The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-29
THE MAN WITH THE CASH.
BY lack LONDON.
copyright by Mcclure, Phillips and Company

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lifted as though to ward off physical VIC
! lence.
THE suns knocked the bottom out O.
the TRAIL said the Man with the Cash.
AN l only 'ope as you'll appreciate the
| hoppertunity OF consortln' with man o
1 my mug. Get steam up in that tire-bOX
o. yourn. I'm goin' to unrig the dogs
an g,uo en- An don t be shy O. the
/ wood, my lad; there's plenty more where
that come from, and it's you've got the
1 time to sing an ak. An tote up a
| bucket O. water while you're about it..
Lively! or I'll run you down, SO elp
mel"
such a thing was unheard Of. Jacob
Kent was making the fire, chopping wood,
pi cking water-doing mental tasks tor a
guest!
strike me blind, but you're a 'ustler,"
the Man with the Cash said adm. ingly
his head cooked to one side, as his host
hustled about. You never 'ort to ave
gone Klondiking. /. the keeper OF n
pub you was laid out for. An It's often
as l ave card the lads up an down the
river speak o. you, but / admit no idea
you was so jolly ana nice.
10 it 'urt you?" Jim Cardegee thnn-
dered suddenly, looking up from the
spreading of his blankets and encounter
ing the rapt gaze OF the other fixed upon
that cash. "It's strikes me as 'ow it ND
be the proper thing for you to draw your
lib, douse the CHM, an turn IN, seem
az 'ow it worrits you. Jes lay to that,
you swab, or 50 'elp me I'll take pull
on your peak-purchases!
Kent was so nervous tina. it took three
puffs to blow out the slush- lamp. and he
craw.ed into his blankets without even
removing his moccasins. The sailor was
soon snoring Justly from his hard bed on
the floor. but Kent lay staring up INTO
the biackness, one hand on the shotgun,
resolved not 10 close ms eyes the wncle
night. He had not had an opportunity TO
seerete his hve pounus Oh I'D, and 1t lay
in the ammunition box at the head OF
has BUNK. hut, Try as he would, he at
i&ot roAed OH with the weight or his dust
heavy on his soul. Had he not inadver-
leu,4y lalien aei.ep WIN hie mind IN such
condition, the somnambuilc demon would
not have been invoked, nor would jim
"a. Gegee have gone mining next day with
q dishIan.
The sailor lay like log, while his host
tossed restlessly about, the victim OF
strange fantasies. AS midnight drew
near he suddenly threw OFT the blankets
and got up. 1t was remarkable that he
could do what he then did without ever
striking a light. Perhaps it was because
OF the d4rhness that he kept his eyes
shut, and perhaps it was for fear he
would see the terrible gash on the check
IL 10
it is fact that, unseeing, he opened his
| ammunition box, put heavy charge into
the muzzle of the shotgun without epiLing
particle, ramned it down with double
wads and then put everything away and
got back into bed.
Just as daylight laid it's steel-gray fin
gers on the parchment window Jacob
Kent awoke Turning on his elbow he
raised the lid and peered into the am
munition box. Whatever he saw, o.
whatever he did not see, exercised a very
peculiar effect upon him, considering his
neurotic temperament. He glanced at
the sleeping man on the floor, let the lid
down gently and rolled over on his back.
1t was an unwonted cam that rested
on his face. Not a muscle quivered.
There was not the least sign OF excite
ment or perturbation He lay there
long while thinking and when he got no
and began to move about 1t was in
cool, collected m5 nner, without noise and
and without hurry.
1t happened that heavy wooden ,)cg
had been driven into the ridge pole just
above Jim Cardegee'S head. Jacob Kent
working softly, ran a piece of halfinch
manila over it, bringing both ends to the
ground One end he tied about his waist,
and in the other he rove a running moose.
Then he cooked his shotgun and laid it
within refch by the side OF numerous
moose hide thongs. BY an effort of viii
he bore the sight of the scar, slipped the
moose over the sleeper's head, and drew
it taut by throwing back on his weight.
at the same time Selling the gun and
bringing it to bear.
Jim Cardegee awoke, choking, Devil
dered, staring down the twin wells OF
steel.
Where is it," Kent asked, at the same
tire slac',i"o on the rope.
"You blasted-ugh-"
Kent merely tn ew back his weight,
shutting off the others wind.
"R'nomin'- Bur-ugh-"
Where Is it?" Kent repeated
NoJ Cardegee fSked, as SOCn as ne
had caught his breath.
The gold dust"
'Wot gold dust?" the perplexed sailor
de'randed.
''You know well enough-mine.'
"Ain't feer nothink of IL. Wot do yc
take mc for? safe denost? Wot ave
I got TO do with it, any'ow?"
'Mehbe you know. and nnebbe you
don't know, but anyway I'm going to
step Your breath till YOU do know And
i you lift q hand, I'll blow your head
off,,
"vaTt ho""'"'!' Cardegee roared, IS the
rope frightened.
Kent eased away moment. and the
sailor. wrioglirg is neck as though from
the pressure, managed to loosen the moose
a bit ard work it I'D SO the point OF con-
tact WIS ,u-t under the chin.
"We'l?" Kent questioned, expecting
the disclosure.
But Cardegee grinned. go ahead with
vour 'sngin', you bloonin' old pot.wol-
lorer:"
Then. as the sailor had anticipated. the
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