West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-24

ciSive, his glance keen ana alert, while
about him chung such breath OF
power and confidence that II compelled
belief even IN the face Of this astound-
Ing speech.
In spite OF himself Wilton strive,
lawyer. rake and gcntlemanly adven-
turer, felt his heart leap at what the
others daring implied. The PROPOSE.
ton was utterly past belief, and yet
looking into the mans purposeful eyes,
he believed.
That's big-awful big-too big" tn,
younger man murmured. "Why. man
It means you'll handle $4,000 day!
Durham shifted his feet I'm the ST.
lence and licked his dry lips.
"Of course it's big. but Mr.. McNa.
mara's the biggest man that ever came
20 Alaska" he said.
"And I've got the biggest scheme
that ever came north, backed by the
biggest men in Washington" continued
the politician. Look here." He dis
played typewritten sheet bearing
parallel lists OF names and figures.
Strive gasped incredulously.
Those are my stockholders, and
that Is their share In the venture. oh,
yes, were incorporated-under the
laws OF Arizona; secret, OF course. 1t
would never do for the names to get
out I'm showing you this only be-
cause l want you to be satisfied who's
behind me-"
Lord. I'm satisfied" said Strive.
laughing nervously. "Dunham was
with you when you figured the scheme
out, and he met some OF your friends
In Washington and New York. If he
says It's all right, that settles IL. But.
say, suppose anything went wrong
with the company and 1t leaked out
who those stockholders are?"
There's no danger / have the
books where they Will be burned at the
hrst sign. We'd have had our own
land laws passed but for Sturtevant of
Nevada, curse him. He blocked us
In the senate. However, my plan Is
this" He rapidly outlined his PROPOSE
ton to the listeners, while a light of
admiration grew and shone I'm the
reckless face of Strive.
by heavens, you're n wonder." he
cried at the close. "And I'm with you
body and soul. It's dangerous-that's
why l like It"
'Dangerous?" Mcnamara shrugged
his shoulders. bah! Where is the
danger? We've got the law. or. rather.
we are the law. Now, let's get to
work"
1t seemed that the boss of North
Dakota was no sluggard. He discard
ed coat and waistcoat and tackled the
DO. To III
him. going through them like n whirl.
wind. Gradually he infected the 9th
ers with his energy, and soon behind
the locked doors of Durham & Strive
there were only haste and fever and
plot and intrigue.
AS Helen Chester led the Judge to-
ward the fiamboyant three storied ho-
tel she prattled to him light heartedly.
The fascination OF new land already
held her fast, and now she felt In ad-
dition, security and relief Glenister
saw them from a distance and strobe
forward to greet them.
He beheld a man Of perhaps three
score years, benign of aspect save for
the eyes. which were neither clear nor
steady, but had the trick OF looking
H.
too. rather weak and vacillating. but
the clean shaven face was dlgnified by
learning and acumen and was wrin-
kled In pleasant fashion.
MY niece has Just told me of your
service to her" the old gentleman be-
gan. 81 am happy to know you, sir"
Besides being brave knight and
assisting ladies I'm distress. Mr.. Glenis-
ter is very great and wonderful
man." Helen explained lightly. lie
owns the Midas"
Indeed" said the old man, his
shifting eyes now resting full on the
other with a fash OF unmistakablc in
terest. II hear that Is n wonderful
mine. Have you begun work YETI"
"No. Wen commence slulcing day
after tomorrow. 1t has been a late
spring. The snow In the gulch was
deep and the ground thaws slowly.
We've been building houses and doing
dead work, but we've got our men on
the ground waiting"
II am greatly interested Won't you
walk with us TO the hotel? I want to
hear more about these wonderful
placers."
We'll, they are great placers," said
the miner as the three walked on to-
gether. Nobody knows how great be
cause we've only scratched ut them
yet In the first place the ground IS
so shallow and the gold Is so easy to
get that II nature didn't safeguard us
IN the winter we'd never dare leave our
claims for fear Of 'snipers.' They'd
run in and rob us"
How much VIII the Anvil creek
mines produce this SUMNER" asked
the Judge
It's bard 20 tell. sir. but we expect
% average 5000 q day from the Mi
das alone, and there are other claims
just as good"
Your title Is all clear dare say.
ehT"
Absolutely except for one jumper
and we don't take him fgr'Jusly. 4
fellow named GALLOWAY relocated us
one night last month. but he didn't all
lcge any grounds for doing go. aud we
could never end truce OF h.m n we
bad, our title would Doe as clean as
snow again" He said The last with q
peculiar infection.
lOu Wputuu use NIDitHHft iAIrff
Sure. Why nOt5 10 has worked all
right heretofore"
But, my dear SIR, those days are
gone. The law is here. and IL ls the
duty " every one 90 abide by &c."
We'll, perhaps 10 d.. bur Goo this coun-
iry we consider mans mine ns sa-
cred as Dis family. We didn't know
what q lock aud kcv were fu f.. crriv
fines. and we didn't have auy troubles
except famine and hardship IT'S diff
fcront now. though Why Uere have
been more claims jumped around lorc
ibis spring tu.u iu the Whole iougfl,