The Irish standard., 1899-08-05
know. What is it, pards, stay or light

to give the news of their mine to the
world.
Both Tarbox and Taylor realized that
they had but one course to pursue. The
pay streak was so crooked and shallow
that it would be necessary to go over
large piece of ground TO follow it, and
should their discovery leak out they
would be confined to claim apiece,
where they now could pick and choose
over the entire valley.
Bowers watched them with an easy
air as they spoke in low tones for
moment, for he knew we'll they could
but decide one way. Presently Dick
Taylor said, bluntly:
What you say is true i'm regard to
this place. We don't want you, but
we are obliged to have you. Get your
stuff up out of sight. We will help you
do that for our own sake. After that
You will keep away from our camp and
dig all you please"
An hour later his outfit was in the
valley, and as he busted himself putting
up his tent he wore self-satis4ied en-
preston that bodied ill for the peace
of the men upon whom he had forced
himself so cleverly.
But if Hank Bowers could have been
present at a little conference that night
he would not have congratulated him
self so suddenly. He was deep rascal,
but he had different material to deal
with than the sailor in whose company
he had recently been.
| Dick Taylor was a very shrewd sort
of a person, and while he had been
| forced to receive the stranger into his
camp he was determined he should not
remain there after they were ready to
have him go. To get rid of him in
way that would keep his tongue sealed
in regard to the gold they had found
was the problem and he had thought of
a way which he hoped might answer
their purpose.
That night he detailed his scheme to
the others, and all agreed that it was
the wisest course under the circum-
stances. What it was will develop later.
Il don't believe a word about his
breaking with that Rider" he added,
when the whole ground had been gone
over. "There's no doubt in my mind
that they've put up some job between
them. There's five of us, anyhow, and
while he's in camp we must keep an
eye open nights. Well divide the time
up, and it won't come hard. We will
stay in this tent, of course, and we
won't let him know but what we're all
asleep. He won't do anything until we
have bigger pile than we've got now"
Their plans being arranged, the little
party separated forthe night, but Avery
shared the cave with his daughter, as
he thought it safer. This was also the
repository of some $4,000 worth of
gold, which the two men had already
taken from the spot.
On the following morning work was
commenced in earnest, and the piles of
dirt began TO melt away before the vig-
orous attacks of the men. while Hank
Bowers dug manfully by himself ashort
distance away, apparently satisfied to
take them at their word. He was an
experienced miner and his little pile
of dust grew steadily.
That night the. result of their com.
bined efforts was nearly $1,000, and
Tom Scott could hardly be content to
take the necessary time for sleep. It
seemed to him that his fortune was al
ready made.
Three days of unremitting toll fol-
lowed, the average being little less
than the first day. Then Avery said,
as they were starting out the fourth
morning:
Taylor, we are digging in the wrong
place altogether"
THE wrong placer"
eyes, that's what said. I've waited
to see how rich this dirt is and am not
satisfied. Don't you see. Dick, you have
been digging here by stream that runs
now, but it isn't the stream that cut
that big hole through the face of the
cliff. That goes off in another direc-
tion altogether, you see.
perhaps hundred or thousand
years ago this stream wasn't running
at all. Now, where must the bed of the
stream have been. that did cut it's way
through thatr rock? You can see it must
have been over there on the other side
of the ridge. I'll bet that old stream
ran thousands of years before it dried
up. It must have"
"How do you know?" asked Tom, in
wonder.
because it would take that long to
wear through the rock as it did. TWAS
bigger stream than this by good
deal. See those big stones scattered all
around in its bed. 1t must have been
powerful stream to start them, and
there they are everywhere"
"By thunder, believe you're right"
cried Taylor, eScitedly. Il can see it
now. ought to have known itat first,
but we struck good paying dirt on this
side, and didn't prospect any further.
Come on, let's try over there!"
"IIold on a Bit replied Avery.
"Ycu're not headed for the best place."
The others looked at him to see if he
was joking. but his face was very
earnest, and he went on:
sit makes lots of difference where
we dig. We may be surprised here any
day and can't hope to keep isplace to
ourselves great while. We don't want
to>waste a. day. just look at that bend
where the round pebbles are collected.
There was'a strong eddy just there. I'm
der the ridge of such place is apt to
be more gold than anywhere else. Let's
try there first, and if we don't find gold
I'm no prophet"