Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-14

and skirted by the black pine forest, seemed
almost to be floating above mist-envel-
oped lake. We seated ourselves on pro
jecting boulder, and / heard the story of
Arthur Cinnabar.
Two brothers had come to the town, about
three years before my advent, as officers Ct
the mine at which j was now working. The
elder, Charles, had been great social light
and had Immediately assumed the position
of a Beau Brummel, His friendship was
priced an honor, and no hostess whose
invitations he did not accept felt her posi-
ton quite assured. Arthur on the other
hand, was a jolly, good-tempered. hoyiSh
young fellow, general favorite in every
circle but quite eclipsed by the radiance OF
the brighter planet. He joked about king
Charles" he called him, but in secret
was immensely proud of the triumphs and
standing Of the brother whom he almost
worshiped. Charles was engineer of the
mine and Arthur, who mad just grad lated
from Harvard, was the secretary. All mon
ey paid or received by the mine passed
through Arthurs hands. and although
rather careless fellow in most things, he
seemed to realize the gravity of his position
of trust, and was most scrupulouSly exact
in all his dealings.
Just after large shipment of ore had
been made. ard when the money for that
and the wages of the men were on deposit,
making a total of several thousands, Ar
thur heard a rumor regarding the bank in
which the funds Were deposited, which
frightened him to such an extent that he
mounted his morse and rode post haste to
town to withdraw the account. He was
just in time TO do this before the closing of
the bank. Then came the question of dis
posal of the money. He had meant to carry
it straight back TO the mine and lock Ii in
the safe there; but now that the money
in his hands the thing did not seem so
easy. The mine WAS about three miles from
town and the road VIGOROUSLY unsafe. Sew
oral ''holi-ups" had taken place within
short time. and the gathering twilight OF
winters Gay made the prospect look any
thinS, but cheerful to the nervous boy.
Moreover, he was known and had pos
SIbly been watched at the bank. After ma
tUre reflection he resolved TO remain in
town and trust to meeting some friend who
would accompany him back i'll the evening.
Arthur dned at the most public of Lead
Miles cafes, and lhea wandered up and
down the main thoruughfareS looking FOR
some one with whom he could trust his
cret. His money was in a belt i'll which he
was accustomed to carry their pay TO the
miners on the outlying claims, ana il seem
ed to him that he was pufed up like bal
loon with the rolls OF bills, ana that every
one must guess his secret. In the crowd
was his safety, as he well knew; but in il
lay his chief dread. Every glance that
turned on him seemed to penetrate his coats
ana to Doe directed at the belt beneath, and
every wayIarer who jostled him seemed to
feel the unusual girdle and inspect him
cONertly.
" hat a villaiHoGs set they were those
miners, MeNiCans lowering under the
broad shadow of their sombreros, cowboys
driven to the mines TO winter, gamblers,
Indians, rouGhs and toughs of all descrip-
tons; and each one armed with a great re-
VofTer, nspicuosuly displayed. 1t was GER
tainly an awkward bon; he dared not leave
the main thorcughfare to find any of his
town friends, and il was most unlikely thar
any of them would take the dangerous ride
with him if he did. Besides had he a right
to trust them?
The evening wore on and the throng be-
gan 10 grow less dense. Fewer and fewer
We're the arrivals from the mines, and more
and more numerous the riders WHO shot out
into The darkness of the desolate roads
And now his steps were really logged Ii
was no longer fancy. Three men had mark
cd him and were watching his movements
| Twist and turn as he might. one of them at
least was always on his trail 1t had grown
too late to hope for the arrival of aid and
il was time for action. Should he remain
any later, the deserted streets would serve
the purpose of the highwaymcn as we'll as
The lonely road. No hotel in that lawless
place was safe, and the town was one great
trap. He thought the situation over and
could see but one chance. In the gambling
| Gems ana dance halls the pack was still I'M
diminished. and he would try to throw his
pursuers off the track by a stratagem
Keno Bob's was the largest and best
patronized resort in town, and it had back
door which opened in the alley where the
| boy horse was stabbed. He would enter a
neighboring dance hall. wait till the men
ioloWed, slip out, run to Keno's, out again
by the back door, get his horse and revolver
IN hand, make dash for the mines
with as careless and convivial an air as
ne could muster, he walked into Indian
Belfs and, slipping behind a brawny la
borer near the door, waited for results
sure enough, in came two Of his pursuers
ana stood looking for him in the crowd
A half-clad girl on the stage was singing
a popular song and the audience Joined
IN the chorus with much stamping of feet
ana ciinkfng of glasses. Aided by the noise
ana confusion he slipped out almost run.
ming into the third villain, who had been
lett on guard, and crossed the street at the
top of his speed. The watcher uttered a
shrill whistle, which Arthur hoped was
{ drowned by the noise of the roisterers. and
J followed without the least ATTEMPT at con-
, cealment. In Keno's huge bar room were
several card tables and two roulette wheels.
around which was seated a group of play
ers, and back of them stood a pack OF in
tereSted spectators
! AS Arthur elbowed his way through them
/ he heard the roller in The keno room
call number. "Twelver' said the voice
Arthur pushed on, keeping as many men
as possible between him and the street
door and watching for his enemy. The
! door opened and the man entered and then
stood looking for him. "Twenty-sixr' said
! the voice. STOPPING low, the boy slipped
into the keno room. Here was a different
scene. The players were ranged at long
I tables along the walls and each was intent
on the card before him. The way was
clear; few steps would bring him to the
! door, and in a moment he would be mount
ed and away. just as he reached the door
it opened and he was confronted by the