The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-14
The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
:. copyrieht 1905. by
By REX E. BEACH.

documents winch strive laid before
him, going through them like a 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 famboyant, three storied ho-
tel she prattled to him light heartedly.
The fascination Of a 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
past one. Glenister thought the mouth,
too. rather weak and vacillating, but
the clean shaven face was dignified by
learning and acumen and was wrin-
killed. 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 a brave knight and
assisting ladies In distress, Mr.. Glenis-
ter is a very great and wonderful
man." Helen explained lightly. HE
owns the Midas"
Indeed" said the old man, his
shifting eyes now resting full on the
other with fash of unmistakable in
terest. Il hear that is a wonderful
mine. Have you begun work yet?'
"No. Wen commence sluicing 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"
''I am greatly interested. Won't you
walk with US to the hotel? I want to
hear more about these wonderful
placers."
"Well, they are great placers," said
the miner as the three walked on to-
gether. Nobody knows how great be
cause we've only scratched at them
yet. In the first place, the ground is
so shallow and the gold is so easy to
get that if 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 u.s.
"How much will the Anvil creek
mines produce this SUMMER" asked
the judge.
to average $4,000 a day from the Mi
das alone, and there are other claims
just as good"
your title is all clear, l dare say,
eh?"
Absolutely except for one jumper
and we don't take him seriously. A
fellow named Galloway relocated Us
one night last month, but he didn't al
lege any grounds for doing SO, and we
could never find trace of him. If we
had, our title would be as clean as
snow again" He said the last with q
peculiar infection.
you wouldn't use violence, I trust?'
"Sure! Why not? 1t has worked al
right heretofore"
But, my dear sir, those days are
gone. The law is here, and it is the
duty of every one to abide by it,
"WeIl, perhaps it is, but in this coun.
try we consider a mans mine as sa
cred as his family. We didn't know
what lock and key were in the early
times, and we didn't have any troubles
except famine and hardship. It's diff
ferent now, though Why, there have
been more claims jumped around here
this spring than in the whole length
and history of the Yukon"
They had reached the hotel, and
Glenister paused. turning to the girl as
the judge entered. When she started
to follow, he detained her.
81 came down from the hills on pur
pose to see you. It has been a Ions
week.
Don't talk that way" she interrupt.
OIL coldly. Il don't care to hear it"
See here, what makes you shut me
out and wrap yourself up in your
haughtiness? I'm sorry for what l did
that night. I've told you so repeated
". I've wrung my soul for that act
till there's nothing left but repent,
ance."
1T is not that" she said slowly. 81
have been thinking it over during the
past month. and now that have gain
ed an insight into this life I see that
it wasn't an unnatural thing for yoJ
to do It's terrible to think of, but it;
true l don't mean that it was pardon
able" she continued quickly, for i
wasn't. and hate you when think
about it. but l suppose put mysel1
into position to invite such actions
No; I'm sufficiently broadminded no
TO blame you unreasonably, and thinl
. could like you in spite of il, just fol
what you have done for me. But tha
/ isn't all There is something deeper
You saved nly life, and I'm grateful
but you friShten me always. 1t i:
the cruelty in your strength. 1t /:
something away back in you-lustfu
and ferocious and wild and crouching.
He smiled wryly.
ct Is my local color maybe, absorbed