Omaha daily bee., 1895-08-18


Of this new saanger that might threaten the
hidden wealth of his claim. But he reflected
that for time. at least. only the crude ore
would be taken out and shipped to Mayysv.lle
in shape that offered no profit to the high
waymen. Had it been gold mine! But here
again was the interpostion cf Providence!
In five days Prebe Key returned to Skin
ner's with foreman and ten men and an un
limited credit to draw upon at Marysville.
Expeditions of. this kind created no surprise
at Skinner's. They had before this entered
the wilderness gayly, none knew where or
what for; the sedate and silent works had
kept their secret while there; they had evap-
GRATED, none knew when or where-often,
alas with an unpaid account at SINNERS.
In week a rambling shed Of pine logs s-cccu-
pied the site Of the mysterious ruins and con-
tanned the party; in two weeks excavations
had been made and the whole face of the out
crop was exposed. In three weeks every
tge of former tenancy which the fire had not
consumed was trampled out by the alien fee.
of the toilers Of the sylvan Silver Hollow
company" None of Keys former companions
would have recognized the hollow in its black
ened leveling and rocky foundation. Even
Collinson would not have remembered this
stripped rock and the heaps Of debris as the
place where he had overtaken Key. And Key
himself had forgotten in his triumph every
thing but the chance experiment that led to
his success.
night, when the darkness had mercifully
fallen upon the scene of sylvan desolat' on,
and more incongruous and unsavory human
restoration, and the low murmur of the pines
occasionally swelled up from the still un-
scathed mountain side, loud shout and the
trampling of horses feet awoke the dwellers
in the shanty. Springing to their feet they
hurredly seized their weapons and rushed
out, only to be confronted by dark, motion
less ring Of horsemen, two flaming torches of
pine knots, and low but distinct voice of
| authority. Even in their excitement, half
wakened suspicion ard confusion 1t had
singular note of calm preparation and con-
sciOus power.
drop those guns. Hold up your hands.
We've got you cornered!'
Key was no coward the men, though flus-
tered were not cravens, but they obeyed.
"Trot out your leader Let him stand out
| there clear beside that torch!'
| One of the flaming pine knots disengaged
! itself from the dark circle and moved to the
center as Preble Key, cool and confident,
| stepped beside it.
THAT will do" said the voice, unemotion-
| ally. "Now we want Joaquin Raymon, Sgd
| ney Jack, French Pete, and One-eyed Char
| ley" --..-
| vivid "Reminiscences of the former night
| scene in the hollow of his own and his COM
| panons' voices, and the flash! in the dark
ness flashed across Key With an instinc-
| tive premonition, he said quietly:
who wants them?"
| "The state of California" said the voice.
"The state of California must look further"
| said Key in his old pleasant voice. There
| are no such names among my party"
| "Who are ypu?"
1.-THE president of the Sylvan Silver Hollow
company. and these are my workmen."
There was a movement and sound Of whis-
| pering In the Hitherto dark and silent circle.
Then the voice rose again.
"You have the papers to prove it?'
| "And-in the cabin. And you?"
"Ive the warraIt of the sheriff of Sierra"
There was pause, and the voice continued.
"How long have you been here?"
Three weeks q | came here the day of
| the fire and took up this claim"
| There was f'he sther house here?"
| There were ruins. You can see them
| still II may have been a burned-up cabin"
The voice disehgaged itself from the vague
background and came slowly forward.
at was den of thieves 10 was the
hiding place of9Joaquin Raymon and his gang
of road agents. I've been hunting this spot
| for three weeks And now it's all up"
There was a. ilangh from Keys men, but
| II was checked as the owner of the voice
| slowly ranged up beside the burning torch
| grim with the defeat OF brave man.
won't you come in and take something?"
said Key kindly.
mo. I'm sorry to have disturbed ye as
| Il Is. But l suppose it's all in the days
| work. Good night. Forward there, geti"
The two torches danced forward with the
| tracing OF vague shadows in dim procession;
there was a clatter over the rocks and they
were gone. And as Key gazed after them
| he felt that with them had passed the only
shadow that lay upon his great future. With
| the last tenant Of the hollow a prescribed
| outlaw and fugitive. he was henceforth for
| ever safe In his claim and his discovery.
And yet oddly enough at that moment, for
| A. In thRn tkA..
| before his fancy with a stirring OF reproseh
a vision Of the face that he had seen at the
window.
CTo be Contlnued)