Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-04-10
rlD THE A 4AlBARRIERo
BY REX BEACH
.opYRidMrisoABY BY nARPER | bRonsERs
CHAPTER ".

EsIyA nO HI ILl<kb Iuu c4PCKi-
 " enced profound sense cf
 pity for Necia upon learning '- her fathers relation to Al luna. but this also largely vanished when he found that the girl was en. tirely oblivious to its significance. He had tried her In many subtle ways and found that she regarded the matter in- nocently, IS customary. and therefore in the light of an accepted convention. nor did she seem to see anything in her blood or station to render her infe- rior to other women. She questioned him tirelessly about his sister. and he was glad of this, for 1t placed no con- straint between them.
 As for her. each day brought keen. CT delight. She unfolded before the Kentuckian like some beautiful wood. land flower md through innumercble. unnoticeds familiarities took him into her innermost confidence.
 A month of this went by, and then Runnion returned. He came on an up- going steamer. The manner of his coming was bold, for he stood fairly upon the ships deck. and his smila was evil now. as 1t had been before. With him was stranger. When the boat was at rest Runnion sauntered down the gangplank and up to the lieutenant. who stood above the land ing place and who noted that the scar, close up against his hatband. was scarce healed. He accosted the officer with an insolent assurance.
 "Well, I'm back again, you see. and I'm back to stay"
 "very well. Runnlon. Did you bring an outfit with your
 "Yes, and I'm pretty fat besides" !" He shook we'll laden gold sack at the officer.
 What do you want in this place anyhOww demanded Burrell curiously.
 "None of your d--d business" the man answered. grinnlng.
 Be sure 1t isn't" retorted the lieu tenant, because 1t would please me right down to the ground if 1t were. iu llke tO Sel you.
 I'm glad we understand each oth- er." Runnion said. failing .ato conver- sation with the stranger, who had been surveying the town without leav- ing the boat. Evidently this man had a voice in Runnion's affairs, for he not only gave him instructions. but bossed the crew who handled his mer- chandise, and Meade Burrell concluded that he must be some incoming ten derfoot who had grub staked the des- perado to prospect in the hills back of Flambeau. As the two came up past him he saw that he was mistaken. This man was no more of a tenderfoot than Runnion. On the contrary, he had bearing of one to whom new countries are old, who had trod the edge of things all his life. There was q hint of the meat eating animal about him. His nose was keen and hawk like, his walk and movements those of the predatory beast, and as he passed by Burrell observed that his eyes were of q peculiar cruelty that went we'll with big thin lips. He was older by far than Runnion; but, while the latter was mean visaged and swaggering, the strangers manner was noticeable for it's repression.
 Impelled by an Irresistible desire to learn something about the man. the lieutenant loitered after Runnion and his companion and entered the store In time to see the latter greet No Creek" Lee, the prospector, who had come into town for more food. Both men spoke with quiet restraint.
 Mine years since saw you, Stark" said the miner. Where you boundT
 "The diggings." replied Stark as Lee addressed the stranger.
 Mining nowY"
 No; same old thing, but I'm grub stalking few men, as usual. One of them stays here. may open house In Dawson If the camp Is as good as they say 1t is."
 "This here's q good place for you"
 Stark laughed noiselessly and with out mirth 'Fine! There must be hundred people living here"
 Never mind; you take 1t from me-" said the miner positively. "and get in now on the quiet. There's something doing" His one sharp eye detected the lieutenant close by. so he drew his tsfend aside and began talking to him earnestly and with such evident effect as to alter Stark's plans. on the mo- ment, for when Runnion entered the store shortly Stark spoke to him quick ly, following which they both hurried pack to the steamer and saw to the unloading of much additional freight and baggage. From the volume and variety of thls merchandise 1t was evi- dent that Mir. Stark would in nowise be burden to the community.
 Burrell was not sufficiently versed in the ways of mining camps to know exactly what this abrupt change of policy meant. but that there was some thing In the air he knew from the mysterious manner of No Creek" Lee and from the suppressed excitement of Doret and the trader. His curiosi- Al