The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-07

was q tone back OF MS WoiuS Ma'
seemed aimed at the trader, Meade
Thought. but Gale showed no sign OF
II. so the meal was finished In silence,
after which the FIVE belated prospect
ors went out to make their locations
for the fear of interruption was upon
them now.
First they went downstream, anu
according to their agreement, the trad-
er staked first, followed by Poleon n
stark, thus throwing Runnion's claim
more than a mile distant from Lees
discovery. From here they went up
the creek to find the girls other loca-
lions, one on each branch, at wnlcn
Stark sneeringly remarked that she
had pre-empted enough ground for a
full grown white woman.
Runnion's displeasure was even more
open, and he fell into foul moutned
mutterings, addressing himself to 20
leon and Stark while the trader was
out of earshot.
..This affair don't smell right, and l
still think it's a frame-up."
"Bah!" exclaimed DOret.
.The old man sent the girl on ahead
Of us to blanket all the good ground.
That's what he did!'
"Wait a minnit," interrupted 70
leon. his voice as soft as a woman.s.
81 toll, you dat l know all bout dis
Black Bear creek too. You member,
eh? WAL, mebbe you t'ink I'm traitor
too? Wat? wy don you spik outT'
The three of them were alone, and
only the sound of Gales ak came to
| them, but at the light In the Cana
dams face Runnion hastily disclaimed
any such thought on his part, n
Stark shrugged his denial.
There are men quite devoid OF b
ability to read the human face, n
Runnion was of this species. More
over, malice was SO bitter In his mouth
that he must nave it out. So when
they paused to blaze the next stake he
addressed himself to Stark loud enough
for Poleon to hear.
"'That lieutenant is more of a man
than l thought he was"
"How so?' inquired the older man.
"Well it takes nerve to steal a girl
for one night and then face the ia
Their, but the old man don't seem to
mind 1t any more than she does l
guess he knows what 1t means, al
right"
Stark laughed raucously.
That's probably how Gale got his
| squaw," concluded Runnion. with a
sheer.
It seemed q full minute before the
Frenchman gave sign that he had
heard; then a strange cry broke from
| his throat, and he began to trerable a.
If with cold. He was no longer the
singer of songs or the man who was
forever a boy. The hooking anger Of
a moment ago was gone. In its place
was a consuming fury that sucked the
blood from beneath his tan, leaving
him the pallor of ashes, while his
mouth twitched and his head rolled
slightly from side to side like a palsied
old mans. But evidently Poleon meant
no violence, for he allowed the passion
to run from him freely until It had
spent its vfgor, then said to Runnion;
Somebody goin' die for wat you say
JUS now. Mebbe it's goin' be you.
Ii cACu, ACOOC 1Lo gum " Uc I'LL. !
can't tell yet, but I'm hope an pray
it's goin' be you, because I t'ink wat
you say is a lie, an nobody can spik
dose kin of lie bout Necia Gale"
He went crashing blindly through
the u~nderbrush, his head wagging, his
shoulders slumped loosely forward like
those Of a drunken man, his lips franz
ing words they could not understand.
Z When he had disappeared Runnion
drew a deep breath.
II guess I've framed something for
Mr.. Burrell this time"
"You go about it queer" said Stark.
IT'D rather tackle a gang saw than a
man like Poleon Doret. Your frame
up may work double"
Huh! No chance. The soldier was
out all night alone with that half
breed girl, and anybody can see she's
crazy about him. What's the answer?"
"Have you got your eye on her too?"
"Sure! Do you blame meY'
mo, but she's too good for you. Bet
ter stay out" the gambler advised.
AS a matter of fact, / don't like her
father any better than you like her
lovers
"Well, it's mutual. I can see Gale
hates you like poison"
-"and l don't intend to see him and
his tribe hog all the best ground here
abouts."
They've already done it. You can't
stop them"
Eyes. I can stop them," said Stark.
Il want the ground that girl has
staked, and I'm going to get 1t. It lies
next to Lees, and it's sure to be rich.
OUR Is so far away 1t may not be
worth the recorders fees. This creek
may be as spotted as a coach dog, so
l don't intend to take any chances"
"She made her locations legally"
said Runnion.
You leave that to me. When win
the other boys be hereT'
tomorrow morning. I told them to
follow about four hours behind and
not to rim in IN TIC flyI nv hcd a~