The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

560 were Dutch Fred and Chase. O’Hara stood vigilantly by, and there were cer- tain safeguards insisted on by Mari- quita. A hammock was stretched between two saddle-horses and in it lay Bremer- ton. Without a jar he was carried over the trail and to the house among the oaks. The girl made it plain to O’Hara that he was to stay with his friend, and together they had been there nearly three weeks. Red Collins or Gorman or Giles— once it was King—rode over from the valley at frequent intervals to inquire about Bremerton and to leave news about the mine. The remarkable showing which the property was making brought Deane many offers. They eclipsed the half-million mark toward which they had striven at the first. There was no telling now what some one might pay for the Mari- quita. | “A fortune might have been yours, querida,” said Bremerton to the girl ence when he was beginning to sit up. She leaned over the back of his chair, her soft arms encircling his neck and her happy eyes looking down into his face. “ What is money, Lee,” she asked, “to the other prize I have found? No one could buy it with all the gold in all the hills of this world!” “It’s not your prize,’ he doggedly averred; “ but mine.” : Out under the oaks, with his flute on his knees, O’Hara was wondering what Bremerton was to do. New re- sponsibilities were coming to him, and how were they to be shouldered? Then, along the cafion trail, came horses and a buckboard with two men riding. The men turned in at the flat, and the rig halted near O’Hara. The Irishman got up with his faded, crook- ed eyes agleam. One man had descended from the buckbéard and was coming toward him. It was Silas Deane. THE ARGOSY. “Don’t Deane. “Faith,” said the other, “I’m not draw, O’Hara,” — said heeled. If I had something to “You have something,’ and Deane’s little eye twinkled. “ Draw on your imagination. What am I here for?” “ Divil a bit,” said O’Hara, scowl- ing. “ Who can do any guessing about your” From the open door of the house at that moment came _ Bremerton. Mariquita walked beside him, and his arm was over her strong young shoul- ders. They came toward O’Hara and Deane, and the mine owner watched Bremerton closely. An easy chair in the shade had been arranged, and Mariquita made Bremerton comfortable in it and then turned with hostile eyes to the visitor. Bremerton had looked at Deane with- out. speaking. “To what, Mr. Deane,” inquired the girl, “do we owe this call?” “I have a good bid for the mine, and I think we had better sell.” “What have I to do with that?” “As much as I have. For nearly a month you have owned a half interest in the Mariquita Mine. The deed was recorded the day following the—the ‘ accident.’ ”’ O’Hara was like a man in a daze. Mariquita was breathing quickly and her trembling hands sought the back of Bremerton’s chair. Bremerton merely studied Deane’s face. “Bremerton made me see a light,” explained Deane. “He showed me how to be square. I want his good- will, Miss Mallory, and I want yours and your father’s. I reckon I acted like a coyote. I have enough and to spare, and neither chick nor child to leave it to. The man in the buckboard is a notary. If you are ready to sign this deed I’ve brought along, to- morrow you and your father wil have enough in bank to make the rest of your lives easy.” COMicdoo S CO@