Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-03

supporting posts and running full Of
water Should sluice fall the rush
Ing stream carries out the gold which
has lodged In the rifles and floods the
bedrock raising havoc. Too late the
partners saw the string of boxes sway
and bend at the joint; then, before
they could reach the threatened spot
to support 1t, Slepjnck Simms, with a
shrek, plunged tapping down into the
cut and seized the fume. His great
height stood him in good stead now.
for where the joint had opened water
poured forth in cataract He dived
under the breach unhesltatingly and,
stopping, lifted the line as near to It's
former level as possible, holding the
entire burden upon his naked pate.
He gestlculated wildly for help,
while over him poured the deluge of
Icy, muddy water. 1t entered his gap
Ing waistbarid, bulging out his yellow
trousers till they were fat and full and
the seams were bursting, while his
yawnng boot tops became as boiling
springs. Meanwhile he chartered forth
profanity In such volume that the ear
ached under it as must have ached the
heroic Slapjack under the chill of the
melting snow. He was relieved quick
~, however, and emerged triumphant,
though blue and puckered his wilder
ness Of whiskers streaming like timber
stalactltes, his boots loosely "squish-
ing" while oaths still poured from him
In such profusion that Dextry whis-
pcred:
Amt he a ring tailed wonder? It's
plumb solemn an revcrent the way he
makes them untamed cuss words sit
up an beg. It's privilege to be pres
ent. That's n gift, that is
You'd better get some dry Clothes"
they suggested, and Slapjack proceed
cd u few PAGES toward the tents, hob
bling as though treading on pounded
glass.
"Ow-ww he yelled. "These blasted
boots is full of gravel"
lie seated himself and tugged at his
foot till the boot came away with
sucking sound; then. instead of emp
tying the accumulation at random, he
poured the contents into Dextry's emp
~ gold pan, rin.ing it out carefully.
The other boot he emptied likewise
They held surprising amount Of sedi-
ment because the stream that had
emerged from the crack in the sluices
all the concentration of the rifles Mt
this point. Standing directly beneath
the cataract most OF it had dived fair
~ into his inviting waistband. follow
Ing down the lines of least resistance
into his boot legs and boiling cut at
the knees
"'"ash that" be said. You're apt
to get prospect"
With artful passes Dcxtry settled it
In the pan bottom and washed away
the gravel. leaving a yellow gllttcring
pile which raised Il yell from :he men,
who had fingered curlously.
He pans $40 to the boot leg" one
shouted.
How mich do you run to the foot.
Slapjack:"
Hes a regular free milling ledge"
NO. he amt: he's too thin. Hes
nothing but a stringer, bit he'll pay to
work"
The old miner grinned toothlessly.
"Gentlemcn. there amt no better
way to save fine gold than with Under
currents nm blanket rifles. I'll have
to wash these garments of mine an
clean up the soapsudS cause there's a
hundred dollars in gold dust clingin
TO my person this minute" He went
dripping up the bank. while the men
returned 10 their work singing.
After lunch Dextry saddled his
bronchc.
I'm Co!n' to town for a pair of gold
scales, hut III be back by supper; then
we'll clean up between shifts Shed
ought to give us a thousand ounces the
way that ground prospects, He loped
down the eulch, while his partner re-
turned to the pit, the flashing shovel
blades and the rumhing undertone of
the big workings that so fascinated
him.
1t was perhaps 4 o'clock when lie
was aroused from his labors by q shout
from the bunk tent. where a group Of
horsemen had clustered. AS GleniSter
drew near he saw among them Wilton
Strive. the lawyer, and the big. well
dressed tenderfoot of the Northern.
Mcnamara, the man OF the heavy
hand. Strive straightway engaged
him.
Say Glerlster. we've come out to
see about the title to this claim"
about
well 1t was relocated about a
month ago" He paused.
Yes. What of thatY'
Galloway has commenced suit"
The ground belongs to DeXtry and
me. We discovered il, we opened it
up we've complied with the law, and
we're going to hold it." Glenister
spoke with such conviction and heat as
to nonpus Strive but Mcnamara, who
had sat his horse silently until now
answered:
Certainly. sir: II your title is good
You will he protected. but the law
has arrived in Alaska and we've got
to let It take its course. There's no
need OF violence-none whatever-but
loway has commenced action against
you. the court has enjoned you from
working and has appointed me as re-
celver to operate the mine until the
suit is settled It's an extraordinary
procedure. of course. but the condi-