Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

TOG? sie _ range is gone. got a wife a-tall, but I nacherly feel that way about my home. It ain’t for sale at any price.” There was no hint of irresolution in Dan’s voice. Thomas could see that. He gave Mosier a meaning glance. ‘Oh, very well,” he acquiesced with ami- ability, that had a hollow sound to Dan. “Tf that’s how you feel, that’s that. There are other good places. I'll be around for a couple of days, Mr. King, so if you change your mind and want to make me an offer, it might not be too late to con- sider it.” | He talked along for some time, about var- ious ranch properties, including Dan in the conversation with evident purpose, Dan seeing the Easterner bent on out- staying him, gave up finally and excused himself. But he hung about: the corner waiting for Thomas to depart so he could have a word with the banker. ‘‘ Let me ask, Mr. Mosier,” said Thomas after Dan had left, “ that you say nothing ‘to your daughter at present about my pur- chase of the King place; my son wishes to surprise her.” ““ Nobody’d ever notice you’d bought it,” the banker remarked dryly, with as near to a grin as he ever indulged in. “ Just as good as bought—just as good as bought. See you later,” and Thomas stalked on his pompous way. “ What’s it all about, Mr. Mosier?” Dan asked dropping in again a little later. “‘ You ain’t advisin’ me to sell out the old place, are you?” “ Wal, not exactly, Dan. But I wouldn’t go so far’s to tell ye not to consider it. You know as well as I do that critter raisin’ in this section is on the down grade. The The dirt farmers are takin’ up all the fertile valley land. You can’t carry a big enough bunch of horses on the land you’ve got left to make it profitable. It’s too dry for dirt-farming. “Tve been sizing up the bunch you’ve got this year and I don’t see bow you’re going to make enough to carry expenses and interest and reduce those notes any. I can’t carry your notes and mortgage much = longer with a property that is sere in . renee Z Sager ae 2 2 coast (144 ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, “You mean you’d close me out?” “J wouldn’t want to, Dan, but I might have to. If Thomas offers you fifty thou- sand it’s the best offer you’ll ever get. On a forced sale, you’d hardly realize enough to cover the notes and mortgage. ‘Another thing, Dan, while I’m about it. I’d feel a lot better about extendin’ credit if you ’tended to business better. It ain’t any kindness to you to keep carryin’ you along an’ gettin’ you deeper an’ deeper in as long’s you don’t seem to do anything about it. They tell me if you’d do your own superintendin’ like your dad did before ye when he was startin’ and spent less time huntin’ and fishin’ and ridin’ around in the hills, you might get somewhere. Brace up, boy.” Dan King listened to this homily quietly, a slight flush mantling his face. “You mean well, Mr. Mosier,” he com- mented when the older man had finished. ‘‘ | shore appreciate your carryin’ my debts along thisaway. But ye see a man’s got to go his own way. I reckon the hombres that have been reportin’ my goin’s and comin’s don’t quite understand my business as well as I do.” Dan stalked out, followed by the sar- donic gaze of Seth Mosier. As the young man came down the steps of the bank, he suddenly stopped short and looked around as if seeking a place for flight. A young couple had just ridden up and were dismounting from their ponies . in front of the building. It was too late for Dan to escape how- ever. The girl had caught sight of him. She, too, appeared a little startled. A slightly heightened color tinted her pretty, oval face. Her smile was a little forced and her greeting a bit over easy. “Good morning, Dan. I want you to meet Mr. Thomas, my—my fiancé. This is Mr. Daniel King, Kendall.” Kendall Thomas was taller than his father and had an ease of manner that his self-made elder lacked. His bronzed fea- tures were regular and pleasant enough with a suggestion of unused intelligence. But Dan King was filled with a sudden, almast insane desire to smash me wells Ae. com