The Washington times., 1905-04-09

Ioi the camp, muttered Harvey, trying
to back away.
"All right. but don't holler till you're
invited"
Ihereupon Rawiin released Harvey,
put up his weapoi, and Immediately re-
turned to his deliberate, 1 might say
hesitating, manner.
he stepped into the cabin and, as if
absent mindedly. >icked up Hugo's wal
let. l had not strapped 1t when 1 found
It, and evidently lIugc had not touched
! it. for it opened n Rawlin's hand and
some papers fell out. Among them was
the rude map he had made of his Jour
ney, and an envelope which recognized
as one of those sent from home
| There were several such envelopes in
my own wallet. for we both treasured
these messages and never DESTROYED
them This one wa marked with a
large x In the upper left hand corner.
an indication that thee was something
In the letter to which Hugo wished to
refer.
AT least. that was the way l inter
preted the mark. for by it he would be
able readily TO identity it from the score
or SO other envelopes that presumably
were in the same receptacle
gave no thought to the matter at
the time, and am now recording but the
impression Of the moment, for my mind
was absorbed IN much more serious con-
siderations.
Rawlin stopped, and, with very SLOW
motion, gathered Up the scattered papers
and replaced them in the wallet. which
he then laid again on HuEo's coat. After
tnat he went outside
Snnitty,' said he. Il don't believe vo;,
done 1t. allow thet thet story of worm
about going UP to my cabin 10 git the
wallet is as straight as a string. But
1het pardner of yourn-''
HUGO is as innocent as 1 am" I in
terrupted.
Hold your horses. Smitty,o said Raw
I'm, fmperturbably; Il was lest savin,
thet ef thet pardnel. of yourn DOM
turn up pretty quick with es straight a
story es you tell, 1 shell be obleeged
10 o1eeve he sent YOU up for thet wal
let jest to see ef the coast was clear"
impossibleH' I exclaimed. There's
no use protesting against the injustice
OF snspectfng Hugo; I'm quite aware of
tnat; rlt L will say that when I re-
turned with the wallet he was more
taan half asleep and asked no oues
tions except as to whether I had found
what went for
Rawiin looked at me with an erprae-
sion OF mingled pity, amusement. and
contempt.
oure so dunn honest, Smitty,'' he
remarked, "thet you can't see through
trlck when the map of it is spread |:
out Before YOU Hugo left thet wallet /
al my place jest on purpose to send YOU
up after it. He know'd well enough |
youd make some men Ion eff things
wasn't quiet up thar. So. ef you fell
iers, addressing the other miners. |
want to do something for the honor of
the camp. you'll pitch IN an hunt fer
Hugo"
Why in the thunder don't You search
the cabin?' grumbled Harvey.
cause the dust amt thar" replied
Rawfin- Amt it plain enough thet
Hugo has sloped with it? What does h
leave his wallet and coat here for eff il
amt to keep Us from suspectin' thet
he's got outen the way?'' Fl
The Yankees voice was rising. and If
took on harsh, rasping quality as he
gave "vrrcssiHn In hf1 slowly formed
of Hugo's guilt. i
ne cuSsed UutcnlfistS!. he continued
mes got my dust. Tain't much, but. by
God, FL chase him across the Pacific
If necessary. an when I catch I'D with
him, III plug him with an ounce of lead
Tor every grain OF god he sneaked from
me-
This threat satisfied Harvey and Rea-
gan, al least, for there was no mistake
that Rawlin meant every word of it.
AS for myself. as the party stalked
away. was in the depths of DESPAIR
The worst of it was that | could NOT
trevent terrible suspicion of Hugo en- :.
-erins my own mind .
Rawlin took me for a fool There was
no harm in that, but | really saw more
clearly than the Yankee did how cir .
u instances suggested if they did not !:
point to my Cousins guilt
And Yet l was sincere in my defense
II him, for believed that if Hugo had
AIKEN Rawlin's dust, the deed had been
1one under stress of great temptation
by extreme discoura cement
therefore,, and because Hugo was OF
ny blood. could be charitable; but :
tHcw only too well that there would BE- i.
&C charity Tor him if he were overtaken,
not even II he were innocent.
In the midst of my despair there arose
STUBBORN OclieI IN my cousin s innO-
,erCc. l was impressed. toe. with the
lecessity of doing everything possible
% safeguard him; but what could |
10?
So it was altogether in a painfully
mixed frame Of mind that | went into
he cabin and threw myself down upon
ny blankets 10 think. !.
They were not spread evenly. being /
ust they were when l threw them
aside on awakening. and one particular
'Unch in the fabric was exceedingly
Iard ard uncomfortable. Irritably 1
'hifted my position and put out my
hand to smooth the cloth. 1t wouldn't
smooth.
Wondering and impatient but wholly
Innrepared for the discovery | was !.
about to make. ! sat up and turned !
'ver the blanket edge to see what was
he matter.
Tucked under the edge was a small :
,anvas bag whose 5GIging SIDES showed
hat it was about half full Of knew Z
perfectly we'll what il WAS without open
ng the bag; and it did net need the
,ight OF the letters. g r." OF the side d
% tell me that this was Seth Rawiin'S (
Missing dust,
CyyAnrry rrr