Evening star., 1897-04-03

strong enough to bear it now" Stacy drew
the blanket from the vague pile that stood
In the corner and discovered deep lln
prospecting pan. 1t was heaped with sew
eral large fragments of quartz. Al nfst
the marble whiteness of the quartz ana the
glittering crystals of mica In its veins were
the most noticeable, but as they drew
closer they could see the dull yellow OF
gold filling the decomposed ana money
ccmbed portion of the rock as II stili liquid
and molten. The eyes of the party spar
kled like the mica-even those of Barker
and Stacy, who were already familiar with
the treasure.
(which is the richest chunk?' asked
Steptoe in a thickening voice.
Stacy pointed it out.
why, it's smaller than the others"
.'Ifeft it in your hand said Barker, with
boyiSh enthusiasm.
The short, thick fingers Of Steptoe grasp
ed it with a certain aquiline suggestion:
his whole arm strained over it until his
face grew purple but he could not lift it.
Thar useter to be a little game in the
Frisco mint" said Dick. restored to
fiuency by his liquor, when thar war
ladies visiting it, and that was to offer to
Civ 'em any of those little boxes of gold
coin. that contained five thousand dollars,
eff they would kindly lift 1t from the coun-
ter and take ii away! 1t wasn't no bigger
tran one of these chunks; but Jimminy
you oughter have seed them gals grip and
heave on it. and then hev to give 1t up!
You see, they didn't know anything about
the paci-(hic) the speshif-'' He stopped
with great dignity, and added with painful
precision, 1.-The specific gravity Of gold.''
DRY upr' said Steptoe. roughly. Then
turning to Stacy, he said abruptly: But
where's the rest Of it? You've got more
than that"
I'VE sent it to Boomvile this morning.
You see we've sold out our claim to a
company who take it up tomorrow and put
up a mill and stamps. In fact. it's under
their charge now. They've got a gang Of
men on the claim already
And what mout ye hev got for it. If it's
a fair question: said Steptoe, with a
forced smile.
Stacy smiled also Il don't know that it.
a business question" he said.
Five hundred thousand dollars" said
Demorest abruptly from the doorway, "and
treble interest"
The eyes of the two men met. There was
no mfstaking the duh fire of envy in Step
toes glance, but Demorest received it with
certain cold curiosity. and turned away
as the sound of arriving voices came from
without.
Five hundred thousands a big fgger,"
said Steptoe, with a coarse laugh, "and 1
don't wonder it makes you feel so id
sassy But 1t was a fair question"
Unfortunately, it here occurred to the
whiskystimulated brain of Dick that the
friend he had introduced was being treated
with scant courtesy, and he forgot his own
II 1eatment by Steptoe. Leaning against the
wall he waved a dignifed rebuke I'm
Sc shifted my ole frien' is akshuated by onlv
husiDesh principles" He paused recol!ect-
ed himself and added with great precision:
When l say he himself has a valuable
claim in Red Gulch and to my shertain
knowledge has received offers-I have said
CROUCH"
The laugh that broke from Stacy and
Barker, to whom the infelix reputation of
Red Gulch was notorious. I'D not allay
Steptoe's irritation. He da- ID vindic-
yy-a ty(a
Joined in the laugh "And what was ye
goin to do with that?' he said, pointing
to the treasure
"Oh, we're taking that with u.s. There's
cast lots for the choice and Demorest won.
That one which you couldn't lift with one
hand, you know" said Stacy.
"Oh. couldn't l? 1 reckon you amt goIn'
at the mirt. eh?'
Although the remark was accompanied
with his usual coarse, familiar laugh there
was look In his eye so inconsequent in
Its significance that Stacy would have
made some reply, but at this moment pem-
crest re-entered the cabin, ushering IN a
half dozen miners from the Bar below,
Ihey were, although young men. some of
the older locators in the vicinity yet
through years Of seclusion and uneyent-
full 1abors, they had acquired a certain
childish simplicity of thought and manner
that was alternately amusing and pathetic
of the three partners of Heavy Tree Hill
before. Nothing but an infantine curl
osity, a shy recognition of the partners
courtesy III inviting them with the whole
population Of Heavy Tree" to the dinner
next day. and the never-to-be-resisted ed
temptation of an evening of free liquor"
and forgetfulness of the past had brought
them there now. Among them, and vet
not OF them. was young man. who, al
though speaking English without accent
was distinctly Of a different nationality
and race. This, with a certain neatness Of
dress and artificial suavity Of address
gained him the nickname of "the Count"
end 'Frenchy." although he was really of
Flemish extraction. He was the Union
Ditch Company's agent on the Bar by yir-
tue OF his knowledge of languages.
Barker uttered an exclamation of pleas
ure when he saw him. Himself the in
carratien of naturalness. he had always
secretly admired this young foreigner with
his lacquered smoothness, although a
vague consciousness that neither Stacy
nor Den.orest shared his feelings had re-
strfcted their acquaintance. Nevertheless,
he was proud now to see the bow with