Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Ill THE EMPTY CHAIR Pztee Mcaethue came into the big living, room of the ranch-house bearing tenderly in his arms a long brown sack. He set it upon a chair, and, as he patted it affectionately, he said to the Indian woman in explanation: " These are some specimens which I have been fortunate enough to find in a limestone formation in the country through which we have just passed. No doubt you will be amused, madam, but the wealth of Croesus could not buy from me the contents of this canvas sack." " I broke a horse for that son-of-a-gun onct. He owes me a dollar and six bits for the job yet," remarked Tubbs. The fire of enthusiasm died in McArthur's eyes as they rested upon his man. " What for a prospect do you aim to open up in a limestone formation? " Smith, tipped on the rear legs of his chair, with his head resting comfortably against the unbleached muslin sheeting which lined the walls, winked at Tubbs as he asked the question. " ' What for a prospect'? " repeated McArthur. " Yes, ' prospect'—that's what I said. You say you've got your war-bag full of spec'mens." McArthur laughed heartily. " Ah, my dear sir, I understand. You are referring to mines—to mineral specimens. These are the specimens of which I am speaking." Opening the sack, McArthur held up for inspection what looked to be a lump of dried mud. " This is a magnificent specimen of the crustacean period," he declared. The Indian woman looked from the prized object to his animated face; then, with puzzled eyes, she looked at Smith, who touched his forehead with his finger, making a spiral, upward gesture which in the sign language says " crazy." The woman promptly gathered up the rag rug she was braiding and moved to a bench in the farthermost corner of the room. " I can ...