seconds to realize he had made a horrible mistake. He didn't even have time to get his feet planted and his dukes up before the big miner hit him twice, left and right. The young man bounced on the floor and didn't move.
The miner backed up and looked at Frank. âWhat else could I do?"
âNothing. He attacked you.â Frank knelt down and checked out the young man. He was all right, pulse strong and breathing normal. He was just unconscious, and probably would be for several minutes.
Frank stood up and told the miner, âGet out of here and stay out of sight for a few days. You might want to hunt for another job."
âI've âbout had enough of this town, anyways,â the miner replied. âAt least for a while, even though I don't believe anyone's found the mother lode yet. It's out there. I know it is. I can feel it. But you're right. I'm gone for a while. No hard feelin's?"
âNone at all."
âSee you around, Morgan."
The miner left, and Frank looked at the office workers. They were all smiling, looking down at the young man sprawled unconscious on the floor. Frank was sure the kid was the son of Vivianâhad to be. And he wasn't well-liked, for a fact.
Suddenly there was a shout coming from the street, followed by several other very excited shouts. Someone yelled, âThey found it! Found it at the Henson mine. It's big. My God, it's big!"
âWhat's big?â Frank asked.
âThey've hit another vein,â one of the office workers said. âHas to be it. Our engineers said it was there. Said it was just a matter of time."
âWho is this kid?â Frank asked, pointing to the young man on the floor, who was just beginning to moan and stir.
âConrad Browning,â a man said. âMrs. Vivian L. Browning's son."
âI thought so. Snooty, isn't he?"
âThat's one way of putting it, for a fact."
âWhere is Mrs. Browning?"
âShe should be along any moment now. She always comes in just at closing time to check on things."
âLet's get Junior on his feet and walking around,â Frank suggested. âIf Mrs. Browning sees him like this she'll likely have a fit."
âDoubtful,â an office worker said. âMrs. Browning is well aware of her son's predilection for haughtiness. Conrad has been a sour pickle all his life."
Frank smiled as he heaved Conrad Browning to his feet. âA sour pickle ... that's a very interesting way of putting it."
âMrs. Browning's carriage just pulled up at the rear,â a man said.
Frank plopped Conrad down in a chair and turned to make his exitâtoo late. The door to the rear office opened and Vivian stood there.
She recognized Frank instantly and gasped, leaning against the doorjamb for a moment.
Conrad broke the spell by blurting, âMother, I have been assaulted by a hoodlum. I am injured."
âOh, horsecrap!â Frank said.
Â
Â
Â
Seven
Â
Â
Frank and Vivian stood for several silent seconds, staring at each other, before Frank took off his hat and said, âMa'am. Your son is not hurt much. He just grabbed hold of a mite more than he could handle, that's all."
âIt was not a fair contest,â Conrad objected. âThat thug struck me before I was ready."
âWhat thug?â Vivian asked.
âMr. Owens,â one of the office workers said. âHe was in here again about his money."
âThe man I spoke with yesterday?â Vivian asked.
âYes, ma'am."
âDid you give him his money, as I instructed?"
âAh ... no, ma'am. We didn't."
âI told them not to pay him,â Conrad said. âHe was adequately compensated for the work he performed."
Vivian closed her eyes just for the briefest second and shook her head. âConrad, you go see Dr. Bracken. Your jaw is bruised and swelling a bit."
âMotherâ"
âNow!"
âYes, Mother."
âI'm pretty sure it isn't broken, ma'am,â Frank said. âJust
The miner backed up and looked at Frank. âWhat else could I do?"
âNothing. He attacked you.â Frank knelt down and checked out the young man. He was all right, pulse strong and breathing normal. He was just unconscious, and probably would be for several minutes.
Frank stood up and told the miner, âGet out of here and stay out of sight for a few days. You might want to hunt for another job."
âI've âbout had enough of this town, anyways,â the miner replied. âAt least for a while, even though I don't believe anyone's found the mother lode yet. It's out there. I know it is. I can feel it. But you're right. I'm gone for a while. No hard feelin's?"
âNone at all."
âSee you around, Morgan."
The miner left, and Frank looked at the office workers. They were all smiling, looking down at the young man sprawled unconscious on the floor. Frank was sure the kid was the son of Vivianâhad to be. And he wasn't well-liked, for a fact.
Suddenly there was a shout coming from the street, followed by several other very excited shouts. Someone yelled, âThey found it! Found it at the Henson mine. It's big. My God, it's big!"
âWhat's big?â Frank asked.
âThey've hit another vein,â one of the office workers said. âHas to be it. Our engineers said it was there. Said it was just a matter of time."
âWho is this kid?â Frank asked, pointing to the young man on the floor, who was just beginning to moan and stir.
âConrad Browning,â a man said. âMrs. Vivian L. Browning's son."
âI thought so. Snooty, isn't he?"
âThat's one way of putting it, for a fact."
âWhere is Mrs. Browning?"
âShe should be along any moment now. She always comes in just at closing time to check on things."
âLet's get Junior on his feet and walking around,â Frank suggested. âIf Mrs. Browning sees him like this she'll likely have a fit."
âDoubtful,â an office worker said. âMrs. Browning is well aware of her son's predilection for haughtiness. Conrad has been a sour pickle all his life."
Frank smiled as he heaved Conrad Browning to his feet. âA sour pickle ... that's a very interesting way of putting it."
âMrs. Browning's carriage just pulled up at the rear,â a man said.
Frank plopped Conrad down in a chair and turned to make his exitâtoo late. The door to the rear office opened and Vivian stood there.
She recognized Frank instantly and gasped, leaning against the doorjamb for a moment.
Conrad broke the spell by blurting, âMother, I have been assaulted by a hoodlum. I am injured."
âOh, horsecrap!â Frank said.
Â
Â
Â
Seven
Â
Â
Frank and Vivian stood for several silent seconds, staring at each other, before Frank took off his hat and said, âMa'am. Your son is not hurt much. He just grabbed hold of a mite more than he could handle, that's all."
âIt was not a fair contest,â Conrad objected. âThat thug struck me before I was ready."
âWhat thug?â Vivian asked.
âMr. Owens,â one of the office workers said. âHe was in here again about his money."
âThe man I spoke with yesterday?â Vivian asked.
âYes, ma'am."
âDid you give him his money, as I instructed?"
âAh ... no, ma'am. We didn't."
âI told them not to pay him,â Conrad said. âHe was adequately compensated for the work he performed."
Vivian closed her eyes just for the briefest second and shook her head. âConrad, you go see Dr. Bracken. Your jaw is bruised and swelling a bit."
âMotherâ"
âNow!"
âYes, Mother."
âI'm pretty sure it isn't broken, ma'am,â Frank said. âJust
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