The San Francisco call. [volume], September 01, 1907, Page 15, Image 15

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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The San Francisco Sunday Call.
THE SPOILERS
CHAPTER IV — Continued .
NOME consisted of, one narrow
street, twisted between solid.,
rows of canvas and -half -erected
frame buildings. Us every other
door that of a saloon. There were fair
looking blocks which aspired to the
dlz2y height of three stories, some shel
tered in corrugated iron, others gleam
ing and ' galvanised. . Lawyers' signs,,
doctors*, surveyors', were in the upper'
windows. The street was throni ed
with' men from «v«ry. Land — Helen'
Chester heard more dialects than she
could eocnt. Laplanders In quaint,
three-cornered, padded caps idly passed.
Men wiUa the tan of the tropics robbed
elbows with yellow haired Norsemen,
and near htr a. carefully , groomed
Frenchaaa -with riding breeches and
monocle - was in pantomime with a
skin-clad EsTrimo. To her left was the
eparkUns sea. alive with ships of every
class. To asr right towered timbsflets
mountains, unpeopled, uaexplored, for
bidding and Cssolats— thtlr hollows in
lalfl with caow. Ob cbs hanfl xr«re tie
life and the world she knew; on th»
othsr silence, mystsry, posilble ad
\u25a0renturo. » ,
The roadway vriiere she stood, was a
crash of sundry vehicles *rota bleycUs
to jdog-hauled 'water carts, and on All
sides mea were laboring busily, . the
echo of hammers mtngitng with the
cries of teamsters and the UnkU of
music within the saloons.
"And this is midnight!" exclaimed^
Helen, breathlessly. "Do they ever
rest r'i^fe^piap
'•There Isn't time— this is a gold
stampede. You ; haven't caught the
spirit of it yet"
JThey cllmbejl the stairs In •• huge
iron-sheeted building to tho^offlce of
Dunh&m A. Strove, and in answer to
their knock a red-faced, white-haired
tousled man In shirt sleeves- «Ji4
stocking feet, opened the door.
"What d'ye wanT" he bawled, his
legs wavering uncertainly. His eyes
were heavy and bloodshot, his lips
loose and his whole person exhaled
alcoholic fumes like a gust from a
etillhouse.'. Hanging to the knob, he
strove vainly to solve the mystery of
Ixis Buspenders-^hlccoughlng intermlt
. tently. 1
"Humph! Been drunk ever since I
left?"' questioned Glenister. ,
"Somebody mus* have tol' you,", the
lawyer' replied. There was neither cu«
rlosity, recognition nor resentment in
his voice. In fact his head drooped so
that he paid' no, attention to the girl
who had shrunk back at sight of him.
He wa? a young man, with marks of
brilliancy showing through the dlssl
r pation betrayed by his silvery hair and
coarsened features. • -
•X3h, I don't know what to do/* la
mented, the gtrl.
, "Anybody else here besides you?"
asked her escort of the lawyer.
"No. Fm runnln' the law business
unassisted. Don't need any help. Dun
ham'* in Waah'n'ton, D. C, the lan of
the borne, the free of the brave. What
can I do. for your*
He mafia to cross the threshold hospi
tably, but tripped, plunged forward,
and would have rolled down the stairs
had not Glenister gathered him* up and
• borne him back Into the office, where
he tossed him upon a, bed In a rear
room.
"Now what, Miss Chester!!' asked the
young man, returning.
"Isn't .that dreadful?" she shuddered.
"Oh, and I must see him tonight!" She
stamped Impatiently. "I must see him
alone."
"No, you- mustn't," skid* Glenlster,
with equal decision. "In the first place
he wouldn't know "what you were talk-
Ing about, and -In the second place— l
know Struve, He's too drunk to talk
business sjq« too sober to— well, to set
you alone."
"But I must see him," she Insisted.
"It's what brought me here. Tou'don't
understand."
*1 " understand mere than he could.
He's in no condition to act on any
Important matter. You come around
tomorrow when he's sober."
"It means so much," breathed the
girl. "The beast!"
Gle"nlster noted that' she had not
\u25a0wrung her hands nor even at
tears, though plainly her disappoint
ment and anxiety were consuming her.
"Well. I suppose Til have to wait, but
I don't know where to go— some hoteC
I suppose."
"There aren't any. They're building
two. but tonight you couldn't hire 'a
room In" Nome for money. I was about
to Bay love or money.' Have you no
other friends here — no .women? Then
you must let me find a place for you:
I have a friend whose wife will take
you ln. n .^KSBS3BBBS
She rebelled at this. Was she never
to have done with this man's favors?
She thought of returning to the. ship,
but dismissed that. She undertook to
decline his aid. but he was half way
down the stairs and paid no attention
§to her beginning— so she; followed him.
It was then that, Helen Chester wit
nessed her first tragedy of. the, frontier
"and through It came to know better the
man whom she disliked and with whom
Khe had been thrown so fatefully. Al
ready she had thrilled- at the spell. of
this . country, but she had not learned
that strength and license • carry ; blood
tnd violence as corollaries.
Emerging from the : doorway.; »t~ the
foot or. the stairs, they drifted slowly
along the walk, watching the crowd.
Besides . the universal tension, there
we r« taaghteryaad hope and exhilara
tion In tho facers. The enthusiasm of
this boyish multitude warmed -.one. The
girl wished to I get i into ' this * epirl t— to
be one of them. Then suddenly*; from
the babble at their/elbow's * came : a dis
cordant note, aot; long nor loud, only
a few words, penetrating and harsh
with tfca metallic Quality .ilent by; pas^
Hslen glanced over, her. shoulder to
find that tbs smiles of? the throng wer«
cone said that - Its s «a*<f* 'iwer* - b«nt on
«ome Bocne ln'th« : «t#fct»\with;»n eager
interest «h« had ?n«v«r; seen mirrored
before. Bimult*neo«3y Glenietsr spoke:
"Co*n« away^Cmm-, hpr**" : ;
With the a-olciecned , «y« «F «xperl
efice he foresaw trouble ; anff' tried ; to
«Tras her on, but she shook off his grasp
impatiently, and, turning,., gazed !"ab- '
sorfoed at i the spectacle which" unfolded
i teel f before her." " Although 1 not \u25a0 com
prchendinjr the play. of events, shelf elt; "
vaguely the quick approach/ of ; somo
crisis, yet was unprepared for the
swiftness with which It came.-.
Her eyeV had leaped -^ to the' figrutei
of two men in ; the ; street, "'*. from- whom
the. rest had . separated -like; oil" from :
water. One was slinv and , well' dressed; ;
the other^/ bulky." mackinawed. "and
lowering of feature. ' It .was the smaller-"
who spoke/and for a moment *he mb
judced his bloodshot eyes and swaying
carriage .to Y be", the: resultvof ; alcohol,
. until she saw that ho/. was' racked with
f mjt yifSSMMro ' v \u25a0
""Make-good. I tell you, quick! Give ..•
me , that bill of. sale." you \u25a0' \u25a0 ' ."
The unkempt man swung- on his'lieel
with ' »r growl" and -walked' away, his'
course leading him toward Glenlster .
and the girl. With two ! stride* < he : w»» ?
abreast \u25a0 of . them; ; then." detecting the
Cashing- movement' of : , th* " other, he -
whirled like awildanlmal;' His voice .
had the' snarl of a beact in It. : V
"V* had to have it, didn't ; ye? Well,
there T^gSSBmt^SMBKMUKOf9¥U
The actions of both; men' were quick
as. lisht, yet to the girl's" taut sens as
they seemed theatrical: and deliberate.
Into her mind was .'seared forever tha
memory of that second, as thongrh the
shutter of a camera ' had snapped, im- ,
pressing ' upon her '\u25a0: brain the scene,' :
sharp, dearcut and /vivid. . The shaggy
b&ck of the large man almost brushing
her, the raff© 'drunken, -white "shifted
m«n In the derby hat, the crowd sweep-.^
Ing backward like rushes before a blast, '
men. with arms • flexed and feet raised,
in flight, the; glaring "yellow sign of the i
"Gold Belt dance hall" across the way—
these were stamped >upon~ her . retina,
.'and then she was Jerked violently back
ward, two" 1 strong: arms crushed .her
down upon her knees against the wall,
and she was smothered in the arms of
Roy OIenIster.iGSQBSBDBSP
"My God! Don't move! We're In
liner*. -.; "3 \u25a0;-;>,
He . crouched over . her, his cheek f
against her hair, his weight forcing her
down into the: smallest ; compass,' his ;
arms about her.; his body forming; a
living shield . against : - the flying - bul- ,
= lets. ,. Over ; them big man stood, and
the sustained roar .of.; his gun- was,
deafening. : In -an instant they, heard
the thud and felt the jar of lead in the
thin boards against which they huddled.
Again the report echoed above their
. heads, and they saw, the slender man. in
th* street ' drop- his 1 weapon and . spin*,
half around as though hit with some
heavy hand.:- He - uttered a cry, - and,
stooping for his 'gun. plunged forward,
burying his face In the sand.
The man by, Glenlste r"s side shouted '
curses thickly, and walked toward \u25a0 his '
proßf rate enemy, firing at every step.
The wounded man rolled to his. side,'
and, raising 'himself on his elbow, shot
twice, so rapidly that the reports/
blended — but without checking his an
tagonist's approach. Four more times
the relentless assailant fired deliberate
ly, his last . missile . Bent as he stood
over the body which" twitched and
shuddered at .his . feet, its ' garments
muddy and smeared. Then he turned
and retraced his steps. Back within
ami's length of the two who pressed",
against the building he came, and as
he went • by : tb ey saw - his .' coarse ' and ;'
sullen features drawn and ' work-v
ing pallidly, while the breath
whistled through - his teeth. He held
his course to the .; door they had just .'\u25a0
quitted, then as he turned ho coughed
bestially." •pitting ;out ; a. mouthful/ of <
- b100d.,-:. :HlS:.knecs" wavered. .He van
ished within the portals" and, in the-,
sickly silence that - fell, , they heard his'
hob-nailed boots clumping slowly... up;
the stairs. \ \u25a0 \u0084.vr.
Noise 'awoke and rioted, down -v^he
thoroughfare. Men-; rushed forth . from
every quarter, and the ghastly.; object :
In the dirt: was /hidden by 'a seething ,
mass of miners. ~- o -
. Glenlster raised; the girl, but- her'
head rolled- limply,', and she would have
slipped to her knees again had he not
\u25a0\placed_his arm about ncr wawi.'"ner
eyes were staring and horror filled.
"Don't be • frightened," said he, smil
ing at , her reassuringly; but lils own :
lips' shook * and ;: the- sweat stdod out '
like dew on; him; for • they had- both
been close to death. There . came a
surge and Vswirl through the crowd. >
and : Dextry ; swooped upon " them like' a :
' hawk. •.
"Be ye hurt? «Holy. Mackinaw! When
I see *em \ blaze away I yells at ye fit
to. bust, my T- throat. I shore; thought':
you- was * tjone. i Although I can't ; say.,
but this ;• killin' was a sight: for : sore }
. eyes — so neat" ; an' genteel— »til!, ; - as": a^
rul<>,\ in these street • brawls it's tho ; In- ?
nocuous,' bystander; that has (lowers.
\u25a0 sent around " to his house afterwards."
"Look , at' thl«," said Glenlster.
Breast high in the wall against which I
they had crouched,.not three feet apart,
were . bullet . holes'.
"Them's ; the , first two he unhitched,"
; Dextry .;. remarked, jerking his" head
, toward the object in the street "Must ,
have been a new gun an\ pulled hard—^
1 throwed him: to the right. See!"
Even to the /girr it. was patent that,
> had she not been snatched an she; was,,
the bullet would have found i her. '- >',
; "Come ; away quick." she . panted, and
•they led ''\u25a0•, her. Into a nearby store,;
: where \ she tank ' upon \ a seat, and trem
;\u25a0 bled " until Dextry brought her: a glass ,
of whisky.
"Here. it> Isb," he said. "Pretty, tough
; : go : for a 'cheachako.' I'm ffrald^you,
, " ain't , gsttin* : enamored .of thti here
country. a whole :lot-'*_ -,'_'\u25a0• ;.
, For half an hour haltalked to her, in
his -whimsical ? way.- of . foreign ; thing?,"
• till she was quieted. Then the partners'
•~ arose" to go. c - Although -Olenlster ;\u25a0 had >
• arranged for her to stop "with' the wife.
t of the merchant for "\u25a0 tho re«t of the
\u25a0 nlgftt, she^.would Snot.; _ '\u25a0\u25a0: ;,
! "1 can't go to bed. please don't
leave me ! - I'm • too nervous. I'll . go
\ mad if you do.. The strain of, the last;
weekhas been too much for me.. -If I i
' sleepi-l'll ace the faces of , those* men i
\. again." : \u25a0 :'
; Dextry!, talked , r with,; his . companion;
then made a purchase which he laid at
\u25a0 the 'iadyJ^Sf feet; ;; ', .:::\u25a0 '\u25a0'/''.'\u25a0\u25a0 wßm
'. "Here's • a pair of half . grown gum
b00t5.., -You put .'em on* an* come with ;
, us. We'll; take your mind. oft of. things.
complete."* '•. An\' as >2r ; sweet dreams/
.;* when i you ; 'get ; back ' you'll * make ?. the ";
j tlumbers \u25a0 of . the' Just , seem as' restless.
t as^ a riot, r or^the : anticsj of * a mountain •
goat which nimbly,; leaps^froni: crag; to
, crag, and-r-well," that's, restless enough.
\u0084 Come^dnl','
, "As the! sun slanted "up; out of.: Bering ;
\- sea they, marched back toward the hills. '^
! thelr^ feett ankle ! deep7inHhe soft fresh
;- mossMwhllelf the^ fair ;" tasted ..Mike*;, ft
» cool' - draft and>- a myriad "of -[earthy.;
i odonrirose up, and encircled them. \u25a0
i Bnlp« i and reed; birds v ,w ore \nolsy.ji
.' In- the" hollows and from.; the misty
'•'\u25a0• tundra' \ lakes :- came the 3 honking of
i branL "After, thei rjweary weeks on _«hlpr : .
; board, the : dewy " freshness livened
\u25a0 them \u25a0 magically," cleansing? from their
» "memories the recent " tragedy, so that
> i the 1 girl \ became t herself \ again. V; > -:d, : '. i :i
if a ••Where are we; golngr?; she asked, at
• the" end -of -an hour,*, pausing \u25a0 for breath.
[ "Why,* to *' the . Midas,; of - course,**.; theyj
: said ; and one of them ; vowed ' recklessly;
- cm r he drank > In the beauty . of her clear
• : eyes •* and ; i the s: grace "\u25a0\u25a0 of ? her i; • slender, 1 :
i panting form, that he would gladly give -
his;. share cf all Its riches -> to
what ha T had done one night- on; the
Santa. Maria. '%• \u25a0r;:;.; ; -;^";;::; •'*.\u25a0".'"•' \u25a0"\u25a0\u25a0
'. CHAPTER VI;
Wherein a'; Man .Appears -
I. N ; the lives '; of ' countries : there ar* ,
crises where; for a breath; destinies '-.
lie-in tho laps of the -gods and are
-Jumbled,- heads or tails. Thus are
marked distinctive cycles 5 like tha
seven ages of a man, and though, per
hapc, they are; too; subtle , to ; . be per
ceived at the time, yet, having swung'
past the shadowy millstones, tha epochs
disclose themselves.'.:/
\u25a0Such a period 1% the progress of .th*
far northwest was tho nineteenth^ day.
of July, although, to ; those concerned;.
' in, the building of this new; empire th»
'day, appealed only as the date of~the
- comingn g of the- law. : All 'I Nome ; gathered V
on the sands as lighters brought ashore
* Judge Stillman; and Shis' following.-.) It
:was held fitting that the Senator should •
... be the ship to safeguard- the dignity of :
the first court" and ; to Introduce : JustiCO *
, into;thls7land of the^wlld. ~ ~:~ \u25a0 " ;";
- The Interest s awakened, by his. honor ;
was. augmented' by. y ; the;; faftt*' that'" he "'•'!
•,waa met on HheC beach, by/a" charming',
girl,, who flung t herself^upon;him^wlth v
evldent delight. , : . V- . •;,
„ ."That's his ; niece,'.' said some . one.,
"She came upon the , first boat-^-riame's
Chester— swell ; looker, eh?" ' ; ;:,•; ' •"::;
f : i Another new „ comer : rtittiractcd even
•more notice than the limb of tha
rlaw; a gigantic, well- groome'd^man,
with keen, ; close-set^eyes, ; and i that ', in- 1
definable easy movement; 'arid'? polished^
bearing: that : come '\u25a0-*\u25a0. from 'confidence,'"
health and travel.*^ Unlike % the i others : :
he • did not • dally; on \ the beach i nor dis- - :
play much ; interest in his surroundings;
;but with .: purposeful ;\u25a0 frown;' rstroda ,
throu gh the . press;-. u£ • into [the ; heart of I
the . city. .His ; companion ,was; Struve's
\u25a0 partner. Dunham, ; ' a middle/? aged,"
; pompous ;, man. ± ;They ; went fdlrectly.^ to^
; the" ofllcesTofi Dunham; 4T; Struva,i.where;
they^ found 'the*- white r. haired ; Junior
partner, .- • ; \u25a0;' , :;;:'.. ' ; \u25a0;-'.:\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0',"\u25a0 : \u25a0 '" " .". \u25a0\u25a0
VMlghty glad tolmeet-you,^Mn; Mc-
Namara," - said Struve:'. ;,'• Your name } Is"
a household ".word? in : my ; ? part;* of J thai
\u25a0 country, j My; people " were) mixed* up ,;in";
; Dakota; politics. somewhat;"i;Sb r ; l've al
ways ' had ' a \u25a0 great! admiration^ for J you •
and : I'm"; glad you've come * to f Alaska/ ;
;Thls;tS;a big'; country/and'-w*' need 'big
men." • ';'- : \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0'.;\u25a0\u25a0 S:"~, : xy.~ r .^ ' '' : : .-- ' ',
,\i;"Dld you : have any , : trouble?".' Dun
ham i Inquired .when j the three ; had ad- ,
- Jourri ed ' to r; a^ private' room.*". -
'..•:.. "Trouble,";,,' said fi: f Struve, v ruefully;
"well;. I ; wonder; if f I {did." ? Miss ; Chester^;
brought m«' your ; instructions O. X. 1 ; and f
;• I ;got ; busy j right off.V But, tell -me this ;
~-how.l did \u25a0 you . get J the girl * to? act^as \u25a0
; messenger?" '\u25a0'\u25a0:__ '\u25a0' ' '\u25a0 : ::.".-;. : '.. : -.; V \u25a0 '
—f here '.was -no] one : else to . send," an- ;
swered McNamara,": ."Dunham" Intended
: sailing ; on ; th* ;flrst j boat, ,but iha J Was \u25a0
detained ins Washington'; with 'ma, and
I the J udge had Ita wait roritaa |at Seattle.'}
We ; were -afraid" Co- trust a' stranger : for,.
* fear he'jmlght , get : ] curious 1 ; and ex
amined the papers. ;'. That ''}. would '\u25a0 have
; meant— t" He moved \Z hift '. hand elo
'.quantly.'.": \u25a0' : .,:' '-,;,".;".. .'.-.\u25a0'.\u25a0•'•: -' , \u25a0
Struve i nodded. " 'T see. ;; : Does she
: know., what' was 1 In ' the!document«?" "-. '"'
\u25a0 VDecldedlyisnot.7 'XWomen: and busl-".
: ness don't mix. ? I hope ' j you didn't tell
her \u25a0anythlng.^'pHJsSPSßlSP®^^;-. >': .
; t'Xoi- \u25a0I '\u25a0 haven't £ had a i chance.. / She ,
- seemed ; tb, tatteT a j dlslike"|to>* me w f br^
some j reason.""*" I , haven't • seen't her : since .
\u25a0the 'day; after lshe got\here."'^ /
•*Tha>? Judgo -' told ;\u25a0 her" It ." had - sbm«-J
;thlng,,to;do;wlth : preparing, thelway^forj
\ his s court," j said |punnatn,;'"andj that! if ; !
I the papers .were; nbt^delivered ; before 1 , h« j
* arrived ' itVmlght 'cauHej a* lotTofJ trouble'
-^-litigations rlbts^blpodshed^ and^:; all?
. that. \/ He < filled i-'herjup'orif generalities j
'till the' girl? wasj frightened? to/fdeath,
> arid .thought the [.safety fbf^ heri uncle:
and i* the whole country \u25a0;: depended ; on
' her.'! ~V,, : . -': ;':^'""vV :^' 1 -c' -V ;> ;'*"^: "' \u25a0 '\u25a0b-^, ;
.'•Well,"." continued; Struve, t-Vlt's"; dead »
Teasy« to "hire; ment to ' Jump; olalins; arid!
It's dead easy "buy/. their" rights"; af-"
; tcrward,*^ particularly .when Jtheyi know
they, haven' t*" got* any^-but^what I course •
,do ' you - when ownersygby guri^
"<'* McNamara! laughed. :
•v.'.'Au. benevolent/. ; silver y[: haired^ ;: old .
v Texan c pirate \ by % thei name : : of i Dextry;^
iHe*sTone|haJf^o^^e^| v fnlthejMldasJandi
the other; ;half >\u25a0:^;irnouritalnVjliori;'i~as'
peaceable,*; you'd ) lrnaglne^as [a;benedloi';
' tlcn; but; with*; theljtemperameritsof|aj
[Geronlmo.^ \u25a0liserit'GallowayJoutJto'tre-^
5 locate I the"; ielaihi,\and \ h'ejgot'j his notices
;, up ,lnHhe";nlght kwhanUheyAwereTasleep^
? but iat'\u25a0 6 fai ; m:\ he \ came I fly ing : back ito
i iay/ room \u25a0, and f nearly^*: hammered % tho
I door'a^^B^'*" iy*> *«en S fright 5 in. £ varied ;
*- forms and ' phases,; but he; had ' tham'all,
, with; some added* Btartars. .^> '
."•\u25a0•\u25a0"\u25a0 ".'Hldel meTout^Tqulckl'^ h* i panted, i
"iiin i i im i ' 111 1 b ii 1 1 ff iijjyiil |W cWr'hWjßiliii
" "I've t stirred ;up? a : breakfast ; of
grizzly > bear,*, : BmanpoxMatadßsudden'
v deaths andSity dori't^ set n well * on i riiy ,*
Btummlck. , Letkma|in.'Xr3
HARPER @ BROTHER
C~ "I .had to keep him. hidden three days,
for; this gentle mannered old . cannibal
roamed ; the; streets 'l with v*a\cannohr in*
his hand,; breathing fire arid pestilence. I .'.
"Anybody, else act up?" queried ? pun
haniy/,'-.^.~:.^; •:-'.\u25a0 ' '\u0084 ' • ' *\u25a0*•::''. ~ : -'\u25a0<\u25a0'\u25a0\u25a0.
. "Xo, all the rest are Swedes arid. they,
haven't ' got the . nerve to c fight. , "They
couldn't V- lick' Z aV spoon If •} they .'• .tried.'
These other men rare different, though.
There>; ar* "> two .--' of •< tham,"^. th* fi old r : one
and a young fellow. I'm a little afraid
to Jmlx liti up J with' them/-; arid" If their
claim wasn't i the .best 'i In the district,"
Pd say let it alone.",' H \u25a0 ;: r. j
\vrilfattendlto that," said McNamara;
/>-': \u25a0\u25a0':•\u25a0 i .
':\ "Yes, ? gentlemen,\ I've •; been .jworklrisr
pretty ,< hard 'i and -'also \u25a0; pretty/much t In'
the dark so j f ar.Vi I'm" groping for light. .
When J; Miss Chester^ brought^ in 5 th*'
papers I Tgot - busy:, instanter. I I , clouded'
the s titled to * th* '. richest i placers iln *, the
regrton,"; but i I'm * blamed tiff I ; quite V see
the! us* ; in jit. "i^ We'd :ba "thrown i out (of
any I'cour t > in ;th«; land \ if i wo t took \ them
to ! law.* ; W hat's i tha \ gamoT^blackmall 7* r :
.vj "Humph:" "ri ejaculated .;!- McNamara.
"Whatido'you'take;me,fof?" ,:
' "Well, >, it "'\u25a0 doe 3 seem- small i, for..; Alec
McNamara.: but I can't se*; what^jilse
you're' Up' to.'' :/•' " \u25a0\u25a0•; ,'"\u25a0-••\u25a0 " '; • _ —
'\u25a0 "Within* e\week. rill be running «v?fy
good mlnetln; the* NomVidlsttict"." ; - '\u25a0:\u25a0''
SlcNamara's voice was calm, but de
cisive; his i glance* keen ; and al ert, while
about *j him 2,clungi? such >iar breath^ of
power.' and . confidence that 1 . 1 1 *' compiled
belief i'T«ran^ln : th*;,;fac* Jof." this ". as
tounding i speech. >\u25a0 - '. ? \u25a0^\u25a0'\u25a0- :l \u25a0'•* k^'^c-'"
i In spite of ;, h!m*elf»'. WUton -Struire,
lavi-yer k rake and tentienianly adven
turer, ; felt his v heart '-. leap : at what ] the
other's \ daring.- implied, r; The'-; propose
tion <; was '{ utterly-; past -belief, -: and -yet*
looking into tha man's purposeful eyei,
h>:bell«ved;^;;"-v'- v - : '.; ; ;; : - r ~, : ' : ~ :- '\u25a0' \u25a0'
:; VThaViiblg-tr*wfuliblg-*-too' blg,''/thV
younger * man I murmured. -X.Why,* man,
it -means; yeu'll'handlel $60,000 'a -daj'!"
-tt Dunham t ehlftedthl* l f*etila v "th« «1
:lence'and?licked!-histdfy;-lips. \u25a0- ' .
i"Of ;:courai»F it's ;blg,t but Mr. McKa-'
tnara' s \ the > biggest ; man '. that ; ever,: cam* ;
. to' * Alaska,"-? he {Saidii ; - -' -% ; "; ". ; :; ":'\u25a0• ,v, v ;':-;
- "And » I've :l: l got f.j th»^ biggest > schema ;
! that I ever^'cameT' north, ;| backed |byjj the i
; biggest; mehlln\Washlngton.*'' continued
t the i politician^ "I«ook f here I** |Ha Jdls-^
played? &V. type gsheit % bearing j
jnamesTt and' .\u25a0!£ figures.'*
Struvejgasped|lncredulously.\*~''^;^;>
i" •'Those: araimyjstock^ holders and'that
is}thelrlshare|ln*the|yenture^" Oh; yes,"
;\u25a0 Ihcbrporated-^under : the \ laws f jf ,
,\Arizbnaf;|-secr etT? of 5 course ;; Slt .'• i. would '
'riever.'doifor^he'namastto'get^ouCfl l'm;
; showing jyouithls/ohlyi because \ I' want
you -to be, satisfiedVwho'B|behindlm"e."V'
; "Lord I '*'\u25a0 I'm jg satisfied,"^ said % Struve,:
ilaughlng^nervously.'J^DunhamLwaSiWlth 3 :
j you when \ you the \ scheme % out \
arid v helmet f «ome: of 2 your | friends^ in;
IWashingtbnfahd > New* York. ''\u25a0% If ihe^ saysj
. It's ; all^ righHthat^sattle* |lt;'^ But)say;l
suppose anything -want wrong with tha
{"compaoy^ftnd|it? leaked 1 ; out ;.who=.those;
; stock I holders Tare VI jjSgpWW^ w*WPm
vvU;There*s no dangerV;v I hay* the books
pher«| they'll S b« * burn*d tat |the f first :
rslgnif^We'd E ha.ye % had f Our? own i land \u25a0
, laws i passed I but] for,? Sturte vant lof i N*^ \u25a0
; ( vada, J damn] TnimJ^ Haj blooked \ us \u25a0 In} th*
3 S*nat*?ffj However,^ nns^plan^la this.*; He
\u25a0 rapidly "i outlined 1 his \ proposition ;; to) the!
| listeners^ whlle|al light f of , ? admiration i
" grew? and? shbda'V Inn th« > reckless'; fac*
otiStruv*. .... ' .. !.- . ; ...I--.- I
. "Sy '^heavens! \ your* - ; a iLwonderl" S h* !
; cried/f at I th*lclo»«v|?and^ I* m iwlthl j^-jji
; body/ and'-i soul. IS IV* dangarous— that's |
- why,l likaMt." ./-,.,. Vy.'llHßpi
: ; McNamara p shrugged ;
[ hlsf shoulders. sl4"Bahl WheralisfithO;:
• danger? '- '-, We'va j got '\u25a0 th* law-^-or'^ rather^
f wtirlf jyjj^MWS 7 *."': v; ' :"' ;;I , " :"£^gß^BSq^
kota*- was no sluggard.'- He' discarded
coat and' waistcoat and rfackled j the doc
uments which Struve 'laid "before; him,
going-t hrough"; them 7 like ?a* whirlwind.
GradQally •; he % infected I the others; with :
his energy, and \u25a0 soon behi nd , the*; locked
doors \of i Dunham f& ; Struve : ; there 'were
only.; haste . and - fever '• arid plot ' and ; in-,
triguei'j-i-;';:.', :C x.;i";;";- ; ;-:*\ :!?.-->'.\u25a0;\u25a0"--""."•' '.. : >•
: :; As ". Chaster; led. > the \u25a0 Judge^to
ward • the ' flamboyant.'; three storied\ho
tel . ohe \ prattled \u25a0to him'; light* heartedly.
Th» fascination 'of a new' land already
held her. fast," arid now she felt, in addl -
tlon, security and relief. Glenister saw
them \u25a0-; from - a distance ' and strode for
ward to greet them."; 7
r 2 "He/' beheld ?aimani of perhaps ; threa
score • y ears.l benign [ of aspect, sava for
the eyes,; which war* neither . dear: nor
steady; but had the trick of looking past
one. '.\u25a0- Glenl s te r thought the ' mouth, too;
rathftr I weak - andi vacillating; \u25a0\u25a0 but % th*
clean :-' shaven 5 face J/was v, dignified \ by.
learning and 'acumen and* was wrinkled
In pleasant? fashion:"; ;!; "V v ; V
\u0084;5 "ilyl niece ; has y Just \u25a0 told ; me of ; your
service ; to . her.'Ltha .old gentleman \u25a0 be
gan. \u25a0 ,"1 • ami happy, to \u25a0 know, you," sir.'*/
-:s "BesidesSbelngia* brave **knight and
assisting; ladies . in distress, Mr. Glenls
ter; Is a very great and .wonderful man»t
Helen- explained; lightly. "He owns th*
Midaa."^ ", ;:f. ;' \u25a0-" ,; \u25a0'".:" :^; i ; \u25a0\u25a0- '\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0:-;-: •\u25a0;.
: "Indeed 1" said the, old man,' his shift-;
ing i*y*a iho w^ res tin g ; full [on vtha I other
with a flash of • unmistakable Interest.
"I thear,that ls!a\wbriderful; mine. Hay*
youi-bagunswork^jretf ?;; ' / .
: f -'No.':* We'll commence J sluicing day
after,! tombrrO'WVX- tt % has ';\u25a0. been ) ' a .' lat*
BpHrii.r' The* SttOwSlnt; tha ; gulch .was
deep • - and "tthe W ground % thaws ; slowly.
We'Va been building 'houses and doing
dead Vwork," but\we' v* 5 got i our -men. on
the rgroundA waiting.^? j.£ . i :\u25a0'; .
"I: am 'greatly; Interested. Won't;you
walk " wlthj us] to] th*} hotel? I want to
hear; 1 ; more-; about v-.^ these wonderful
' '"^ell. f.thay'l ar«s great \ placers.", said :
ith* 4 mlner.fas Uhe 'threftlwalked / on ; to
i gethvr ; know* \u25a0 how v ; great,' ; be
- causa /«re'va only scratched ' at them y* t'i
In the. first place, ths ground is -so shal
low and the gold Is so easy to jget that
> if 'nature didn't]., safeguard .-Sui^lnV.th"*':
\winter,w*'d j never,, dare leave our, claims ;
» for. fear of 'snl JVers. 1 S They'd run \n and \u25a0
;;rob':us."^ v;..>;;^c."^ ,'; .\u25a0>;' r ''"'.- , ;\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0;,' "r- •" '_. ' :
:;^J VHow £ much : will ?• th* V Anvil ;; creak
mines produce this summer?" asked the
;judgfc. :.;: .:,;\u25a0 ,- : ; ; v ;"-./, ;\u25a0•.': -\u25a0 : -:*%&BBB8Bm
v;"Ifs? hard itoltell,- sir ;ibut;w*;*xpect;
i^toj averagci. flve> thousand 3 a" day ,\ from
the ; ;Midas i alone? , and~ thert ; are ; other.
-"claims.'Just'asgrood. ; ' .
"Your :i tl tie ?is fall- clear, \u25a0>- 1 . dare ; say,
:eh?",;;: eh?",;;; ,;-\u25a0:;,;,: ; ;.:..>/;.-^ .^.' r,-;>::-r ,-;>: : -. • ' - ,:
"Absolutely, 'except *for. 4 on* Jumper/
:and^waTdon't|take^him|'sarlously.T'iAi
fellow.^ named fj Galloway}? relocated t us \u25a0
.r. r brie^ hight^last § mbntli^butg haf didn't
; allege § any|grounds! f orl'doing 5 sb;^ and
|walc^uldinev«Tiflhd'itrace^of|hlm?glfj
swejH4d, i tourititl*|would|beias"fclea.nTas
-; snow agalh.?>;' He said ; the : last - with « a
ripecullar^lnftcctlon. ". , : .kV x^'fi \u25a0. - ..;\u25a0 .' * .;
l"Youi w ouldn't ' use 'violence;! I 'trust Tl
i; : "Sure: «Why x not?;it;has;workad all
•\u25a0 right f heritor or*.**^ v;-; %-. \u25a0.. -;^..>. . . .; >- ;:^K'**i
'\u25a0''\u25a0' ''But,> my fdear,' sir. those v days are
* gon«.^Th* i law ;< Is S har* i and ' it. Is the
.\u25a0dutyfof|*veTy|one|tojablde}bylit."
; iVWall^p«rhaps;lt]ls;ibutjin\thls ; coun
3, try. wa^ consider a' man's mine as sacred
|as i his ;.fanttiy.^W«l didn't : know I what \ a
I lock i ahdS keyi were | in tha early tlmos [
i and t^weydidn'tl hay*#anyAtroubles ex-
famine and _hafdshlp,'i lt's different"
% now,| though.*'3:4,Wny, !5 i there - hay« % been
r> more claims Jumped I around hera this
:c: c spring | than! In i tha % whole J length * and '
Shistbryidf |th*|Yukon "4^0%: -
'3?iThey,ghadpreached-J th*,JS hotel. J'and
| Glenlster^ paused.tlturn Ing |to s the ? girl 5
fß^the7Judg*]«htered;iiWhen^sh*; start-:
ied!tol«oilow^hej<3etainidiher. 4 v •
gS^fcam*ldbwo{from'tha hill3 t on;purj
pose " seoj, you.' It has _ been a long \u25a0;
j«-~**^ ""'wilSßWipffffw'Bp'l
I'Don't talk that way," she inter
rupted, coidly. "I don't care to , : hear
;-"s."Spc; -"s."Spc I here— what makes : you shut \u25a0me •
but^ and -,> wrap - : yourself .-up in your
haughtiness? r "*rn><torry, for, what I, did',;
that night^-I'vel told; you 'so repeatedly.
ry*".' wrung j my i, soul for.) that T ; act ;; till \u25a0
there'isj- nothing; left* but jrepeniance.**^."' .
\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0•;'v"lt ; is notithat^fshe 1 said.'; slowly. "I
have ibeen 1 thinking it over^durlng the
past "month.^andv.now-.that I .have
galned^itn^ Insight 'iinto/ this 'llfell; see •
that it "wasn't; an 'unnatural 'thing for
you ittTdo. "'lt's terrible, to think of ,but-..
it's v t r iie. . 'l l jdon' t ; ; m ean ? that \ 1 1 was ?
\u25a0pardonable," v.fsh«';.t continued, .quickly:
< "t qtl it ;.wasn't,*? and .' I • hate . yoa^when I
think about jr,"lbut;l;supp6fl*;i;put;my- ;
selfilntoYa'* position! toHnvlte 'such - ; ae-' :
tions. .' No : ; I'm; sufficiently abroad mind- -
ed not to blama you unreasonably, and
Ithtakjl;eould llke^you^ in. spite of It,
'Just:for * what jyou hay* f d6n* ffoT.*m«; 1
but * that; isn't, all:;. Tharelis something '
deeper. "• -"^Tou ; saved*? my k . llf* \and ;J I'm ' ,
gratef tip but- you" frighten ;m*.? always. ;
; It is ; th* [cruelty/ In^your • strength, it is "
something ;away iback <in :you-^!ustful.
and "ferocious/- and wild, ". and -i crouch-
ing."_;^;:-':\u25a0.//• /\u25a0.\u25a0.- :
': He i smiled 5 wryly. - "*
"It ilti my \u25a0} local .Icolor,' ;mayb*rr*V '
sorbad Vfi>om>thls !j country.*. Til l^ry. ' to
change," though,* if, you Iwant ma to." I'll
let - them - rope : and * throw ;' and -. brand ;
I ta*bfi ril; takaon^th* graces ' v of ctvillsa
5 tion - and ; put "awayi revenge .and ambi
tion' and all -th*",r*st of tJt/Uf :iUwlll
i teak*, you Ilk* me any .better. ".Why. Til.
- even; promise' not,; to .violate : the person
of our.- claim Jumper." If 'I • catch 'him:
and he&veni; knows *that' 'means .. .that
Samson hag, parted iwlth his locks."
'\u25a0^•1, think.lcould.llkeyou Jf you did."
: shejsald.\:' o «tjyou r can'jt do it. .You are
a; "avage.'4Sߣ9w^B
; y There . are ; no clubs nor.marts where
me"n£torefrather for. business in tho ,
norths-nothing but the saloon, and this
-Is "all >and -more than a ; club." Here men -
\ congfesrate "to drink/ to t; gamble, " and •
to traffic. SBVBoBMI*n9BBV*SBI
. It X was late In * the evening when;
f- Glenister; . entered the Northern . and
•'passedildly down r tho, row, r of games.
pausing: at tha ? crap stable, where ;he
.^rolled ithe" dice j. when his turn/, earn*.
\u25a0 Moving :; to the ", roulette / wheel,', ha lost
a; stack of J wh!tes.; but at the;faro Hay
oufhis luck ;was better." and he won a
: gold, cofn Ton; the; "high card." rWherei
;Uponi.he^promptly^ordered ia , round *of
drinks : for; the men grouped i about him, j
ia j formality \ always j precedent < to ; *v*r
tures \u25a0 ofi \ general; friendship. •
', \i~ As he pamed, glass in hand. _ his eyes
were drawn to a man who stood closa
by, ~2 talking \u25a0;? earnestly/". The " aspect
of .the"; stranger : challenged notice.* for:
' her stood % high '; above his companions
'with fa i peculiar • grace of " attltud* ; in ,
plac* of the t awkwardness I common , in
men', of j'great- stature."- : Among "thbs* .
who" were listening -Intently" to th*'
man's carefully modulated tones. Glen
ister recognized - Mexican Mulllns, the
:' ex-gambler Iwho had given ; Dextry' th**
warning; In'-i Unalaska."! . "As ;,h* -,t urther
studied the listening group, a drunken
man - staggered - uncertainly ; through . th*
wide doors of » the saloon - and. grab !r.g
sight at thfc tall stranger, blinked, than
: approached him, speaking, with :'•. : Isud
voice :WBfiSBS^fI9BOSBfB^mfSKSB^wBSMfi
-:. '.'Well,' if 'taln't ole Alec McNainci»J ;
How do,~yeole plrateT* / ,'
• McNamara ;>; nodded and ' turned his
back coolly.; upon' the new; comar,'
"Don't i turn ; your dorsal -i fln ma; \u25a0 X
j. wan.},. }, to Italk to • ye."
- V ; ; McNamara continued .- his calm ' : d!s- .
j course till , he received - a vicious whack
. on .the; shoulder; , then, he - turned * for. a
< moments to ; his assailant's
garrulou3 prof anity : .
- s"D6n't T bother, me. I am engaged."
r^' "Ye ,won'i talk , to ; me, . eh? Well. Tm ;
goinV.to ttalktito- you, see?. I -guess
; you'd listen if I : told , these : people all . X
.: know,, about , you. r.Turn '• around . her*."
\u25a0 His voice was menacing. and attracted
] general 4 notlce.\l ; iObserving;. this. : Mo-
Namara addressed him," his words drop
ping, clear, concise and; cold: /
; ; : "Don't ; talk ;: to me.-' You are a
drunken" nuisance. ' Go 'away before
something 'happens to you."
. "; Again^' He 'turned ' 'away, but . th*'
drunken 'i man 2 seized- and « whirled .: him
, about,'; repeating his • abuse, encouraged
: by^thls: apparent patience. ' '"\u25a0•^StPJWSUB
.\^Your i pardon* for 'an Instant, 5 ! gentle-. ;
m^n." H - McNamara -I aid:: a > large whit*
ond manicured I hand upon the . flannel
sleeve of tha miner and gently escorted
\u25a0 him ! through tho en trance to • tha : side
walk,, whll* : the; orowd smllad. : - ." .
As they cleared the' threshold, how
aver,' '\u25a0 he ; clenched ' his flst J without ; a "\u25a0\u25a0
word . and, t raising 1 1, struck the sot
- fully s and s cruelly - upon tha * Jaw.' His
> victim s fell i silently, \u25a0; the back ~of \u25a0 his
head striking. the "boards .with a hollow
thump; than, 'without .'even: observing
how ; he lay. McNamara re-entered th*
' saloon? and /took up - hla conversation |
where }. ha > had ..been ;, Interrupted. His
: .voice ! was) as j evenly .; regulated .: as . his
.; movements, : betraying - not a \u25a0 sign of
'; anger,"* excltenient-, or bravado;, y ; H* : Iff. '
' a clgrare t te, extracted a not* i Book and *
'Jotted 'down 'certain .memoranda sup
t plied him i Mexico; Mulllns. •;
: : All ; this time: tha body Jay a«ro« th*
threshold ,' without j a sign of. life. The
g buzz of tha roulette wheel was resumed
\u0084 and the crap dealer began ; his monoto
?.nous '\u25a0 routine, fr Every; eye" waa fixed ?on
-the nonohalan 1 1 man at .the bar;: but * the
VAV A unconscious J^craature'-^"outside : tha
H threshold ''» lay; unheeded,' * : for ' In" these
- men's code. •lt^behooves-rthe most Jhu
j. mane^to^practlcera'certaln v albof ness ; ln
;i the. matter, of ;private;brawts. r .
."\u25a0 *> Having?.; completed "-; his ; notes J Me- :
'% Natnara ' shook hands gravely ; with his
, companions and; strode out' through .the
door, *ha bulk "A that - sprawled
:~: ~ across ; his •' path • and,*^ without paus a or
«?glanc*^dlsappeared-v ;: '\u25a0'-. ..-.'-\u25a0
A , dozen willing, though unsympa
r thetlo, i hands * laid » the _ drunkard on , the
? roulette * t able 74 where"' the £ bar 5 tender
•ypoured^pltchar^upbn^pitcher^ of -water.
r overihlmJyjHH^MßHß^ \u25a0 - '- : ' -
•'Ha ain't; hurt none to ' speak.-of , " v
said a bystander; then" added, 'with en
> thuslasai : ' ":\u25a0 \ : -'ISSBfQ&BKBStB&ItttRK
. "But sayt_jTher*'s a msn In thla her*
camp!" '.}-'- : ..^.- . .V *
c CHAPTER Tl
And a Mine la ' Jumped
. .yV \t -»HO*S«your'naw ; shift!bossr.*
\u25a0'-^-•^^\u25a0'//\u25a09}^*^'']^^ B^' ot hl3
V/V/ P^thar a few \u25a0 days later,
\u0084:i-;'\T'yT.*,rlnaicatlniV»a^'maaTrin th^
fcut*below, v buslad in setting a lina of
'.;slulci's.' - y '\u25a0'\u25a0'}.£z??is&
> old •Slapjack';: Slmms, . friend
of \u25a0 mine ; from up Daw son way.",
gl^Olan later t' laughed JitmnoderatSy;^^'
fthatybie^ct^as^^iualiyltaira^-loo**
. Jointed, jand • wore a soiled : suit of s yal
,^low: rnacklnaw. He -had laid off his
coat.rand now the" baggy, bliloua, trous
ers' hung I precariously from \u25a0 hia "angu-,
lar- shoulders by * suspenders ; of [ alarm -
;ing| frailty." His" legs ',wer* lost" In. gum
boots, slab loosVand caverndua/and jjr
entire costume looked relaxed and flap
iplng?| sc^thAT^h\^^V*lth*| impress 1 on
|ol|bliln^|aD^|tofshak^lhlmiielf ; out 'of
% his raimenCiand s tol rise g like 7; a bur
%\ leaqua Aphrodite. His i* face was f oyer-
agrgr-izzled ;s.tangle ;\u25a0\u25a0' that
looked as though It had been trimmed
with :. buttonhole scissors, whila 1 above
thcTbrush'heap' grandiT soared a shiny,
do an eJ Ike heed.'jgngßHßlßßVl
' "Has he. always been bald?"
"Nawl.He ain't bald at all. He shaves;
his"; nob." J In f the early days ho- wora a
long. flbwin*. mane, which was inhabited
by.: crickets, tree toads and such 1 fauna.
It got to be a hobby with him finally.
*o that : he growed superstitious about
coin' uccurr ted, and would back Into
a ; corner .' with both -suns drawed if
9l\ barber came near him. -But once
Hank— that's his real name — under tooic
to fry some slapjacks, and In givin' the
skillet a heave, the dough lit among bis
forest primeval.-, just back of his ears,
soft side r down. Hank polluted tha
gulch : with la.njrwid«e i ; which .no man
had ; ougkt .to keep in \u25a0 himself without
It j was - fumigated, pisreppitableness
oozed ; out ; through him like sweat
through an Ice pitcher, an' since then
he's been known as 'Slapjack' Slmma.
an* has. kept his head shingled as
smooth " as ~ a gun bar*l. Ho's ' a good
miner, though ; ain't - none v better— an*
square a* a die."
Sluicing had begun : on th« Midas.
Long.' sinuous lengths of canvas hos*
wound down the cre«k bottom from the
dam Ilk* gigantio serpents, while th*
roll of gravel through the flumes mln
gl«d mnslcally with tha rash of waters,
th* tinki* of tools and the song of steal
on rock. There were four "strings" o£
box** abreast.' and the heaving Ilns of.
shey*lsrs . a.t* ; rapidly - into th* cr»ak
bed, ' whll* t*&ms with scrapers splashed
through" th* tail races In an atmospher*
of softened, profanity. In tha; big
whit* * tents ; which sat - back from th*
bluffa, fifty man of the night shift wart
asleep; for . ther • Is no \u25a0 respite here—
no night, no Sunday, .no halt, during
the : hundred , days >in . which the north
land lends herself to pillage.
_ The mln* lay cradled ' batwaan won
derful, .mossy, ..willow mottlad moun
tains, while abova and below the g*tilca
was dotted with tents and huts, and"
everywhere, .: from basin to hill crest.
men dug and blasted, punlly, patiently,
while their tracks grew dally plainer
over." the 4*ac* of this unscrutabla wil
derness. '
-A graatycontantment. filled th* .two.
partners^ as \u25a0; they . looked on this scene.
To wrest c from reluctant earth ho r
richest ; traasnras, to add to ths wealth
of th* world, to create— hero was satis
faction. .
; *TW* ain't robbln* no widders an* or
phans doln' It, neither,** Dextry sud
denly .': remarked, ~ azpresslng his : par t
nar*s faolln«» closely. They looksi *t
' each othsr and ~ smiled with * tht.t I rar*
understanding that' azeeads words.
"-"..' D«sc*ndlng Into the out th* ' old man
filled ia . goldpan with dirt ; takan from :
under th« _ fact of tha workers and
washed it in a puddl*,. whll* < the other
watched - his .- daxtarous whirling . mo
tions. Whan, he had finished, they poked
tha . streams tr earn of yellow . ' grains into ' a
pils, . than with , heads together guessed
Its weight, laughing again delightedly.
in perfect harmony and . contentment.
"I've been waltln* a turrlbla time fer
this day," said' th* elder. "I've suf
fered the . plagues of prospectin' ' from
the Maxlcos 'to th* . Circle, an' yet I
don't be jr o ten it none, now that I'v*
struck pay." BbbsH
Whll*. they spoke, two miners strug
gled .with \u25a0. •>'; bowlder they had un
earthed and, having scraped and
»* washed It carefully.' staggered back to
pl«.oe it on th« cleaned bedrock be
"Olnd. Ona of them slipped, and It
crashed against a. brace which held tho
\u25a0; sluices 'in plac*. . Thesa boxes stand
mor* than - a man's height above tha
.bedrock resting on; supporting posts
and running full- of water. Should a
. sluice fall, the rushing stream i carriei
out the gold which has lodged in tha s
riffles ; and floods ' tha bedrock; ""'raisin.-;
havoo. Too ; lat* , tha \u25a0 partners " saw th.j
string of boxes sway and bend at tha
Joint., i Then, before -they ; could • reach
' til* threaten cd ' spot to support* it. Slap -
Jack Stem*, with a shriek, plunga.l
: flapping down : Into tha cut and . seized
, th* flume. His great height stood him
in good stead now, for where the Joint
\u25a0 had opened water ; poured I forth In n.
cmtaraot ,H* dived under the breach
unaaslUticgly and, stooping, lifted tha
Una as near to Its former level as pos
sible, ! holding tha entire burden upon
his nakad pat*. ; H* gesticulated wildly
for help, while over him poured the
deluge of .icy, muddy water. 'It en
tered his gaping waistband, bulging
out ; his \u25a0\u25a0 yellow > trousers till they wero
fat and full and tha seams were burst-
In*;, white : his yawning boot " tops bo
cam* as boiling springs. Meanwhile hd
chattered ifor th profanity in ' such vol
ume that tha 'ear ached under it a.4
must ; have ; aohed the heroic ? Slapjack
:, under * th* chill .of the melting ; snow.
H* was relieved quickly, however, ami
•merged triumphant, though blue and
puckered. hi 3 wilderness of wblakera
streaming Hike 'limber stalactites, bia
.boot* . loosely "squishing," whll* oaths
still poured from him in such prof
, fusion that Dextry whispered: .
-.'-'.• "Ain't :h«; a ring tailed wonder? It's
plumb ' sol e mn * an* reve rsnt the way h«
makes them untamed 'cussworda sit up
an* bey. It's a prlvlleg* to be present.
Tiuf s a gift, ; that is."
%'Tou'd better ' get some dry clothes,"
they suggested/ and Slapjack proceeded
a few paces toward the tents, hobblins
.as : though . treading on pounded glass.
-Ow— w !" ha yelled. "These blasted
boots I is ; full of . gravel."
; ;- : He- seated -himself and tugged at
his. foot;. till the ..boot cam*' away,
with , a sacking sound; then, .instead
of. emptying the .; accumulation as
'random. he poured the. content*! ,
.into | Dextry's goldpan,- rinsing :it
out; carefully. , The other boot ha
. emptied \ likewise. v "They, held T*a surf
-prising* amount of sediment, because .
" the stream that had . emerged from tha
crack Jril the ; sluices : had carried ' with
\u25a0':. it ; pebbles," sand, and; all th«.' concentra- .
; tioiTof^the; riffles at this point. Stand- ;
Ins directly beneath the cataract, most
of ; it -had ; dived 'fairly into his inviting
waistband,. following down the lines of
least resistance Into his boot legs and
boiling : out at , the . knees, "i."-"'
"Wash7that,**,j ha said. "You're apt
-'to get 'a prospect."
-With J artful "- pasaas Dextry settled ! ft ;
in ", the ; pan ll bottom .\u25a0 and washed away
j the.'gra'vei;' leaving a yellow, gllttarlmc \
pile which ' raised • a yell from the men .
who ! had lingered curiously.
"Ha pans $40 to : the boot lag," v on*
shouted. MflRB
; **How - much do you run to^ the foot.
Slapjack?" GPJHIsPBI
"He's a regular free milling ladga."
"So. he ain't— ha's too J thin. : *H*"«
nothing but "a stringer, but he'll pay
to
The told- miner grinned toothlessly.
.•XSentlemen," there ain't no better way*
to save ftna grold than -with undercurv
'[ r ents i an* blanket ; rides. . T ll havaito^
wash these garments of mtn*.an* clean
- up"; the • soapsuds, 'causa ° there's $100 Is
gold ; dust : clingln*. . to my person this
it minute.".-.; He; went drlpplifg .ths
bank, while the men returned to thatr..
work i alngihg.'CTßSP|flnHP"jP"fl
After : lunch Dextry saddled his
2 ."rna;goin* to townfor a pair of gold
scales, but I'll ', be ' back by suppar. then
w*'ll ' clean "up * between "Jihlfts. _ She'd
ought to glre \u25a0us 1.000 . ounces.', the ' way
'[that ground prospects." iHe loped down!
< the gulch,". while hls^ partner; returned [toi]
\u25a0the . pit. - the . flashing . shovel ; blades and
the rumbling ; undertone Jof it th«"4 big;
.-workings'that so fascinated him."
*<To Be Continued.)