Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-07
KIRK

tered the mining camp at Silver Cliff, place
that looked as if each one in it had been try
ing to wheel it away in barrows, for the
greater portion of the work done there is, OF
was, surface mining. 1t was camp that had
sprung up as suddenly and in quite as sngl-
lar manner as many others-a place in
which prospectors had looked in vain for iron
and which, by the accidental blow of pick
several years after, was found to be literally
silver cliff
The boys had already seen enough of mining
camps to know what scenes Of confusion they
present; but they were by no means prepared
for such turmoil as the one rough street
OF Silver Cliff presented. 1t was thronged
with miners and spectators, and every one
appeared to be in a state of pleasurable ex-
citement.
When Bart and the boys came in sight, fully
half the inhabitants of the town shouted
themselves hoarse as if in welcome, a proceed
ing that greatly puzzled Kirk and Dory, until
Bart explained it bye saying:
The capture of the road-agents was q
good thing for those who live here, and they
part we've taken in the matter"
1t was as Bart had said. The miners were
determined to show them all the honor pos
slble, and they marched the party burros
and all, to the one log tavern of the town,
where they made the boys understand that
,"Show them the plunder," whispered Bart,
who seemed to be as eager to bring the boys
into prominence as he was to keep himself in
the background-"show them the punder,
and let them understand that you want
those who can identify their property to come
| forward"
After giving this advice, Bart had slipped
among the crowd, thus preventing the boys
from insisting on his acting as master of cere-
MONIES me h,ss and there was nothing for Kirk to
In the rush, the donkeys had been forced
INTO the "hoteP' with their masters, and Kirk
nau nothlng to do save to unfasten the heavy
package that had caused them SO much trou-
Die i, from the pommel of his saddle.
Here is some property that the road
agents have stolen. Bart, Dory and myself
got, it out of their cabin, down at the lower
end OF the range, and we want to leave it
with some one who will see that those who
own the different articles will be sure to get
them"
AS he spoke, Kirk placed the heavy bundle
on the rude bar and unrolled it, while the
miners crowded around, shouting and cheer
ing, with delight at the thought that not only
mad the road-agents been captured, but that
a least portion of the spoils had been re-
covered
"Hold on, boys! Let's do this thing on the
square 1t hain't likely that any of us would
try to make out that thing was his'n when
it wasn't; but, for fear that some gentleman
that hasn't been robbed should try to strike
pay-gravel in this ere blanket, propose that
Jerry takes the whole lot. Them as has lost
anything comes up. an describes it. If it's
here, he gets it, an if it isn't, he Jest waits
| till two more boys comes along, an does a
JOB sech as we men couldn't do"
Take it, Jerry! Take it, Jerry!" shouted
dozen voices, and the rednosed proprietor
OF the 'Cliff Hotel" came from the other end
OF the room, in obedience to the call
Lifting. the precious load by the ends of
the blanket. Jerry denOsitad II on 4ba lodoa
behind the counter, while a dozen of the
blue and red-shirted miners raised Kirk and
Dory up on to the bar, forcing them to sit
there.
Let the boys see fair play, an what they
says goes Some, one unload them burros, an
turn 'em out, SOS they can eat"
The donkeys were unloaded, the goods being
piled up in one corner of the room, and while
this was being done the work of claiming the
stolen property was going on.
Il had twenty ounces of dust when l come
here from Central, and that same gang lifted
it. Do you see it there, Jerry?"
What was it in?' asked the proprietor
on it."
Here it is, then"
who And a,e5 JsFry i handed fn fs heavy bag to Kirk
Here, son, take this" And the miner
poured a handful of the gittering dust into
tin cup that stood on the bar. "Take it.
for it's just like finding pocket of nuggets
to get. this after the road-agents once had it
In their clutches"
Kirk tried to refuse the gift; but the min
ers forced him to accept it, and, with very
red face, he sat holding the tin Gun. with
its lining of gold, looking as if he was really
displeased at being obliged to receive a re-
ward.
Look for a gold watch with w. G. on
the case, jerry" shouted another man, who
one of the miners told the bows, was the