Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15

thought, to aid her brother. to such excellent
purpose that her thirty thousand dollars bid
fair to repose IN the bank at his call before the
business day should reach its end.
Mrs. Dick seemed to Van the and only
person IN the camp unaffected by the news of
his luck. She treated him precisely as she al
ways had and doubtless always would. There
fore, he had no difficulty in getting away to
Culver at his office.
THE official surveyor was a fat checked
handsome man with silky brown beard,
an eieTnnate voice, and prod1gous self conceit.
He was pacing up and down the inside office,
at the rear of the rough board building, when
Van came in and found him The horseman'
business was one of maps and land office data,
made essential to his needs by the record
ing OF the Laughing Water property as a placer
instead of a quartz claim He had drawn a
crude outline of his holdings and in taking it
from his pocket found the knife bought for Get
tvsburg in the way. He removed the weapon
and placed it on the table near at hand
" There's much of this desert unsurveyed"
he SAID. that no man can tell whether he s just
inside Just outside.
SO YOU come to me to find out?" Culver
demanded somewhat shortly. Do YOU TIN
horn miners think that's all this office is for?
Well in my instance, | had to come to some
one wiser than myself to get my bearings
answered Van drawngly. You can see that
There are the maps" Culver waved his
hand toward drawer in the office table and
moved impatentlv over to window, the view
from which commanded section of the street.
including the bank.
Van was presently engrossed in a search for
manifestations. ranges, and townships.
:" Look here" said Culver, turning upon him
aggressvelv /" What's this racket hear about
YOU taking the inside track with that stunning
petticoat in town.,
Van looked up without the least suspicion of
the man s real meaning.
:" If you are referring to that reckless young
woman called Oueeny-'
oh, Queenv-rats :" interrupted Culver If
ritably. You know who mean guess you
call her Beth
VANS face took on look of hardness as if it
had been chiseled in stone He had
squared around as if at a blow For moment
he faced the surveyor in silence You are
making some grave mistake he said presently,
in ominous calm, Please don't make such an
alluSon that again.
so the shot went home" Culver laughed
unctuously. turning for moment from the
window Il thought it would. You know my
friend, YOU couldn't expect to keep anything
like that all to yourself. You not the only
ladv's man the beach. And as for this clod
of Bostwck-" he had turned to look out as
before, and grew suddenly excited. Beth was
in view at the bank. By the godsl" he ex-
claimed with a sudden change of tone, she is
the handSomeSt bit Of confectionery on earthi
If don win her
His utterance promptly ceased, together
with his abominable activities and prinping in
the window. Van. who did not know that this
creature had been Beth's particular annoyance,
had crossed the room without a sound and LAID
his grip on Culver collar.
You curl he said quietly, and, choking the
man by clinching his shirt, he flung him
down against the floor and wall as if he had
been the merest puppet.
Some one had entered the outside door.
Neither Culver nor Van heard the sound. Gull
Yer rolled over, scrambled to his feet and with
his face and neck engorged with rage, came
rushing at the horseman like fury.
You blackguard' he screamed. I'm tear
out Your heart for that III kill you like"
Shut upl Van commanded quietly, stop
ping the onrush of his angcred foe by putting
his hand against the surveyors face and send
ing him reeling as before. Don't tell me what
You'll do to me to anyone else in this camp.
And If | ever hear of YOU opening your mouth
again did here moment ago, III tie
knot so hard in your carcass that you'll have
to be buried III hatboxr'
He glanced toward the doorway. y stranger
stood on the threshold. Bowling, Van passed
him and left the place, too angered to think
either of the maps his knife.
Culver raging like a maniac, bowed head
long into the visitor, in his effort to overtake
the horseman; but found himself bat1ed and
took out his wrath in foul vituperation which
presently drove the stranger from the place.
To be continued next Sunday
A TJNIOJJE VOLUME