Evening star., 1897-04-03

Heavy Tree Hill I'VE were just saying
Jack" said old locator, that giving
you fair show and your own game you
could manage to get away with that pile
| before daybreak''
"And I'm just thinking" said Jack
| cheerfully, that there were some of you
| here that could do that without any such
useless preliminary" His brown eyes rest
| ed for a moment on Steptoe, but turning
| quite abruptly to Van Loo, he held our his
HAND. Startled and embarrassed before the
others, the young man at last advanced
his, wnen Jack coolly put his own, as If
| forgetfully, in his pocket. 81 thought you
might like to know what that little brother
OF yours is doing he said to Van Loo. yet
| ing about the hill here quite drunk"
Il have repeatedly warned him" be-
gan Van Loo, reddening.
Against bad company, / know sug-
gested Jack gayly; yet in spite OF all that,
l think he owes some of his liquor to Step
toe yonder."
drunk over glass of whisky offered in
fun, said Steptoe haTshy, yet evidently
quite as much disconnected as angry.
The trouble with Steptce," said Haniln.
thoughtfully spanning his slim waist with
both hands as he looked down at his pol
ished shoes, lis that he has such a soft
hearted liking for all weaknesses. Always
wanting to protect chaps that can't look
after themselves, whether it's Whisky Dick
there. when he has a pull on. or some mig
ger when he's made a little strike. or that
straying lamb Of Van Loo's when he's pup
py drunk. But you're wrong about me-
boys. You can't draw me in any game to-
right. This is one of my nights off, which
l devote exclusively to contemplation and
song. But he added, suddenly turning to
his three hosts with bewiidering and fas-
clnating change of expression, Il couldn't
| resist coming up here TO you and your
pile. even if L never saw the one the
other before, and am not likely to see either
again. l believe in luck, And it comes a
mighty sight oftener than fellow thinks
it does But it doesn't come to stay. So
Ia advise you to keep your eyes skinned
and hang on 20 it while it's with you ike
grim death. So long.''
Resisting all attempts Of his hosts-who
had apparently fallen as suddenly and un-
accountably under the magic of his man
ner-to detain him longer, he stepped light
ly away, his voice presently rising again
in melody as he descended the hill Nor
was it at all remarkable that the others,
apparently drawn by the same inevitable
magnetism, were impelled to follow him.
naturally joining their voices with his. leav-
ing Steptoe and Van Loo SO markedly behind
them alone that they were compelled at
last In sheer embarrassment to close up the
rear of the procession. In another moment
the cabin ard the three partners again re-
lapsed into the peace and quiet of the night.
with the dying away of the last voices
the hillside the old solitude reasserted it
self
But since the interruption of the stranger
they mad lost their former sluggish con-
temptation, and now busted themselves in
preparation for their early departure from
the cabin the next morning. They had ar
ranged to spend the following day and
night at Boomville and Carter's Hotel
where they were to give their farewell din
ner to Heavy Tree Hill. They talked but
little together; since the rebuff his enthusi-
astic condolences had received from Van
Loo. Barker had been grave and thought
full. and Stacy, with the irritating recollec-
ton of Van Loo's criticisms in his mind
mad refrained from his usual rallying of
1lv Ioh how
of Jack Hamlin-till then personally a
stranger to them. on account of his infelix
reputation-and even the critical Demorest
expressed a wish they had known him be-
OF anything until you're quittin' it, or it's
quittin' you,'' he added sententiously.
Barker and Stacy both stared at their
companion. 1t was unlike Demorest to re-
gret anything-particulariy a mere social
diversion.
They say. remarked Stacy "that if
you had known Jack Hamlin earlier and
professionally, great deal of real value
would have quilted you before he did"
Don't repeat that rot flung out by men
who have played Jacks game and lost
returned Demorest, der'sively. "rd rather
trust him than" He stopped, glanced
at the meditative Barker, and then con-
Guided abruptly, ''the whole caboodle of
his critics.
They We're silent for a few moments.
and then seemed to have fallen into their
former dreamy mood, they relapsed in
to their old seats again. At last Stacy
those nuggets off with the others this
morning.
Why" said Demorest. suddenly
why? Well, d-n it all. they kind O.
oppress me. don't you see? I seem to feel
'em here. on my chest-all the three" re-
turned Stacy, only half jocularly. Its
their ID specific gravity. 1 suppose. 1
room with 'em. They're altogether too
much for US three men to be left alone
with"
You don't mean that you think that
anybody would attempt said Demorest.
Stacy curled fighting lip rather super
ciliously. NO; 1 don't think that rather
wish l did. It's the blessed chunks of
solid gold that seem to have got us fast.
don't you know, and are going to stick
to us for good or i'll. "A sort of Franken-
stein monster that we've picked out of a
hole from below"
Il know just what Stacy means" said
Barker, breathlessly, rounding his gray
eyes. I've felt 1t, too. Couldn't we make
sort of cache Of it-bury it just outside
the cabin for tonight? 1t would be sort
Of putting 1T back in its old place YOU
know. for the time being. 1t might like
It,"
The two others laughed. Rather rough
on Providence. Barker, boy" said Stacy,
handing back the heaven-sent gift so
soon! Besides, what's to keep any pros
pector from coming along and making a
strike of it? You know that's mining law
IL Sou maven tne spot as a
claim"
But Barker was too staggered by this
material statement to make any reply, and
Demorest arose. And l feel that you'd
both better be turning in, as we've got to
get up early" He went to the corner of
the cabin and threw the blanket back over
the pan and its treasure. There. thatll
keep the chunks from getting up to ride
astride of you like nightmare" He shut
the door and gave a momentary glance at
its cheap hinges and the absence of bolt
or bar. Stacy caught his eye We'll miss
this security in San F.'ancisco-perhaps
even in Boomville," he sighed.
1t was scarcely 10 O'Clock, but Stacy and
Barker had begun to undress themselves
with intervals of yawning and desultory
talk, Barker continuing an amusing story
with one stocking off and his trousers
hanging on his arm, until at last both men
were snugly curled up in their respective
hunks Presently Stacy's voice came from
under the blankets:
Halo! aren't you going to turn in. too?"
Not yet said Demorest, from his chair
before the fire. You see it's the last night
in the old shanty. and 1 reckon I'll see the
rest Of it OUT
That's so,'' said the impulsive Barker,
struggling violently with his blanket II
tell what bOyS W inst oupht IN la