. "No; can't stop. Got to b
home at the hotel at supper-time to see tha
everythin's goin' right. What time is i
now?"
"Seven o'clock."
Bill shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly
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meditated, and announced: "Well, maybe
hey can get along without me. I go
everythin' sys-sys-matized."
Marvin glanced at him quickly. "Bill, I'
afraid you've been having a drink or two?
"Nope. Nope!" Bill repeated, with th
debonair innocence of a mischievous an
prevaricating school-boy. "I was jus
sayin' good-by to the boys out there." H
signified with a jerk of his head that thumberjacks were responsible if h
seemed in any way elated. "You see
hey're breakin' up campan' I didn't wan
o hurt their feelin's, as they're all friendo' mine."
Harper, who had resumed his seat in th
chair, glanced at Marvin.
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"Does our friend Bill knowwhat w
were talking about?"
"Everything!" said Marvin, readily. "Reseasy, Mr. Harperyou'll never find a
better friend, nor a more trustworthy one
han Lightnin'. But, surely, you have heard
of his hotel, haven't you?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Then I guess you're the only man wha
ain't!" said Bill, emphatically, and gazin
at the ceiling and thoroughly enjoying th
fact that he was the subject of th
conversation.
Rapidly Marvin sketched the conceptio
and success of the Calivada Hotel. "It wa
a real idea"
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while Marvin went on:
"Exactly! Everybody knows what
woman goes to Reno for, but at Bill'hotel she can get a room on the Nevad
side and still make her friends believe tha
she is at a California resort!"
Again Harper laughed. "A corking good
business idea!" he said. "And so it wa
your idea, Mr. Jones? I congratulate you!
suppose you have been out West here aong time?"
"Surecame out in the gold excitement,
replied Bill, calmly.
Harper stole an amused glance at Marvin
"Why, the gold excitement was away back
n forty-nine!"
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"Well, they was still excited when I go
here!" Bill gazed up at the ceiling, hi
half-shut eyes hiding their twinkle.
"It's too bad you didn't happen to be one o
he lucky ones," Harper consoled him
arising from his chair.
"Lucky?" Bill scratched his head under hi
ragged slouch-hat. "Say, I located mor
claims than any man what ever came ou
here! I been a civil engineer."
The table was not a sufficient throne fo
Bill, so he slipped down from it and wen
close to Harper, peering up at him.
"You ought to be a rich man, Mr. Jones!"
"Always cheated out of my share." Bil
shook his head sadly. "Crooked partner
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was the reason."
"Couldn't you do anything to them?"
"I shot some, put all the others in thpenitentiaryall but one."
"What happened to him?"
"He died before I got him."
"Died of fright, perhaps?"
"I guess so."
Harper took his hat from the table
clapped Bill on the back, and said
aughingly, "I think I'll get out before yoell me any more!"
Marvin urged him to have a bite of supper
but Harper declined, explaining, as h
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went to the door, that he had to be i
Truckee in two hours, and that it would
ake him fully that time to make it in hi
car. Bill, anxious to retain his audienceadded his entreaty to Marvin's. Tha
failing, he followed Harper to the door
searching for an excuse to hinder hi
eaving.
Harper paused at the door. "Well
Marvin," he said, "I'm going to send th
rucks down here to-morrow and starhauling. And you might as well disappea
from here for a while; then, if there's an
kick, no one here will know anythin
about it. I'll keep you posted. Are you suryou don't want that eight hundred now?
He took out his wallet and again tried t
make Marvin take the money, but agai
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Marvin refused.
Bill had been listening to every word
ow he seemed to have hit on a way tdetain Harper and at the same time prov
his own personal importance. As Harpe
shook hands with Marvin, Bill took a
envelop from his pocket. Drawing a papefrom it, he offered it to Harper.
"If you want to get rid of some of tha
money," he remarked, easily, "maybeyou'd cash that check for me."
Harper, examining it, saw that it was
government check. "Oh, a pension check
So you were in the war?"
"First man to enlist!"
Smiling, Harper handed him the check t
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"indorse"which happened to be a new
word on Bill.
"Write your name on the back of it," saidHarper.
"I always do that," said Bill, as h
complied. Then he held the check up to th
ight, pointing to the signatures on its face
"See all them names," he asked
"Secretary of the Treasury, and all o
em?"
Harper nodded wonderingly.
"Well, they ain't no good at allno
unless I sign it!" said Bill, triumphantly.
Harper laughed; handed Bill the money fo
he check, and, with a final "Good-night!
hurried out of the door. Bill poked hi
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head out, watching him crank his machin
and drive away in the moonlight.
When the car was out of sight Bill turneback into the middle of the room and stoo
watching Marvin, who had sat down an
was eating his delayed supper.
"Better join me, Bill," Marvin agai
nvited, and at the same time noting
change in the old man's manner, now tha
hey were alone.
"No," Bill said; "I had mine with the boy
outside, as I told youbut I'll have
drink with you, John," he added
hesitatingly, knowing Marvin'
disapproval of his drinking.
"I haven't anything in the house, Bill," sai
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Marvin, as he went on eating. "You know
hat."
Bill edged slowly toward the table, hihand in the back pocket of his baggy
slouchy trousers. "Yes, you have," he
remarked, producing a half-filled flask.
"You mean you have," Marvin replied
rying not to smile. "And you've ha
enough for to-night. Put it away, Bill, and
promise me not to drink any more tonight."
"All right, John," said Bil
unconcernedly, and putting the flask bac
n his pocket. "I promisean' I 'ain
never broke a promise yet! I'll keep thi
forfor emergencies. Say, Oscar told m
he railroad had the sheriff after you. You
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remember the last promise what I giv
you?"
"What was that, Lightnin'?""That if they goes to court, I'll come an' b
a witness. I can swear them trees was cu
when you sold the property, an' I'll"
"No, Bill!" said Marvin, putting down hi
knife and fork and staring at the old man
whose half-shut eyes had the suggestion o
a flash in them. "No; I couldn't let yo
swear to anything like that."
"You can't help yourselfI got a right to
swear to anythin' I want!" There was aunexpected finality in Bill's usuall
drawling voice.
"But I haven't got to prove when thos
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rees were cut," said Marvin.
"I know it," Bill responded; then, catchin
he smiling doubt in the other's eyes, hadded, "I was a lawyer once."
"Then why don't you practise?" aske
Marvin, inwardly chuckling.
"Don't need no practice." And Bil
resorted to his bag of tobacco and papers
rolling himself a cigarette. By this tim
Marvin had finished his meal.
"Look here, Lightnin'," he said, as h
cleared the table, "you seem to hav
something on your mind. How are thinggoing up at your place? Anybody at hom
know that you are here?"
"Not unless they're mind-readers."
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"I thought so. Well?"
"It's a wonder you 'ain't come up to take
ook yourself," Bill countered. "You 'aineven been up toto see Millie," h
added, thoughtfully.
Marvin flushed. "That's true, Bill," h
said, slowly. "But I've been mighty bus
with this timber here, as you know; and
besideswell, Millie seems to be a bi
nterested elsewhere."
"That's just the trouble, I guess," said Bil
settling himself on the corner of the table.
Marvin looked at him quickly. "What doyou mean, Bill?" he demanded.
Lightnin' crossed his legs, took a final puf
of his cigarette, and let it drop from hi
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fingers.
"Oh, there ain't nothin' much to that, John!
he replied. "Nothin' to worry about. But's what lays back o' that."
"For the Lord's sake stop talking i
riddles, Lightnin'!" Marvin exclaimed
"What lies back of what?"
"Well," said Bill, looking up shrewdly
"this here Thomas has shown his hand
an' we gotter admit, John, that he plays
mighty smooth an' slick game! He wants t
buy our place, waterfall an' all."
"So that's it!" Marvin knew that Thomahad been buying up property in th
section, and he knew from experienc
what sort of treatment the sellers wer
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ikely to get. That old Bill and his famil
should now be involved filled him wit
concern and anger.
"But surely you're not going to sell, Bill!"
Lightnin' looked up, then down. "Th
property belongs to mother, John; an' thi
here Thomas person sure knows how to g
after what he wants! He made himsel
solid with mother an' Millie some tim
ago, as you know. They think he's SantClaus, or somethin'. Why, he's got mothe
an' Millie all het up so's they don't know
whether they're standin' on their head o
feet! Mother's kinder simple about somhings, Johnbut Millie oughter hav
more sense! He's been tellin' them that thi
here hotel idea won't pay for long, an' tha
he's willin' to buy the place at once for
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now, John, with ThomasHammond
come up in a hurry, an' they got a deed to
he property all ready fer mother an' me t
sign. Mother's crazy to sign, but I ain'tnot yet. An' it seems they gotter have my
name on it, to make sure."
"Whatyou mean to say it has gone thafar!" exclaimed Marvin.
"Sure thing," said Bill, rolling anothe
cigarette. "An' say, I happen to think thewoHammond an' Thomashas been i
cahoots fer some timegot an idea they i
actually partners."
"What makes you think that?"
"I was a detective once," said Bill, with
sudden return to his usual manner, as h
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ighted the cigarette.
Marvin made an impatient gesture. "Han
t! This is really too bad, Bill! Look here'll see if I can do anything! I'm going t
come up to the hotel to-morrow as soon a
can get away from here! You're not going
o sign that deed, are you, Lightnin'?"
"No," replied Bill, slowly, a littl
nervously; "nobut mother an' Millie i
kinder hot on my trail fer to make me do itThem two fellers has sure got 'em goin
John! Well, I guess as they'll all be in bed
by the time I gets back now, so I'll b
gettin' along. You'll be up to-morrowJohn?"
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"I'll comedon't worry, Lightnin'," said
Marvin. "Better go now, Bill; you've got
ong walk ahead of you, you know."
He dropped into his chair and reache
houghtfully for one of his law-books. Bil
opened the door; then turned back for
moment.
"Studyin' them books?" he inquired.
"Trying to," Marvin remarked, turning
page.
"That's rightthat's how I got my start!
said Bill, as he went out.
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CHAPTER V
The following morning, rising at dawn
Mrs. Jones again tried to awaken he
husband to a full sense of his shortcoming
anent his foolish reluctance to sign th
deed to the property. Bill, however
merely turned on the pillow, gave her
brief smile, and dropped quickly into gentle snore. After several more attempt
o awaken him and impress on him the fac
hat his absence the day before had kep
Thomas and Hammond on a day longewhen they had important business callin
hem to the city, she gave up in despai
and went below to look after breakfast
aking with her the packet of letters tha
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should have been in the hands of the guest
he afternoon previous.
The morning was a busy one for MrsJones and Millie. Bill, coming dow
unexpectedly, escaped them, callin
hrough the door, on his way out, that h
was going for the mail. When noon camand Bill did not turn up, Mrs. Jones'
anxiety reached fever pitch, and sh
sought Millie in the hope that she coul
offer some solution of the problem oforcing the deed through Bill's unwillin
hands.
At breakfast, Thomas and Hammond agaihad painted to her and Millie golde
pictures of the ease and even luxury tha
would be theirs as a result of the sale o
he property. Trembling with anticipation
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Mrs. Jones had then and there put he
name to the deed which disposed of he
ast bit of land; and she was determine
hat, no matter what it cost her in seemincoldness and harshness toward him, Bil
should be made to place his name directl
under hers. She made up her mind that h
should be brought to terms as soon as hgot back; hence her extreme annoyance a
he morning went by without his showin
up.
As she went about the house, looking fo
Millie, her determination took on a har
and bitter aspect which was only softene
when she caught the sound of RaymonThomas's voice. He was speaking softly t
Millie in the lobby. Mrs. Jones belonged
o a generation not so long past whe
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eavesdropping was not considered
wholly unworthy occupation if it tended t
place the culprit in a position to know th
nner secrets of those bound by the tie orelationship. For some time, so cleverl
did he manage her, Mrs. Jones had felt
motherly tenderness for Thomas springin
up within her, and she hoped and dreamedhat her affection would have a chance t
express itself. That Thomas was in lov
with Millie she had fully decided on. I
was for this reason that the very sight o
John Marvin, whom she knew to be a poo
young man with no particular prospects
filled her with displeasure. Then, too, shdid not approve of her husband'
friendship with Marvin, having a stron
suspicion that Marvin was influencing Bil
against Thomas, and an intuition that Bil
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n his unworldliness, would stand back o
Marvin's love for Millie.
And so it was that the sight of Millismiling up at Thomas as he looke
earnestly down into the girl's brown eye
set Mrs. Jones's heart beating hopefully
and sent her behind a curtain to listen twhat was being said.
Thomas had just come in from th
veranda, where he had begged to bexcused from accompanying tw
prospective widows on a walk to see th
waterfall at the edge of the place. He wa
smiling with affected indifference when hmet Mildred, who had just come dow
one of the stairways, of which there wer
wo, one leading to the Nevada side of th
house and the other to the California side
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"It's a shame to miss a stroll with them!
belying his words with a sneering toss o
he head and shrug of the shoulders.
Millie's brow was drawn thoughtfully int
wrinkles and there was a wistful pucker t
her mouth.
At once he was all attention. "What is th
matter, Millie?" he asked, a not
bordering on tenderness in his voice.
"It's daddy again. He did not get back unti
midnight, and he was off again thi
morning before mother or I could preven
him. I just heard the boarders complainin
about the mail service. It's all so hard o
mother, and yet"she hesitated, her mind
reverting to her foster-father's kindness t
her through all the years of her babyhoo
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and girlhood"and yet," she went on
"he's really so good and kind at heart, h
really would feel dreadfully if h
understood what he puts us through." Shstood by the newel-post, her eyes pleadin
for advice.
Thomas took her hand and looked at ihoughtfully.
For a moment Millie let it lie in his; the
her lids dropped and she blushedwithdrawing her hand and walking slowl
oward one of the desks, of which ther
were also two, one on each side of th
hall.
Thomas followed her, bending down and
ooking into her face. "I would not let hi
absence bother you. I'm going up-stairs t
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pack my grips. As soon as I finish I'll go
after him," he said, soothingly, as, on
hand in pocket, he let the other flip a pac
of cards on the table.
"Oh, you've been too kind already," Milli
protested, again meeting his eyes an
urning away, her lips quivering.
"Oh, I'm not so kind as you think!" H
aughed, an honest humor rising t
nfrequent expression. "I've got to seLightnin' myself before I go. He hasn
signed the deed yet, and"
"I really can't see what he's got to do wit
t!" Millie interrupted. "The place i
mother's. Oh, well"she sighed an
shook her head in despair"I suppose t
be safe his signature must be obtained.
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Millie's color mounted her forehead
Shyly she withdrew her hand from his ar
and fumbled with the bunch of keys abou
her neck. After an awkward silence shcontinued:
"You've been so good to us. When mothe
and I've been in such distress that we dinot know where to turn and mother wa
nearly frantic, you come forward and in n
ime arrange everything so that mother an
daddy are going to be better off than theever dreamed of. For years, you know
mother and I have worried about her an
daddy's old age. Piece by piece we'v
sold the land and the timber. Even if thiplace does pay it will only be runnin
expenses, with nothing saved up, as yo
said. And then the Nevada divorce law
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might change. Oh! You've been so kind,
she breathed, in deep sincerity.
"Now don't make me ashamed," Thomacoaxed in his soothing way, backin
slowly toward the stairs on the Californi
side. "What I've done is just the simples
hing in the world. I grew to be very fonof you when you were in my office
Millie, and I'm glad to be of what servic
can."
As he was half-way up the stairs, Mrs
Jones emerged from behind the portire
He stopped and bent in a nattering bow,
winkle in his eye. "Why, good morningMrs. Jones!" he called down.
"Oh, excuse me!" Mrs. Jones, a guilt
conscience bringing his courtly sarcasm
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which would otherwise have escaped he
gullible nature, into notice, stepped back
urning to the kitchen, whence she ha
come when she stopped to listen. BuMillie followed her, and, with arm around
her waist, drew her into the room an
seated her near the table.
"You're not going into that hot kitchen
again to-day," remonstrated Millie
planting a daughterly kiss on her cheek
"You've been out there working like aslave for three mortal hours."
Mrs. Jones hid her hands awkwardl
under her apron and reddened as shglanced up at Thomas, who had com
back from above-stairs.
"I don't look presentable," she murmured
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fidgeting in the chair.
"Come now, you mustn't mind me," said
Thomas, Millie adding her word to his"Please stay there just for a few minutes
mother. You look ready to drop."
"She's always tellin' me that." Mrs. Jone
showed her pleasure in Millie's concer
by beaming knowingly from one to th
other, an act which sent Millie to the desk
where she pretended to look at thregister.
Thomas smiled. "Millie's right," h
responded. "You do work a great deal too
hard; but it won't be long now before yo
can say good-by to hard work for the res
of your life."
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"Oh, Mr. Thomas!" Mrs. Jones arose
forgetting the red, hardened hands she ha
been endeavoring to hide behind the blu
and white checked apron, and hastened tThomas, holding them toward him in
gesture half of gratitude, half of pleading
"I can scarcely realize that all this is goin
o come true and we owe it all to you. only wish I could tell you how grateful
am."
Thomas was quite determined to escapfurther enthusiasm, either on Millie's or o
Mrs. Jones's part. His game nearly played
he wished to withdraw gracefully an
without detriment to a certain lurkindecency which had not quite been swep
away. Thwarting Mrs. Jones's attempt to
wring his hand in gratitude, he took tw
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ight bounds up the stairs, stopping t
augh back: "Well, I'm going to get out fo
fear you'll spoil me with a thankfulness
don't deserve. Hang on to her, Millie." Hdirected a gleam toward the young girl a
she went up to her mother. "Make her tak
a rest."
"Oh dear! Do you think I've driven hi
away?" There was genuine concern i
Mrs. Jones's voice as she sank back int
he chair and gazed anxiously afteThomas.
"No, you haven't." Millie smoothed th
brown hair which was fast streaking witgray from her brow, damp wit
excitement. "He is going up-stairs to pack
He's arranged everything abou