The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-08-06

ons driven away. Fincher stood eying
Pole with admiration. Its II fact"
be said. "You could n made some'n'
out o. ycre'se'f If you'd "a been edu-
Gated an bad a shown"
Pole jersed his thumb over his shout
der at Craig. who was standing I'm the
front door looking out into the street.
Everybody don't git II fair shown in
this world. MIR FIncher." he said.
THAT man Craig hain't been treated
right"
The jovial expression died out of the
merchants face. and he leaned against
the door jamb.
"You are right thar" he said-"dead
right. He's Teen mighty unlucky and
bad treated"
Pole grasped the brim of his massive
hat and drew Ii from his shaggy head.
1T makes me so all fired mad some
( mes. Mr.. Fincher. to heer folks a.run-
min that man down that ! want to
fight. | amt no religious man myse'f.
but | respect one. al I've always put
him down in my book as a good man."
"So've l." said the merchant. and he
ioosed toward the subject of their
conversation and called ont. Craig.
oh. Craig. come back heer Il minute"
Pole put on his hat and stared at the
ground. He made a gesture as If or
protest. but refrained from speaking.
What's wanted?" Craig came down
to them. He was smoking u cigar ana
wore q comfortable look. as If he had
been fighting a hard but successful
tight and now heard only random shot
from Il fleeing enemy.
You amt n candidate fer office"
laughed Fincher. but nearly all men
like to know they've got friends. This
chap heer's heen standin' up fer you.
lie says 1t makes him mad to hear
folks talk agin you"
"Oh. it's Raker.' exclaimed the ex.
banker. shaking hands with Pole and
beaming on him. We'll. don't know.
q man I'd rather have for a friend"
he said smoothly.
Pole tossed his head and looked
straight into the speakers eye. I'm
fpr human justice. Mr. Craig" he said.
IAN | don't think folks has treated you
right. What man Is thar that don't
now an then make mistakes. sir?
You've always had means, an ! never
was anything but u pore mountain boy.
but I've always looked on you as a
good man. IL law abidln' man. an I
don't like to heer folks try to blame
you fer what another mai done. When
you had plenty. | never come nigh YOU.
beca'se | knowed you belonged to n
life an me another. but now you are
fot o yore back. sir, I'm yore friend"
CraiG's face beamed. He pulled his
beard: his eyes danced.
"Im glad there are men in the world
like you. Baker" he said. Il say In
glad. and I mean it,"
Fincher had begun to look over the
figures in his book and walked to the
front.
"Oh. my friendship amt with moth
In" said Pole. Il know that. | never
was in the shape to hep nobody. but /
know when a mans treated right or
wrong"
We'll. II you ever need assistance
and | can help you. don't fail to call
On me-" Craig spoke with a tone Of
sincerity.
Pole took q deep breath and lowered
his voice. glancing cautiously into the
house. us if fearful of being overheard.
We'll. | do need advice. Mr.. Craig"
he said-'not money nor nothin' ex-
pensive. But I've laid awake night
after night wishin' at ! could run on
some man of experience that | could
ak fer advice an that | could trust.
Mr.. Craig. III be blamed eff | don't
feel like teIlin' you some'n' that neve
has passed my lips"
Craig stared in interested astonish-
ment. We'll. you can trust me, Ba-
kerr" he said. and. If | can advise you.
why. I'll do 1t with pleasure"
There was a cotton compress near
by. with It's vast sheds and platforms,
end Pole looked at 1t steadily. He
thrust his hand into his pants pocket
and kept 1t there for a fulf minute:
then he shook his head. drew out his
hand and said: Il reckon I won't both
er you today, Mr.. Craig. Some day
I'll come in town an tell you. but
Pole looked at the sun. Il reckon I'D
better be goin'."
Hold on Craig caught Poles arm.
The ex-banker vas a natural man.
Despite his recent troubles he had his
share OF curiosity. and Poles manner
and words had aroused 1t to unwonted
activity. Hold on" he said. whats
your hurry! I've got time to spare If
ycu have"
Pole hung his head for a moment in
silence: then he looked the old man in
the face. MIR. Craig" he hogan In even
q lower voice. do you reckon thar's
any gold in them mountains?" Pole
nodded to the blue wave in the east.
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