The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
THE THREE PARTNERS;
Or.
The Big Strike on Heavy Tree Hill.
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyright, 1897. bv Bret Hartc.
CHAPTER v.-CoNriNurp.

7 CHAPTER v~.-CoNT1NuED.
But Mr. Van Loo did not Immediately seek
Mrs. Barker. He had already some experience
Of that lady's nerves and irascibflity on the
drive. and had begun to see his error In taking
no dangerous an impeachment to his flight from
the country. And another idea had como to
him. He had already effected his purpose of
compromising her with him In that flight, but
Il was still known only TO fow. II he left her
behind for tho foolish, dotinR husband, would
not that devoted man take her back to avoid q
scandal, and even forbear TO pursue him for
his financial Irregularities What were 800. 900
of Mrs. Bankers money to the scandal Of Mrs.
Bankers elopemonti Again, the failure to
realize the forgery had left him safe, and
Barker was sufficiently potent with the bank
and Demorest to hush up that, also. Hamlin
was now the only obstacle to his flight, but even
he would scarcely pursue him II Mrs. Barker
were left behind. And It would DO easier to
elude him IL he did.
In his preoccupation Van Loo did not see that
he had entered the barroom. but finding himself
there, he moved toward tho bar q glass Of spirits
would revive him. As he drank Il he saw that
tho room was full Of rough mon, apparently
miners or packers-some Of them Mencan with
hero and there q Kanaka or Australian Two
men moro SYSTEMATICALLY clad, though appar-
entity on equal terms with tho others. wero
standing in the corner with their backs toward
him.. From the general silence as he entered he
imagined that he had been the subject OF con.
versation. and that his alteration with Hamlin
had been, overheard. Suddenly one of the two
men turned and approached him. To his con-
gternation he recognised Ste~ptoe-Steptoe whom
he had not seen for five years until last night,
when he had avoided him in the courtyard of
the Boomville hotel. His first instinct was to
retreat, but 1t was too late. And the spirits had
warmed him into temporary recklessness.
"You amt goin' to DO backed down by 6
Bhort-card gambler. are yer T. said Steptoe, with
coarse familiarity.
time" said Van Loo, quickly. He knows II,
otherwise he would not have dared"
"well. look here said Steptoe, roughly, "I
amt particularly sweet on you, as you know.
but / and these gentlemen" no added, ~glancing
around the room, "ain't particularly sweet on
Mr.. Jack Hamlin neither. and we kalkilate to
stand by you IL you say 30. Now, I reckon you
want to get away with the woman. and tho
quicker the better, as you're afraid theren be
somebody after you afore long. That's tho way
It pans out, don't iti Well. when you're ready
tot go, and you Just tip us the wink. we'll get in
q circle round Jack and cover him. and II he
starts after you well send him on q little longer
journey! En-. boysf'. -,.
Tho mon muttercd their approval, and one or
two drew their revolvers from their belts. Van
Loo's heart. which had leaped at FIRST at this
proposal of help, sank at this failure Of his little
plan of abandoning Mrs. Barker. He hesitated
and then stammered: "Thank you Haste 10
everything with us now, but I shouldn't mind
leaving the lady among chivalrous gentlemen
like yourselves for q few hours only. until I
could communicate with my friends and return
to properly chastise this scoundrel."
Steptoo drew in his breath with n alioht
whistle and gaBed at Van Loo. He instantly
understood him. But the plea did not suit
Steptoe, who, for purposes Of his own. wished to
put Mrs. Barker beyond her husbands possible
reach. He smiled grimly. "I think you'd bet
ter take the woman with you." no said. IT
don't think" he added in q lower voice. that
the boys would like your leaving her. They're
very high-toned. they arer" he concluded
ironically.
"Then." said Van Loo with another desperate
idea, could you not let us have saddle horses
instead of the buggys We could travel faster,
and in the event of pursuit and anything hap
poning to me-" he added loftily. "she at least
could escape her pursuer's vengeance"
This suited Steptoe equally well, rs long as
the guilty couple fed together. and in tho pres
ence of witnesses. But he was not deceived by
Van Loo's heroic suggestion of self sacrifice.
"Quite right" he said sarcastically, " It shall DO
NotO ohu OhO VI yOu Va ooCapO. i III
send the horses round to the back door. and keep
the buggy in front That will keep Jack there.
too-with the boys handy,
But Mr.. Hamlin had quite rs accurate an idea
Of Mr.. Van Loo's methods and Of his own
standing with Steptoe's gang of roughs az Mr..
Steptoe himself. More than that, he also had
= hold on q smaller but moro devoted and
loyal following than Steptoe's. The employees
and hostlers of the hotel worshipped him. A
single word Of inquiry revealed to him tho fact
Van Loo and Mrs.. Barker WeseNon two horses.
q temporary side saddle having been CON
Mr.. Hamiin. With his usual Ri0s su adss: AZ w ~hssd
Into the barroom: and, going to tho bar. leaned
srins faces around him be ss sSdin With 9 i nash ioS Of
f h,f i.s Witt tSs s. .bi1,S sw III . S ssw m INN Sa ts io'1aS
some friends in the buggy va and %ii Il seems no tonne 70 @s
only tho SQUARE thing to stand the LIQUOR for tho
crowd. without prejudice to any feeling or
who knows me knows that TN Eenersiiy' there
Mhen the band plays, and I'm pretty sure to
vide and I'm reckoning its only fair to- leave a
drink success to my friends in the buggy as
gold pieces on ~ the eou M sG and dH paused d s nanE sEc
He was right In his conjecture. Even the men
m %sS Ses ss9s1 e1 ~ ,l T11SliIGRSSll sss s Of sssp s5% . sR" nc
reason, for declining a free drink without
R RE sisnssion 4 nat y s Sss p sna q Van the 1H irony gse Of
also Obliged to participate to keep in with their
version to Van Loo, who managed TO get nearer
the door leading to the back entrance OF the
hotel, and to Mr.. Jack Hamlin, who was watch
ing, him., as the men closed up to the bar.
The toast was drunk with exclamation. fol-
Van Loo. who had kept their heads cool. were
toxicate and inoapacitate the crowd at the crucial
moment, and Steptoe smiled grimly over his
superior knowledge of their alcoholic capacity.
But suddenly there was the greater diversion OF
ashoat from the road, the oncoming Of q cloud
Of red dust, and the halt OF another vehicle be-
fore the door; This time It was no faded single
Of four spirited ~trotters, whose coats were
scarcely turned with foam. before q Light station
wagon containing a single man. But that man
was instantly recognized by every one OF the out
side lounsers and stable boys as well as the
staring crowd within the saloon. II was James
STAG, the millionaire and banker. No ono but
lance Of q night.long ride from Boomville in
two hours. But before they could, voice their
establishment Stacy, had thrown a letter to the
obeequious landlord, and then gathering up the