Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-11-03
CHAPTER VIII.

tnls breeder OF pigs. lie was an elderly
man, full bodied, with white hair, thai
stuck out stifly from under his fur cap.
red, dubious nose, and shifty, suspi
cious eyes. He saluted us with touch
of his cap in military fashion.
And what is your business, gentle
menY' he asked.
1T is less business than gratitude
said Graden courteously. 1--WE have
made this little pilgrimage to thank the
producer of the Lenisdorf hams"
"You are not dealers, then?"
"No, but -
'"Then take yourself off,"
"Herr Drobinl'
''Gol clear out! Do not make myself
plain?" he cried, his flushed face nod
ding in time to his violent gesticulations.
Il will have no spies about the placer
Graden sprang out of the sleigh and
strobe up to the angry farmer. For
moment l thought there would be a
scrimmage; but the huge bulk of his an
tagonist was not without its effect upon
the German. l have often noticed that
great stature has a curiously soothing in
huence on the bad temper of an oppo-
nent.
why did you call me spy?" demand
cd my cousin.
THE people about here gossip of some
secret / hold" he answered sulkily.
Perhaps they speak true; perhaps false
Who can say? At least, l am no longer
a fool; my eyes have been opened. You
have good thing here, Herr Drobin.
There Is a great future before you, If
only you keep your knowledge to your
self said the Englshman to me. If
strangers come asking questions, they
will be spies; send them away 1t was
fine advice he gave me; anyone can see
that. So be off with your
81 am an Engishman myself, Herr
Drobin. May l ask my compatriot's
name?"
II do not remember"
"What, then, was he liker
81 cannot describe him."
you are discreet, herr Drobin. Come,
now, let us strike bargain. l will
make a guess at your secret; if 1 am
right, you will tell me what you know
of this Englishman."
The German started back staring at
Graden with little, bloodshot eyes, in
which surprise and fury were oddly min
gled. Then side by side, they stepped
into the shadow of the pines, whispering
together.
''They are all liars, these Germans, y
said our driver confdentially, turning to
me. For myself, am a Pole"
you heard what was said. Do you
know anything of this English visitor tc
Herr Drobin?"
Most certainly, mine Herr. He was
of the name of Wakefield. He has stay
ed several nights at the Golden Adler.
For the rest, he has been the guest OF
nd bo IA
gesture down the road that we hat
come.
A nameless fear took me by the throa
"a fear of unknown possibilities.
would have questioned the man more, bu
at that moment Graden and the farmer
emerged from the shadow of the pines
The latter had abandoned his truculen
manner Indeed, he seemed oddly sub
servient. AS Graden stepped into thu
sleigh, the man bowed low curtsy
which my cousin answered with a cur
nod of dismissal.
"Drive onv' he cried, and once NOR
we were ploughing our way back to tn
Lemsdorf road.
"Did you ever study the properties o
the root called madden, commonly know
as a dyer asked my cousin suddenly.
mo"
Then l must explain from the begin
ming. 1t Is right that you should hear.
He pulled the flaps o{ his deerstalke
cap over his ears-indeed, it was bite
cold-and settled himself amongst tn
rugs. | caught the outline of his face
as laws set. the cheeks drawn, the ey
hard and keen, the whole purposeful an
remorseess.
"When | was slicing the ham to-day,
he continued IAN odd thing happened
NY knife struck the bone and passe
through it as If it had been putty. A
second glance / noticed that the int
rior of the section so divided was of
brownish red 1t set me thinking.
began to remember certain facts. Th
talk of the old servant concerning
secret held by the owner of the pig farr
at Gran concentrated my suspicious, tn
proximity of the dye-works conirme
them. | was almost certain of Her
Drobin's secret before he charged III
with coming to steal 1t.
LET me explain. Nader is a dy'
a. Won know. But administered to ma
Or beast, it has the curious effect G
roloring and pulping the bones to a grii
te II Is used sparingly on a few Sout
German pig farms, that the hams ma
ennear attractive when carved. Her
Drobin introduced it into German Pr
land He obtained the root as he requil
cd n nv arrangement with the dye work.
Perhaps their presence suggested th
Idea to him. .,
"Whether or no Marnac knew of tn
uses of madden before he came TO Lem
dorf I cannot tell. From my talk wit
hof uiaif n