Page:Raymond Spears--Diamond Tolls.djvu/71

 "Yes, and it was a nice job, too"

"Much copper?"

"Oh, so-so, 'bout six thousand pounds."

"Sho! Ho-law! Six thousand pounds, an' copper ranging around twenty-three cents now—at the bank!"

"Twenty-three cents?" Frest exclaimed; "why, last I knew, it was only twenty-one, or dropping down to twenty. Why, that's—that's, let's see."

He drew out a pencil and began to figure.

"That's thirteen hundred and eighty dollars."

"Yes, sir—it ain't likely to hold there, though." Mrs. Mahna shook her head. "Them big mines'll begin to ship, and she'll drop again."

"I—I expect that's so." Frest shook his head. "See you're dropping down with Delia."

"Oh, yes. She's out with Roy, hunting squirrels"

"Roy's notlhing but a kid—fourteen, is all," Frest declared.

"Well, cayn't a gal travel with a kid if she wants to?" Mrs. Mahna asked with asperity. "Some little kids is lots safer for a young lady than any old buck—I expect they is!"

Frest flushed and blinked unhappily. Mrs. Mahna had an uncomfortable way of saying things to a river man.