Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-07

| rocky walls, he met four deer unexpectadlv
lace lace 10 lace. sprlnging forward promptly.
the youth stampeded them into the passage
way. With eager excitement he pIucked
! his revolver from its hostler and rired a
doe fell. The others dashed back desperate
~ through the smoke, passed him. and van
/ ished over the divide
ADVANCING toward the fallen deer, Tai
DOT renected with disQuiet that Nose Tan
M mn 1Hulu near this shot. perhaps turn back
ana discover his recent espiaL When there
LoreI the wounded doe staggered to its feet
ana stood holding up one limp fore-ley
shFihhins from the stony verge, yet not
| aarIng TO take the only path of retreat to-
ward its enemy in The way. he hesitate,
70 give final shot. Drawing his short
hahdled prospecting pick ne hurled IL with
an accuracy and force that struck the
"ounoed animal of the rock. Dashing for
ward Talbot saw the doe gather itself
UP below and leap down the hillside, leay-
ing splashes OF blood every few feet So
coplous was the loss that he felt sure the
game would soon fall and die Hurriedly
catching up his gun and BLANKET he ran
around the lodges and followed after Near
the center stake he regaiaed his pick, not
ing as he did so the numerous deer track.
made in the wet earth As the eround
would set hard in that dry altitude be-
lore the next noon, these tracks must ne
cessaIly heip TO hide Nose rannin's Tuck.
Following that crimson TRAIL Talbot found
his doe in thicket of willows near the
brook, lying dead with head extended snd
legs drawn in; Here he waited to see if
that II the latter had heard the shot he
had no desire to learn who Tired, buI had
kept on toward Horseshoe Camp.
Whereupon Ward Talbot shouldered the
carcass and carried 1t into secluded dell
In the gathering twilight he built a fire,
cooked a haunch of venison, ate heartily.
and rolling In his mackinaw, lay down to
sleep beneath the tamaracks.
Three days passed ere Ward came into
Horseshoe Camp. Meantime ne had ex-
plored without success distant ravine
Footsore and jaded, he appeared at night
fall before the hut where his partners sat
around the fire.
Talbot's partners were three sober miners
owners of promising claim which they
were developing. The youth had chosen
them associates because alone Of all
the camp they neither drank nor gambled.
He was kindly greeted, condoled with over
his tll-luck, and given cheering supper.
Then all four went YEARLY to their blank
cts. An hour later hand shook Wards
shoulder. A voice whispered In his ear:
"Ho, Talbot 1 say! Get up a minute. I've
something to tell you.
The young man rose on his elbow. By
the dying freight he saw Stymer, the bur-
ly, black-w hiskered barkeeper OF the log
hotel, who beckoned him to follow outside.
They stood by the glowing Goals together.
Stymer began in a low, gruff voice:
when 1 first came to camp, you gave
me half your can of coffee"
Talbot sleepily remembered some such
kindness to the destitute newcomer and
rejoined impatiently, What of it?''
Il made up my mind if 1 could ever throw
three thousand dollars in your way, I'd do
it. And now / can"
Talbot was wide awake instantly Tired
of mining. he would be glad even with a
single thousand to return home. buy a good
team and engage again in farming. He
listened eagerly as Stymer continued:
There's man In camp, Claypool of St
Paul. has offered Nose Tannin three thou
sand dollars for the Pillar of Fire. / heard
Z on a " he
just hang to that claim and sell IL your
did hep
NO." replied Talbot with much disgust
''The claim is still mine. But don't be-
lieve it's worth fifty cents"
That's not your lookout. If it's worth
three thousand to Claypool, take his money
mighty quick And Stymer hurried away
under the quaking aspens, leaving Talbot
much discouraged. For the youth, while
anxious to sell any of his claims honestly,
knew that the stranger had been beguiled
by Tannin to believe the prospect a rich
one, and he SCRUBBED to take advantage of
the deceit
After breakfast, next morning, ne started
down the creek toward town" On the
way he heard hoof-strokes coming up the
winding trail, and spied the spotted pinto.
Stepping behind a clump of alders, he kept
still while Nose Tannin rode by, evidently
bound for Tslbot's hut to deliver up the
pinto. Ward was glad to avoid him. prefer
ceive him.
Arrived at the hotel, he learned that the
stranger had gone of early on horseback
toward the Pillar of Fire, alone. Ward at
once started of by short cut up the
mountain. As he carried only his revolver
haversack, and poll-pick. his progress was
rapid, and when an hour later he reached
his claim, he saw q horse tied to q FIR near
the center stake.
There were fresh holes in the line of
earth where Nose had strewn false float,
and Talbot's quick eye saw new breaks in
the face OF the ledge above. Peering about
for Mr.. Claypool, he observed smoke rising
near. and making his way through the
bushes, soon found him in a nook among
the boulders. Here. to Wards surprise. a
rough little furnace had been built of fiat
stone, in which fire was roaring. A blow
pipe, hammer. crucible, and phials of acid
lay on the rocks. Evidently a rude ASSAY
had been made Of the mineral gathered.
Mr.. Ciaypool stepped into sight, holding
tiny scales In his hand and about to max e
record with pencil in a pocket tablet He
started in confusion when he met the
youths honest gaze. Ward at once Judged
him to be professional man. or a druggist
or chemist, for his complexion was pallid
and his hands dainty and white
well. you don't find much high-grade ore,
1 reckon" said Talbot with that freedom
common to the frontier. There's none
here"
Mr.. Claypool appeared much offended by
this blunt inquiry. He was thin, slim,
middle-aged man of cold and reserved man
ners, having very crafty face. He looked
at the young man sternly.
No. This claim is not worth five dollars
1t will not assay ten ounces of silver to the
ton"
| Whereupon he slipped his utensils into a
valise which he slung to his shoulder
STROBE across to his horse, and rode away
without further comment or attention.
Talbot was much irritated by this per-
emptory withdrawal but relieved to know
the stranger had not been deceived by Nose
He was puzzled however, when he looked
at the bits of mineral left from the assay.
They were deeply marked with yellow chic
ride stain and he knew the ore examined
must have been rich in mineral so that
the conclusion of the chemist seemed a
strange one. He was glad he had escaped
any base temptation to try and sell his
claim himself at high price on the strength
I of Nose Tannin's representations since the
acumen of the visitor wonld evidently have
foiled the attempt. He started of across
the hills cheerily with clear conscience and
light heart.
All that afternoon Stymer chafed uneas-
lily behind his bar. Nose Tannin had come
in with Mr. Claypool, and the two sat by
the tables trying to close the bargain Nose
demanded three thousand dollars for the
Pillar of Fire. Mr.. Claypool now refused,
denounced the claim a mere ordinary
prospect of unknown value, and even be-
gan to collect his baggage preparatory to
departure on the stage next morning Sty-
mer, long-experienced In the mines. set
them down for pair of sharps and nm