The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-14
(Continued.)

arrived it might cause a lot Of trouble
Litigation. riots. bloodshed and all
that. He filed her up on generalities
till the girl was frightened to death
and thought the safety Of her uncle and
the whole country depended on her"
well" continued Strive, its dead
easy to hire men to jump claims, and
IT'S dead easy to buy their rights after
ward, particularly when they know
they haven't got any. But what course
do you follow when owners 90 cunning
for your"
Mcnamara laughed.
''Who cid that?"
"a benevolent silver haired old Tex
IN pirate by the name Of DeXtry. He's
one-half owner in the Midas and the
other half mountain lion, as peaceable.
you'd imagine, as a benediction, but
with the temperament of a Geronimo.
/ sent Galloway out to relocate the
claim, and he got his notices up in the
night when they were asleep, but at 6
a. IN. he came flying back to my room
and nearly hammered the door down.
I've seen fright in varied forms and
phases, but he had them all, with soI-e
added starters.
"'Hide me out, quickv he painted.
"'What's up? / asked.
"T've stirred up a breakfast Of griz-
Fly bear, smallpox and sudden death,
and it don't set well on my stummick.
Let me in
II had to keep him hidden three days,
for this gentle hammered old cannibal
roamed the streets with a cannon in
his hand, breathing fire and pestilence."
anybody else act up?" queried Dun
ham.
mo; all the rest are Swedes, and
they haven't got the nerve to fight.
They couldn't lick a spoon if they
tried. These other men are different,
though. There are two of them-the
old one and young fellow. I'm lit
tie afraid to mix it up with them, and
if their claim wasn't the best in the
district I'd say let it alone"
'Tll attend to that" said Mcnamara.
Strive resumed:
Eyes, gentlemen, I've been working
pretty hard and also pretty much in
the dark so far. I'm cropping for light.
When Miss Chester brought in the pa
pers I got busy instanter. I clouded
the title to the richest placers in the
region, but Ira blamed if 1 quite see
the use of 1t. We'd be thrown out of
any court in the land if we took them
to law What's the game-blacllmatl?
''Humph! calculated Mcnamara.
what do you take me for?"
"Wer, it does seem small for Alec
Mcnamara, but / can't see what else
you're up to-"
''Within week I'll be running every
good mine in the Nome district"
McNamara's voice was calm, but de-
cisive. his glance keen and alert, while
about him chung such a breath of
power and confidence that it compelled
belief even in the face of this astound-
Ing speech.
In spite of himself Wilton Strive.
lawyer. rake and gentlemanly adyen-
turer, felt his heart leap at what thu
others daring implied. The PROPOSE
ton was utterly past belief, and yet,
looking into the mans purposeful eyes,
be believed
That's big-awful big-too big" the
younger man murmued. "Why. man,
it means you'll handle $4,000 a dayr'
Durham shifted his feet in the al,
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 herer 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 the
laws of Arizona; secret of course. It
would never do for the names to get
out. I'm showing you this only be-
cause l want you to be satisfied who 5
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 wrong
with the company and it leaked out
who those stockholders areg'
There's no danger. have the
books where they win be burned at the
first sign. We'd have had our own
land laws passed but for Sturtevant OF
Nevada, curse him. lie blocked Us
in the senate. However, ny plan is
this" He 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 a wonder!" he
cried at the close. And I'm with you
body and soul It's dangerous-that'S
why I like it."
Dangerous" Mcnamara shrugged
his shoulders. Bah! Where is the
danger? We've got the law, or. rather