Gilpin observer., 1903-03-05
Copyright, 1877. By Rossnr Boxxzxs ssxA
All rights rssaFvsA-
CHAPTER x.-(continued.)

course ye mlBnJ nanS MIN up.Dy
the neck until he was dead an ne
wouldn't tell. What would a man
care for bein' Killed himself? It's
when you begin an attack on his flesh
an blood he trembles."
"Well, dye reckon that's certain?"
asked Padgett, rubbing his bullet. head
to get the idea through.
Know it."
why didn't we light on that afore?"
Because the youngster goes under
a nickname. He's Crack-lash here an
Paul Miller in Fresno. That's the
whole long and short O. It,"
well, sail in on the capen an see
what ye kin do with him." growled
Ned seating himself on stone and
twirling his stick in his hand. 81
leave it all t you; take it an see how
yell come OUT
Then followed another long con-
sultation among the other three.
1t was not until late that night they
proceeded to carry out their plan. The
old hermit whom they called the cap.
tain was taken apart from his fel.
low prisoner and seated on stone.
Ben Allen then proceeded to interro-
gate him.
You are Captain Joseph Miller Of
the schooner Eleanor amt ye?" he
asked.
"Those two rogues told you that
They know it, and it's no use to deny
it."
You left wife at home-a wife
and child?"
yes"
"Your wife was named Mollie and
your boy baby's name Paul?"
81 don't admit or deny"
after you sailed away SO many
years your wife gave you up for dead,
and with her child removed to Fresno.
where she lives now. She never told
her son the sad. uncertain fate of his
father, fearing when he grew up he
would start in search of him, and
she always had superstitious dread
O. the forests O. Alaska
The sea captain sat unmoved
throughout the narrative. Ben went
on:
But when Paul Miller grew to be
a man he heard of the fabulous riches
in Alaska and came to find it. He had
amassed quite a fortune, when he
was robbed, followed the robbers to
the woods and was captured by them.
Now. the young man yonder is Paul
Miller, your son."
The stern old captain was unmoved
save slight twitching at the cor
ners of his mouth, but he made no
answer. Ben continued:
Though ycu may have lost the
walrus hide on which the map to the
buried treasure is. yet you know the
spot, and can take us there. You
shall do it or l swear that your son
shall die before your face"
Again Ben Allen was disappointed.
The old man was wholly unmoved, as
II he had been talking to stone. The
captors waited about him with half.
suppressed breathing. hoping that
something would occur to break his
imperturbability, but they were dis
appointed.
The threat of Morris had only been
to intimidate the prisoner. He was
willing to make any sort of threats.
but not being the hardened criminal
Ned Padgett was he called a halt at
the line of murder.
Boys" continued Morris, 81 haven't
given up all hope yet. We may be
able to do somethin' with him. Let's
keep up the scare"
Agreed"
I'VE can even get a rope and go
through pretense o. hangin' the
youngster."
That's 1t; go through anything to
make the old rascal tell us where 1t
is."
With this resolution more firmly
hxed In their minds they once more
returned to where the old captain sat
as unmoved as when they left him.
well. Captain Miller, have you de-
cided to tell us where you cached the
.reasure?" asked Ben Allen.
NO." was the immediate answer.
do you want to see your son hang
before your eyes?"
II have no son."
Don't you know that young man
is your SOM"
The prisoner fixed his great blue
orbs on the speaker and in a firm. un.
moved tone answered:
He 10 net my son. I nay have q
son living. I once did. but he Is not
my son. l like the young man. for he
is noble. brave and honest. but he is
no relation to me-"
They were wholly unprepared for
this answer. The sincerity with which
It was given took everyone aback and
for several moments they stood
aghast and silent. The ex-sea captain,
after brief silence. continued:
Even II I had the walrus hide
would not give 1t to you. Even II
could now go and unearth that buried
treasure I would not do It."