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“How? Useful the way the good Senator Bulfert was useful to ed

“One of theain title to that land your father thinks is so important” She kneas still sensitive about that, and she used it to win her argu in his expression and let her own soften “Look, Ty,” she began, again in a reasoning tone “I can’t rope cows or brand calves I can’t do bookwork So let me help in the way that I can I know a lot of important people Please, when the Stevens party comes, spend more time with them”

“You can be as beguiling as a witch,” he muttered

“A beautiful one, I hope” She laughed softly and linked her arms around his neck He was dran by the shiny invitation of her lips

The rue, diesel-powered earth rass and soil to expose the sea up chunks of coal, broken up earlier by explosions of dynae coal trucks for transport to preparation plants The ebb and flow ofnoise

The land had the gouged and desolated look of a battlefield The plant life that still survived at the edges of the pits was coated with layers of dust

As Dyson and Stricklin eed from the temporary offices on site, there was a slon of activity The line of erowled to a stop

Dyson turned to the mine director, Art Grinnell “What’s the problem?”

His glance flickered briefly at Dyson, a frown gathering “I don’t know,” he“I’ll see” He excused himself and went to check out the cause of the backup “Hey, Rhodes!” he called to theback from the line of trucks

As Dyson watched the two , he said to his partner, “Let’s see what it is” Soht to hi on his instinct as ht the scent of one They crossed the stretch of hard-baked ground to where the two“What is it?”

“Just a mechanical problem with one of the trucks, Mr Dyson” Grinnell assured hi he needed to be troubled about, but he didn’t lance to the driver named Rhodes instead

“As I recall”—Stricklin spoke up—“there’s been a rash of mechanical breakdowns of late That’s why the productivity was down this

There was a slanced at his partner It was always reassuring when Stricklin reached the sah instinct Both suspected so in this situation, but each cale That hat made them such a potent combination

“That’s true There have been,” Grinnell admitted, and Dyson sensed the man’s reluctance to discuss the subject

“What seems to be the problem with the stalled truck up ahead?” Stricklin put the question to the driver