The sun., 1897-06-13
TEE THREE PARTNERS !;
Or,
The Big Strike on Heavy Tree Hill.
BY BRET HARTE.
COPYRIGHT 1897, bv Bret Hdrte.
CHAPTER vItI.-CoNTINUED.

was surprised that tho interview had mndc
so little impression upon him and had so littlo
altered his conviction. His discovery that tho
announcement Of his bctrothed's death was n
fiction did not affect tho fact that though living
she was dead to him, and apparently by her own
consent. The contrast between her life and his
during those five years had been covcrtly ac-
cented BY Mrs. Van Loo, whether Intentionally
or not, and he saw again, as last night, tho full
extent of HIS sentimental folly. He could not
even condolc with himself that he was the vic
tim Of miserable falschoods that others had in
vented. She had accepted them, and had even
excused her doscrtion Of him by that last deceit
OF the lcttcr.
He drew out her photograph and again exam
incd 1t. but not rs lover. Had she really grown
stouter and more self.complaccnt Was tho
spirituality and dclicacy he had worshipped in
her purely his own idiotic fnncyi Had she
always hccn like thisl Yes. There was the girl
who could weakly strive. weakly revenge her.
self. and weakly forget. There was tho figure
that he had expected 10 find carved upon tho
tomb that he had long sought that hc might
weep over. He laughed aloud
II was very hot and he was sitting with mac
tion. What was Barker doing and why had not
Stacy tclcgraphed to hlmi And what were
those people In the courtyard doingl Were
thoy discussing news OF further disaster and
ruin Perhaps he was oven beegar Well,
his fortune might 20 with his faith.
But tho crowd was simply looking at the roof
OF tho hotel, and ho now saw that black smoke
was drifting across the courtyard and was con-
scious of smell OF SCOT and burning. He
stepped down from the veranda among the
mingled guests md servants, and saw that the
smoke was only pouring from chimney. lie
heard. too,s that tho chimney had been on fire.
and that 1t was Mrs. Van Loo's bedroom chin
aud tl,,t thn lol t,..1
knocked at the locked door she told them that
she only burning some old letters and news.
papers, the refuse OF her trunks. There was
naturally some indignation that the hotel had
been SO foolishly endangered. in such scorching
weather, and tho manager had had a scene with
her which resulted in her leaving the hotel in.
dignantly with her half-packed boxes. But even
after the smoke had died away and the fire had
been extngrished in the chimney ana hearth,
there was acrid smell OF smouldcring pine
penetrating tho upper floors OF the hotel all
that afternoon.
When Mrs. Van Loo drove away the manager
returned with Demorest to the rooms. The
marble hearth was smoked and discolored and
still Uttered with charred ashes of burnt paper.
MY belief is, said the manager darkly, THAT
the old hag came here just to burn up lot Of in
eliminating papers that her son had intrusted to
her keeping. II looks mighty suspicious. You
see she got up an awful lot Of side when I told
her didn't reckon to run a smelling furnace in
wooden hotel with the thermometer at 100 in
the office. and reckon it was Just an excuse for
getting of in q hurry
But the continued delay in Stacy's promised
telegram had begun to work upon Demorests
his nnNcv or Ills @ old partner He kne% that at
Stacy should have arrived in San Francisco by
s 4a she to nSe the
men dashed into the courtyard. There was the
usual stir on the veranda and rush for news. but
the two new arrivals turned out to be Barker.
n horse covered with foam, and dashing,
elegantly dressed stranger on a mustang as care
morest instantly recognized Jack HamIin.
He had not seen him since that day four years
before when he had accompanied the three part
ners with their treasure to Boomvlle. aJ9 when
he had handed him the mysterious packet AS he
toward him he folt promonition of something
as fatcln and and np2rtant G as then In obedience
E Of 5ser 6s hs Sa m to sG
noticing that his younger partners face was
mobile rs ever. but more thoughtful; yet his
given. and its boot and saddle and away.S @ "' '''"
nnHs IN %
m. from San Francisco in any Sm.crgen,cy,
Jack ran ran slap into Van Loo at the Divide and and
sent despatch to Jim. which stopped him half
broke his neck to do; and then Jack finished up i
by bringing message from Stacy IN us that we
should all meet together on the slope OF Heavy
riding into the Divide and came back with
him. lie will tell you the rest, and You can
ately on lIamlins shoulder.
Hamin WINGED slightly. For he had not told
Barker that his wife WAS with Van Loo. nor his
first reason for interfering; But he related how
and how the fugitive had disclosed Steptoe and
Halls AIS conspiracy M against the bank IN and IN Marshall
rpmpDlhprinU Stncy Gp1 ha
vide" on bis way to the station. he had first sent
despatch t3 him; and then met him at the first
voice. that he'd not only got my telegram, hut
| morning for he looked like man to whom IL
vas was just toss up whether he took his own
body elso take it for him. for he said. 'iii 90
! mysclf and telegraphei to hnve the surveyor
opSa }sos rro and SpnE @ Won IhSn o ne toid to tel
paused and added half mschievously. lie sort
OF asked me what would take to stand by him
whiskey! Yor soc: boys its u Kind Of OF
night With me, and wouldn't mind for the sake
"Ail right" said Demorcsi. with a kindling
momcnu." he added. :" Barker, boy. will you ev.
cnsc me moment II lsreHk a word to Hamlnr
vcranda, Demorest took IInmlin inside. You
and l." he said hurriedly. ARE single mon; Bar
keE hasa wife and child. This is likely to be no
| But Jack Hamln was, no fool. and from GER
| tain leading questions which Barker had already
| put. but which he had skilfuly evaded, he sur
| missed that Barker know something OF his wife 3
| cscapade He answered little more seriously
| than his won't 81 don't think as regards his
! wife that would make much difference to him or
her how stiff the work was.
Demofest turned away with his last pang OF
| bitterness: II needed only this confirmation OF
had seen In his brief interview with Mrs. Barker
J since his return to shake his last remaining
| faith. wen NIL go together. them" he said
| with laugh, "as In the old times, and perhaps
( it's well we have no woman In our confidence"
An hour later the three men passed quietly
| out OF tho hotel. scarcely noticed by the other
guests who were oblvio,s OF their absence dur
Ing the evening. For Mrs Barker quite recoy.
erea from nor ,alRmixng ride was IN high spirits
gowns and was considered quito a heroine by
heat of her return journey. Only that know
| Mr.. Barker would be worried-and the poor man
] actually walked mile down the Divide road
| TO meet mel believe should have stayed there
all day" sho glanced round tho other groups
| for Mrs. HOrncastle, but that lady had early re-,
tired, Possibly she alone had noticed tho ab-