West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-11-07

amount OF the defalcatlons had been
exaggerated: that II had been preceded
by the suspension OF the Excelsior
bank OF San Francisco. OF which
rrixit was also n managing director,
occasloned by the discovery OF the
withdrawal OF securities for use In tho
branch bank at Canada City; tAat he
bad fled the state eastward across the
Sicrrns. yet that, owing TO the vigil
lance OF the police on the frontier. he
had failed TO escape and was In hid.
Ing. But there were adverse reports
OF more sinister nature. IL was said
that others were implicated: that they
dare not bring him to justice. Ii was
pointed ont that there was more con.
eern among many who were not openly
connected with the bank than among
Its unfortunate depositors. Besides tho
Inevitable downfall OF those who Ind
Invested their fortunes I'm II, there was
distrust or suspicion everywhere. Even
Trixits enemies were forced TO admit
the saying that Canada City was the
bank. and the bank was Trixit."
Perhaps this had something 10 do
with an excited meeting OF the direct
ors OF the new mill. to whose discus.
sions Dick Masterton, the engineer.
had been hurrledly summoned. When
the president told him that he had been
selected TO undertake the difficult and
delicate mission OF discovering the
whereabouts OF Montagu Trixit and, II
possible. procuring an interview with
him. he was amazed. What had the
new mill, which had always kept itself
aloof from the bank and its methods.
to do with the disgraced managerf He
was still more astonished when the
president added bluntiy:
"Trixit holds securities OF ours for
money advanced TO the mill by himself
privately. They do not appear on the
books, but if he chooses TO declare
them as assets OF the bank It's n bad
thing for us. II he is bold enough TO
keep them, he may be willing TO mike
some arrangement with us to carry
chem on. II he has got away or COM
mitted suicide. as some say. it's for
you 10 find tho whereabouts of the se-
curties and get them. He is said to
1avc been last seen near the summit.
You understand our position2"
Mas;erton did. with suppressed dis
gust. But he was young. and there was
he thrill OF adventure I'm this. 81 will
co." he said quietly.
1--WE thought you would You inust
take the up stage tonight Come again
and get your final instructions. by the
way. you might get some information
at Trixit's house. You-er-er-are ac-
1uainted with his daughter. think"
(which makes It quite impossible for
me 10 seek her for such n purpose"
said Masterton coldly.
few hours later he was on the
coach. AS they cleared the outskirts
OF the town they passed two Cinnamon
plodding sturdily along In the dust OF
the highway.
Mr.. Mastcrton started from a slight
doze In the heavy. numbering "moun.
tain wagon" which had taken the place
Of the smart Concord coach that he had
left at the last station. The scenery,
too, had changed The four horses
threaded their way through rocky de-
files Of stunted larches and hardy
brush. with here and there open
patches OF sbrunken snow. Yet at the
edge OF declivities he could still see
through the rolled up leather curtains
the valley below bnthed In autumn, the
glistenIng rivers half spent with the
long summer drought and the green
slopes rolling upward into crest after
crest OF ascending pines. At times
drifting haze. always imperceptible
from below, yelled the view. A chill
wind blew through the vehicle and
made the steel sledge runners that
hung beneath the wagon ready 20 be
shipped under the useless wheels an
ominous provision. A few rude ''sta-
tlons," hnlf blacksmith shop, half gro
Gerry, marked the deserted but well
worn road. a long, narrow packers
wagon" or tortuous file OF Chinamen
carrying mysterious bundles depending
from bamboo poles was their rare and
only company. The rough sheepskln
Jackets which these men wore over
their Characteristic blue blouses and
their heavy leggings were new reve-
latlon TO Masterton, accustomed TO the
thinly clad cody OF the mines. They
seemed a distinct race.
81 never knew those chaps get 80
high up. but they seem to understand
the cold" he remarked.
The driver looked up and calculated
his disgust and his tobacco Juice at the
same moment.
II reckon they're everywbar in Cali
forny. whar ye want 'em and whar
ye don't; ye take my word for II.
afore long Callforny will hev TO reckon
that She ginerally don't want 'em ef n
white man has TO live here. with a
race tied up together I'm n language ye
can't understand. ways that DO feller
knows r. from their prayln 20 devils.
syappln their wives and havin their
bones sent back to Chlny-wOt are We
goin TO DO. and where are yer What
are ye goln to make outer men that
look so much alike yc can't tell 'em
hpart; TINT think alike and act alike.
and never In ways that ye kin catch
on 20! Fellers knotted together In some
underhand secret way Of communl-
catln with each other, so that ef ye kick
a Chlnaman up here on the summit,
another Chinaman viii squcal IN the
valley. And the way they do Il Just
gets mel Look yeri III tell ye some
thin that happened that's gospel truth.
Some Of tho boys that rockoned 20 hev
some fun with the Chinee gang over at
Cedar Camp started out one after
noon TO raid 'em. They CROPPED along
through the woods whar nobody could
see 'em. kalkllatln TO come down with
n rush on the camp over two miles
away. And nobody did see 'em. only