The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

DONE BROWN. or-somebody you can trust, made the re- ceiver, and then hustle and see what you can save from the wreck.”’ I took his advice, and in three days he, Mr. Elwood Drake, as straight and clean a lawyer as there was in New York, was made receiver of the West Coast Mining and Improving Company, and for a time I was free from financial Worry. But what I did worry about was Nellie Innors. —_—_— —_—_ —-—_— CHAPTER II. WORSE STILL. I HAD been in love with Nellie In- nors for a full year. And, so far aS my personality went, I was accepted readily enough by Innors and his wife as a suitor for Nellie’s hand; but they de- murred on the ground that she was too young to think of love and marriage. Well, she was young.- But youth is a trouble that time overcomes for every- body; and I had looked forward to the day of my return to New York as the beginning of a happy courtship. I was about four years older than Nellie, comparatively wealthy, and had no entanglements that needed explain- ing or settling before I could settle down to a joyous life with the girl I loved. And now I arrive home to find my air-castle shattered and myself ruined, with Nellie away and in danger or trou- ble or both. My sensations were far from pleasing as I accompanied Drake to the offices of the company, introduced him to the superintendent as the receiver, and en- tered the place again to take another rueful look at the ruins. ‘They certainly left débris enough,” remarked Drake. ‘“ But I doubt if we can realize anything on this.” ‘’'They’ve cleaned everything out, I guess,” I replied. ‘“ They’ve left two desks and a half-dozen chairs. I won- der how they overlooked so much.” ‘Clearly a matter of oversight,” said Drake grimly, as he kicked away a lot of rubbish and sat down at a desk. “Now look here, Ford. I’m going to pull you through this without the loss of a cent.” 579 “Bully boy, if you do,” I observed. “ But it’ll be a tough job.” “Oh, I don’t know. I think I can stave off the creditors until you get an inventory- of the company’s property. You'll have to gé to Estalona.” ‘“T intended to go, anyway. I was in a hurry for you to take hold so I could get away. I am anxious about Nellie Innors. Innors had no business to drag her down in that, wilderness.” ‘You must remember that Innors was busy transforming the wilderness into a ' settled and wealth-producing country. He probably had a firm belief in the future of Estalona, and wanted, perhaps, _the honor of being the first settler to take his family there.” “That’s all right about his honors. But it wasn’t a fair deal for the girl.” “ Hardly; [ll agree with you there.” There was a heavy tread, and with a shuffling gait a rough-bearded, hugely built man entered the office. | “So! You’ve opened up at last, eh? It’s about time I got— Oh, Mr. Ford! When did you get home?” “Oh, a few days ago, Wakler,” I an- swered. “I’m glad you came in. I want to know how things are going at Estalona.” “Going! The deuce! They’ve gone.” “What do you mean? ‘Tell us what the conditions are down there. This is Mr. Drake, the receiver of the company. I am left to bear the brunt of this thing along. The manager and engineer had no trouble with the government, had they?” “No, not with the government exact- ly. The government would be all right if it had a chance. But, you see, we were not in very close touch with the government. The west coast is sort of an orphan down there, and it’s hard work to get from Estalona to Teguci- galpa. We had to rely on our own re- sources pretty much, and they didn’t amount to a whole lot.’ = ‘But why did you leave?” ‘Why did I leave! What the deuce! Everybody else left. Why, the Zambos got up on stilts and raised merry hob. They looted the company’s store, got drunk on American whisky, stole the ammunition, shot up the railroad, and what with them and the Indians—one COmicloo (©