Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-11-01
The Spoilers.
BY REX e. BEACH,.
copyrisht. Rex E. Beach. :.

cisive. his glance keen and alert, while
about him chung such breath Of
power and confidence that 1t compelled
belief even III the face Of this astound-
ing speech.
In spite of himself Wilton Strive,
lawyer, rake and gentlemanly 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" the
younger man murmured. "Why, man,
1t means you'll handle $4,000 day."
Durham shifted his feet in the 81.
lence and licked his dry lips.
"Of course It's big. but Mr.. McNa-
mara's the biggest man that ever came
to 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 a typewriter 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, we're 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 it. But,
say, suppose anything went wron.
With the company and it leaked out
who those stockholders are?'
There's no danger. | have the
books where they will be burned Mt the
first sign. We'd have had our own
land laws passed but for Sturtcvnnt OF
Nevada, curse him. He blocked us
IN the senate. However my plan is
this" lie rapidly outlined his PROPOSE.
ton to the listeners. while light OF
admiration grew and shone in the
reckless face of Strive.
by heavens, you're wonder!" he
cried at the close. "And I'm with you
body and soul. It's dangerous-that's
why 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
documents which Strive laid before
him, going through them like whirl.
wind. Gradually he infected the 9th.
ers with his energy, and soon behind
the locked doors Of Durham & Struvc
there were only haste and fever and
plot and intrigue.
AS Helen Chester led the judge to.
ward the tlamboyant. three storicd no.
tel she prattled to him light heartcdly
The fascination Of new land already
held her fast. and now she felt, in ad-
dition, security and relief. Gleniste1
saw them from n distance and strobe
forward to greet them.
He beheld man Of perhaps three
score years. benign Of aspect save fol
the eyes, which were neither clear mol
steady. but had the trick of looking
past one. Glenister thought the mouth,
too. rather weak and vacillating but
the clean shaver face was dignified by
learning and acumen and was win
kled in pleasant fashion.
"AIy niece has just told me of your
service to her." the old gentleman be
gan. II am happy to know you. sir"
Besides being brave knight and
assisting ladies in distress. Mr.. Clients
ter is very great and wonderful
man." Helen explained lightly. "IIc
owns the Midas"
Indeed" said the old man, his
shifting eyes now resting full on the
other with fash OF unmistakable In
terest. II hear that Is wonderful
mine. Have you begun work yet?"
mo. Well commence sluicng day
after tomorrow. 1t has been 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 OF
the ground waiting"
II am greatly interested. Won't YOU
walk with us to the hotel? l want tn
hear more about these wonderful
placers."
well. they are great placers," said
the miner us 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
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 will the Anvil creek
mines produce this SUMMER" asked
the judge.
Its hard to tell. sir. but we expect
to average $4,000 day from the Mi
das alone. and there are other claims
Just as good
"Your title Is all clear, 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 lie didn't al
legc 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 n
peculiar infection.
You wouldn't use violence, trust?"
Sure! Why not? 1t has worked all
right heretofore"
"But, my dear sir, those days are
gone. The law Is here, and it is the
duty of nvnlu onn To nhiln hu Il .,