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

PeC0OSW'
one who reused himself to anger de-
~liberately, much as a serpent stings
itself into a painful fury, but now it
was apparent that he was boiling over,
for he stammered and halted and
clustered e~xplosively:
you're a bunch of rascals, all of
you, tryin' to down a 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 ID sight, and 1t won't hold,
because I won't write 1t in the book.
You-you"- He glared at them ma
evidently, searching his mind for an
epithet sufficiently vile and, finding it,
spat 1t out-'dressmakers!"
So this was why both Stark and
Runnion had gone up the creek with
the three new men, thought Burrell.
No doubt they had deliberately arrang-
| ed 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 valuable-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 a swift run, making the ut
most possible speed for fear they
should miss him and guess his pur-
pose, or, worse yet, finish their discus
sion and adjourn before he could COM
plete his task. He was a light man on
his feet, and he lodged through the
forest, running more carelessly the
farther he went, visiting first the up
per claims; then, making a wide de-
| tour of the cabin, he came back to the
initial stake of Necia's lower claim,
staggering from his exertions, his
lungs bursting from the strain. He
had covered nearly a mile; but, even
so, he laughed grimly as he walked
back toward the cabin, for 1t was a
game worth playing, and he was glad
to take a hand on the side Of the
trader and the girl. Coming within
earshot, he heard the meeting vote to
adjourn. 1t could not have terminated
more opportunity had he held a stop
watch on It.
Runnion addressed the other n
spirators loudly:
Well, boys, there are three good
claims. open for relocation. I'm sorry
can't stake one of them"
"They won't lie open long" said one
| of the undesirable citizens, starting to
turn downstream, while his two com
panions made for the opposite direc-
ton. But Burrell stopped them.
100 late, boys. Your little game
went wrong. Now, now, don't get ex-
| cited! Whew, l had quite a run!'
Gale paused In his tracks and looked
at the young mar queerly.
"What do you mean?"
"Pve jumped those claims myself"
"You jumped them!" cried Necia.
"Sure! I changed my mind about
stalking"
"It's a lie!' cried Runnion, at which
Burrell whirled on him.
"Pve beer waiting for this, Runnion,
ever since you came back. Now
II mean you haven't had time," the
other temporized hurriedfy.
"Oh, that sounds better. If you
don't believe me take a look for your
self. You'll find my notice lust be
meath Miss Gales" Then to mo
Greek" Lee he continued, "Kindly re-
cord them for me so there will be no
question of priority"
"Iu be ID if l dol! said the
belligerent recorder. You're worsen
these crooks. That ground belongs to
Necia Gale"
Up to this time Stark had remained
silent, his impassive face betraying not
a shadow Of chagrin, for he was a
good loser, but now he spoke ut large.
anybody who thinks the American