Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-04-16
CHAPTER vIIT-(Continued)

.We've just fixed it so you can't," grinned Runnion cunningly. No man can hold more than one claim on Q creek. You voted for that yeurself.- Too late Gale saw the trick by which Stark had used him to rob his own daughter.
 "No Creek" Lee had the name of a man slow in speech and action and one who reused himself to anger de liberately. much as a serpent stings itself into painful fury. bur now 1t was apparent that he was boiling over, for he stammered and halted and mustered explosively:
 You're a bunch of rascals, all of you, tryin' to down q pore girl and get her ground. But who put you wise to this thing. in the first place? Who found this gold? Just because there's enough of you to vote that motion through that don't make 1t legal, not by a d-d sight. and 1t won't hold. because won't write it in the book. You-you'--- He glared at them ma. levolently. searching his mind for ar epithet sufficiently vile and, finding il. spat 1t t-"dressmakersr
 So this was why both Stark and Runnion had gone up the creek with the three new men, thought Burreli No doubt they had deliberately arrang- cd the whole thing so that the new | arrivals could immediately relocate each of Necia's claims the pick of all the ground outside Lees discovery and the surest to be yaluable-and that Stark would share in the robbery.
 Carefully slipping around the corner of the cabin and keeping the house be- tween him and the others. Burrell broke into swift run, making the ut most possible speed for fear they should miss him ard guess his pur- pose, CT, worse yet, finish their discus sion and adjourn before he could com plete his task. He was q light man on his feet, ard he dodged through the forest, running more carelessly the farther he went, visiting first the up per claims; then, making q wide de- tour of the cabin, he came back to the Initial stake of Necia's lower claim, staggering from his exerticns, his lungs bursting from the strain. He had covered nearly mile; but, even so, he laughed grimly as he walked back toward the cabin, for 1t was game worth playing, and he was glad to take hand on the side of the trader and the girl. Coming within earshot, he heard the meeting vote to adjourn. It could not have terminated mere opportunely had he held stop watch on it.
 Rurnion addressed the other con spirators icuGlJ:
 "Wel, boys. there are three good claims open fer relocation. I'm sorry I can't stake ore of them"
 "They won't lie open long" said one of the undesirable citizens. starting to turn downstream. while his two com panions made fer the opposite direc- ton. But Burrell stopped them.
 'Too late, boys. Your little game went wrong Now. now, don't get ex- cited. Whew. I had quite run!'
 Gale paused in his tracks and looked at the young man oueerly.
 What do you mean?"
 'I've juInped those claims myself"
 'You jumped themr' cried Necil.
 "Sure! I changed my mind about stalking"
 "It's lie" cried Runnion, at which Eurrell whirled on him.
 'I've been waiting fer this. Runnion, ever since you came back. Now
 q mean you haven't had time," the other temporized hurriedly.
 "Oh, that sounds better. If you don't believe me take lock for your self. You'li find my notice just be- meath Miss Gales" Then to NO Creek" Lee he continued, Kindly re- cord them for me. so there will be no question of priority"
 "I'll be d---d if dol" said the belligerent recorder. You're worse'n these crooks. That ground belongs to Necia Gale.'
 Up to this time Stark had remained silent, his impassiye face betraying not a shadow of chagrin. for he was good loser, but now he spoke at large.
 "Anybcdy who thinks the American army is asleep is crazy" Then to Bur reil, You certainly are nice young man to double cross your friends like that"
 You're no friend of mine," Meade retorted.
 q? What do you mean?"
 II double crossed you, Stark; nobody else. There's no use mouthing words about it." said he. These thugs arc your tools, and you tried to steal that ground because its sure to be rich"
 Stark exclaimed angrily, but the oth- CT gave him no time to break In.
 'Now, don't get rough, because that is my game. and I'd be pleased enough to take you back prisoner" Then. turning to Lee, he said: Don't make me force you to record my locations. stal1ed those claims for Miss Gale, and I'll deed them to her when she turns eighteen"
 Poleon Doret called to Runnion: "M'sieu, you member wat tol' you voct;ddov9 Tsp, boC{, for t,ypl- lt.o rvo