The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-04-10


"And by the time we get to the mine
with our order from the court, the
chances are that there wouldn't be a
man nearer the disputed territory than
the sorters on the dump pile. They
wouldn't go into such work as that
without being provided with system
of signals and underground telegraphy
to guard against surprises. Moreover,
I think we can do BETTER" a good deal
of complacent satisfaction in the tone
row; II think we shall have one of
their men on the witness stand to-mor-
row."
. "Good enough!" cried the lawyer, in a
tone of cordial congratulation. "Who il
hep"
"a fellow who used to work for me.
He drifted away at the time Of the
strike, and lost sight of him until the
other day, when lie told me he had been
working on the Grubstalke for month.
happened to run across him again this
morning, just after had made those
assays; it flashed across me ut cnce
that he was the man for us, and made
rim an offer on the spot.
(Which he accepted?"
''Not exactly. He said he would
give me an answer tonight; but I am
pretty tolerably sure of him. TO man
with a passion for bucking faro, fifty
dollars in cash is powerful persuader."
''It is; but wish he had not taken
time to consider it, just the same" the
lawyer dryly returned. "And did you
get him to admit anything?"
"Only as silence-and an eloquent
grin-gives consent. said that knew
they were on our ground, and he did not
deny it; he said he did not feel like
talking then; he wanted time to think
1t over; but feel sure from his manner
that it is all right"
"And Brigham-have you seen him
lately?"
''No; did not think it advisable to
be seen camping on his trail con-
tinually; but sent him a note to meet
me here this afternoon"
"He has not been in"
$50 inferred; but will ride up to
Tomtown from here and look him up.
have been feeling tolerably sure of
him since our last talk; he seemed per-
fectly satisfied with the terms Of
fered and talked in the fairest possible
way; but don't like his not coming"
'He's as slippery as an eel" declared
the lawyer, disgustedly. eff you get
hold of him you had better take him
back to the Gulch with you tonight and
not lose sight of him again till court
opens. Then if you can secure the other
fellow for an alternate in case the ras-
cal elects to go back on us the last min
ute, we may be reasonably sure of some
thing. But if you are not dead sure Of
your new man, think we would still
better go for an examination of tho
mine"
1--WE should probably have to ask for
returned Neil, in interrogative tone.
"Well, as late in the day as this-per-
haps," answered Bartels.
(Which would probably be refused
il the judge has been approached by.
the other side, Neil bitterly rejoined.
"And, anyway, as said before, would
rather take my chances than delay the
trial by an hour. It has been hanging
over me long enough. While. more
over, I feel perfectly sure of being able
to buy up this man Baker, even if $50
turns out to be too little. I will have
both him and Brigham here at your
office by eight o'clock tomorrow morn
ing-I swear it," a look in his eyes which
amply Endorsed the words.
Gall right. If you stick by that, I
think we may count on an easy victory"
Bartels said, cordially, as the young
man took his leave.
A couple of hours later, that same
afternoon, Dorothy Meredith, knocking
at her fathers door to see if he were
ready to 60 to supper, found him clos
eted with the superintendent of the
mine.
''Come in for a moment; I'll go down
with you presently" he said to her;
and then, waiting till he had seen the
door safely shut and the girl quietly es-
tabtished in chair, he resumed the
conversation she had interrupted. "You
think he'll take the bait?" he asked Of
McCready, cheerfully.
"Oh, sure" returned that gentle
man confidently. "He's got onto the
fact that we're shippin' some mighty
rich truck, n he's SO bent on KNOWN
where it comes from that he'll take any
chances to see with his own eyes.
'Twon't take no persuadin' to get him
down-you bet"
"And what do you propose to do with
him if you get him." demanded the
colonel, with sharp glance.
swell, hadn't got that fur" Nc.
Cready returned, grinning in his face.
1T might be a good chance to crowd q
little experience under his hat as would
do i'm heap Of good. I'd ruther like
to serve i'm the way that top-lofty
mimi expert got fixed out whom he
come with his order from the court, last
spring, when the winze in the second
level had been left open, kinder acct
dental like. You mustn't go in there
says l. stoppin' him. You have no au-
thority to hinder my goin' where I
please, SIR says he. independent az
though he owned all Denver n had
mortgage on the earth; I've got an or
der from the court, SIR says he. We'll,
you'd better not 60 in there, just tho
same says L, aggravatin' like, KNOWN
was jest eggin' of him on. Il shall
go where d. ahem!" and McCready
paused embarrassedly, suddenly re-
Numbering that he must choose his
words before the young lady. whose