Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-09-17
By REX E. BEACH.

From the tent came the voices of the
night shift at table and the faint rattie
of dishes. while the canvas walls glow
ed from the lights within like great
tiretiies hidden in the grass. The fore-
man. finishing his meal, appeared at
the door of the mess tent and, pauslns
to accustom his eyes to the gloom
peered perfunctorily toward the creek.
The Waterman detached himself from
tbe shadow, moving out into plain
sight. and the boss turned back Inc
two men below were now working on
the sluices which lay close under the
hank and were thus hidden from the
tent.
McNamara's description OF Anvil
creeks riches had fired Helen Cnester
with the desire to witness a cleanup,
SO they had ridden out from town III
time for supper at the claim. she nao
not known whittier he led her, only
understanding that provision for her
entertainment would be made with
the superintendent wife. Upon rec
ognizing the Midas she had endeavor-
ed to question him as to why her
friends had been dspossessed, ana ne
had answered, as it seemed, straight
and true.
The ground was in dispute, he said
another nun claimed it-and while the
litigation pended he was in charge TOT
the court, to see that neither party re-
ceived injury He spoke adroitiy, ana
1t satisfied her to have the proposltloh
resolved into such simplicity.
She had come prepared to spend the
night and witness the early morning
operation, so the receiver made the
most of his opportunity. He showed
her over the workings, explaining the
many things that We're strange to her.
Not only was he In himself fascinat-
ing figure to any woman, but wherever
he went men regarded him deferential-
I, ly, and nothing affects womans
Judgment more promptly than this OBJ
yious sign Of power. He spent the
evening with her. talking Of his early
DAYS and the things he had done In the
west. his story matching the plctur-
esaueness Of her canvas walled quar-
ters with their rough furnishings OF
skins and blankets. Being keen OBJ
server as we'll as a finished raconteur'
he had woven spell of words about
the girl, leaving her in state OF tu-
multi and indecision when at last, to-
ward midnight. he retired to his own
tent. She knew to what end all this
was working and yet knew not what
her answer would be when the ques-
ton came which lay behind 1t all. At
moments she felt the wonderful at
traction of the man. and still there
was some distrust Of him which she
could not fathom. Again her thoughts
reverted to Glenister, the impetuous,
and she compared the two, so similar
in some ways, so utterly opposed IN
others.
II was when she heard the night SHIFT
at their meal that she threw silKeh
shawl about her head, stepped into the
cool night and picked her way doWh
toward the roar of the creek. "A
breath of air and then to bed" she
thought She saw the tall figure OF
the Waterman and made for him. He
seemed oddly interested in her ap-
proach, watching her very closely, al
most as though alarmed. 1t was doubt
less because there were so few women
out here, or possibly on account OF the
lateness Of the hour. Away with con-
yentions! This was the land OF In
stinct and impulse. She would talk to
him. The man drew his hat more
closely about his face and moved OF
as she came up. Glenister had been
in her thoughts a moment since, and
she now noted that here was another
with the same great, square shoulders
and erect head Then she saw with
start that this one was negro. He
carried Winchester and seemed to
watch her carefully, yet with inde-
cision.
To express her interest and to break
the silence, she questioned him, but at
the sound of her voice he stepped to-
ward her and spoke roughly:
"What."'