The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-02-14
The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
eoDxrtsht 1905 by 4. beach -


"I'll attend to that said McNamars'
Strive resumed:
Yes, gentlemen. I've been workAh
pretty hard and also pretty much III
the dark so far. I'm cropping for lighs.
When Miss Chester brought in the pa
pers I got busy instanter. l cloudel
the title to the richest placers in TIE
region. but I'm blamed II ! quite &c
the use of It. We'd be thrown out G.;
snv court In the land if we took them
10 law. What's the game-blackmaii
"Humphr' CALCULATED Mcnamara.
what do you take me for?"
well, IT does seem small for Ale
Mcnamara, but I can't see what e.
you're up to-"
within a 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 +.
power and confidence that it compellca
belief even in the face of this astounC
ing speech.
In spite of himself Wilton StruYe
lawyer. rake and gentlemanly adven-
rurer, 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 MIR. McNa-
mara's the biggest man that ever came
10 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 herep He dis
played a typewriter sheet bearing
parallel lists of names and figures.
Strive gasped incredulously.
"Those are my stockholders, ana
that is their share in the venture. Oh.
yes. we're incorporated-under the
laws of Arizona; secret, of course. Ii
would never do for the names to get
out. I'm showing you this only be
cause 1 want you to be satisfied who's
behind me-"
"Lord, I'm satisfied" said Strive
laughing nervously. Durham was
with you when you figured the scheme
out, and he met some of your friend
in Washington and New York. If he
says it's all right, that settles it. But
say, suppose anything went wrona
with the company and it leaked out
who those stockholders are?"
There's no danger. l have the
books where they will be burned at the
first sign. We'd have had our own
land laws passed but for Sturtevant Of
Nevada, curse him. He blocked rs
In the senate However, my plan is
this" He rapidly outlined his PROPOSE
ton to the listeners, while light O.
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 sluggarc He discard
cd coat and waistcoat and tackled the
documents which Strive laid before
him. going through them like a whirl-
wind. Gradually he infected the oth
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 flamboyant, three stored no.
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 ewes, which were neither clear nor
steady. but had the trick OF lookln
past one. Glenister thought the mouth,
too. rather weak and vacillating but
the clean shaven face was dignified by
learning and acumen and was win
killed. in pleasant fashion.
"My niece has just told me OF your
service to her" the old gentleman he
gan. 81 am happy to know you, sir.
Besides being brave knight anu
assisting Iaules IN ulstress, Mr.. GleHlS-
ter is very great and wonderful
man." Helen explained lightly. "lie
owns the Midas"
.1ndeedi" said the old man, hi
shifting eyes now resting full on the
other with a flash Of unmistakable IN
terest. 'T hear that is a wonderful
mine. Have you begun work YETI
mo Wen commence sluicing DAY
after tomorrow. II 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 or
the ground waiting"