The Son of his Father

a fine gray powder which even rose high enough to get into the throats of pedestrians, an

istering as he idly wandered through the town. Great streams of perspiration coursed from beneath his soft felt hat. His double collar felt sticky, and suggested imm

er the floor of his room would not be preferable to his bed for the passing of future nights. The floor was smooth, there were no hummocks on it. Then, too, the sorely tried and thoroughly slack bed-springs would be avo

r of Peter McSwain's hospitable roof, and in the interim of dodging

ction, he felt that at the very earliest opportunity he must reassure himself of Peter McSwain's veracity. He felt that no member of the get-rich-quick brigade could dare to ignore the claims of a great coal discovery about

resented to him at intervals in the past by the faithful Harding. While as for indications of a boom-well, he had heard that a boom came along, everybody robbed everybody else, and in the end a number of widows and orphans found themselves deprived of their savings, and a considerable body of attorneys

row of jagged, giant teeth. Each building was set in its own section of jawbone, distinct from its nearest neighbor. Then they reared their heads and terminated in a pointed fang or a flat, clean-cut ed

re particularly. A drug store, too, with an ice-cream soda fountain, seemed to be in high favor, as also did several dry-go

somewhat artificial. They hurried unnecessarily. They paused and spoke quickly, and passed on. Here and there they fell into groups, and their boisterous laughter suggested the inevitable funny story or risque tal

s steps. It was all too interesting to be readily abandoned on thi

argest dry-goods store in the street. The whole thing had caught and held him in a moment. He seemed to remembe

, and its rider had flung out of the saddle with the careless abandon he had read about or seen in the pictur

nt hazel eyes and the delightful sun-tanned oval of the face, the trim figure and perfect carriage, the costume! The long habit coat and loose riding-breeches

e, and it was only left to the enthusiastic spectator to turn to the m

on. A dark, sallow-faced man had promptly taken up his position at the entra

f standing there spying upon a lady who was doubtless simply bent on an ordinary shopping expedition. It was most exasperating. All unconsciously h

eared. A delightful smile broke over his good-looking face, but only to be promptly swallowed up in a sco

ctly make out two dimples beyond the corners of her pretty mouth.

y, too. Gordon rubbed his hands. Then he began to grin like a revengeful and malicious schoolboy. The girl had moved on to her ho

t almost on its haunches. The next moment she was l

oice, as Gordon gazed open-mouthed after

nds clutching his forearms. His towzled, straw-colored hair stuck out under the brim of his prairie hat, and a chew of tobacco bulged one thin, leathery cheek. His trou

She might have stepped right out of the pages of a book." Then he adde

ed the other

is

grinned

eed eddication you want to see her astride of an unbroken colt. Ther' never w

u're right,

got forty first-class hosses right here in this barn, an' I got a bunch runnin' on old Mallinsbee's grazin'. Y'see, a livery barn is a mighty b

to talk. He was talking out of the prevailing excitement which seemed to

se conditions," he said, while the keen gray eyes of the barn propri

e-

roused the oth

he in

e railroad talks we'll know where we are. But it's best to be in before. See? Oh, I guess the barn's all right. 'Tain't th

estion?" Go

nder to the west at Buffalo Point? Answer that

rstand the strain of waiting for these people l

Say, I s'pose you figure this is a great place to

s and waved one hand in

could stoke hell till kingdom come, an' shares 'ud still be at a premium. That's the backbone. Wal, we ain't got shares in that corporation, but the quickest road to the pile o' dollars we're yearning for is in tow

t again," la

thin' for nix that I ever heard. Specially railroads. That depot 'll be built where

s

ys you ai

t a peek at those seams. Mallinsbee's the man who'll know about things as soo

ed his hands

rs who been here right along before the coal was found, are good friends. There's some of us got stakes down Buffalo Point way as well as up here. See? O'

he listened. He was gathering the corroboration

and dollars would be nothing

the man enthusiastically. "I'd make that out of a few hundred dollars without a worry

ce. The chance comes, and you've ju

why, don't go to hit back. Jest hug

ered into the shadowy

ght hold of that chance, and I'm hugging it. Seems to me I'll need to ge

ed the man, now alert and ready for bus

d the man vanishe

uence of the prevailing enthusiasm of the place, he seemed to feel that the whole thing was too utterly simple. He wondered what his father would ha

n came the sounds of horses' hoof

ar less consequent matter. It was not in his nature to be long enamored

. Then he smilingly shook his head and decided to let that remain a secret for the present. It added to the romance of the thing. Of one thing he was certain: he must contrive to see her again, and get to know her. Fortune or no fortune, if his father were to cut him off with the prover

ly enough, he had shed presents and given parties, but somehow he felt that amongst all th

ll need handlin'," said the do

, shocked into the affairs of

man sounde

s the be

t away west. You can't miss i

he buggy. The next moment the