The Holly chieftain., 1909-03-19

the stranger by way of an opening.
That's Ben Stark. l knew him back
IN the Cassiar country" said Lee.
rs he mining MANI"
well, summat. He's made and lost
bank roll that greyhound couldn't
leap over In the minin' business, but
1t amt his reglar graft. He run one
OF the biggest places In the northwest
for years"
saloon. eh?'
Saloon and variety house-seven
bartenders. that's all He's the feller
that killed the gold commissioner OF
course that put him on the hike gain"
How do you mean?"
We'll. he had Il record as long as a
sick mans drug bill before he went
into that country. and when ~ put The
commissioner away them Canadian Of
hcials went after him like they was
KILN snakes. and it cost him all he
had made to get clear II ii had hap
pened across the line the curoncr's
jury would have freed him, cause lie
commissioner was drunk and started
the row. But it happened right in
Stark's saloon. and you know Canucks
is stronger than vitriol for law and or
der. Not bein' his first offense. ii went
hard with him.
HE looks like a killer" said Burrell
Yes, but he amt the common kind
He always let's the other man begin.
and therefore he ain't ever done time"
''if it We're the other man who iuvara-
bly, shot first. Stark would have been
killed long ago"
II don't care what would have hap
pened. it amt happened. and he's got
notches on his gun till it looks like a
cub bear had chawed it. IL you was a
western man you'd know what they
say about him. The bullet ain't been
run to kill him. That's the sayin'
You needn't grin. There's many Il bet
ter man than you believes it,"
who is it that the bullet hasn't
been run to kill:" said the traders
deep voice behind them. He had fin
ished with his duties and now saunter-
ed forward.
ben Stark" said Lee. turning,
you know him. John:"
NO; never saw him, but | know
who he is: used to hear of him in the
Occur d'Aenes."
"Thats him was talking to-" said
the miner Hes an old friend of
mine. and he's going to locate here"
Burrell thought he saw Lee wink at
the trader, but he was not sure. for at
that moment the man of whom they
were speaking re-entered. Lee intro
duced him. and the three men shook
hands. While the soldier fell into easy
conversation with the newcomer. Gale
gaZed at him narrowly, studying him
as he studied all men who came as
strangers. AS he was doing so Alluna
entered. followed by Johnny and Mol
ly. She had come for sugar and asked
for it in her native tongue. Upon her
exit Stark broke off talking TO the
lieutenant and turned TO the trader.
Your squaw, Mr. Gale!'
The old man nodded.
"PahUte. eh?"
Yes. Why. do you savvy the talk?"
'Some. lived in California once"
"WhereT" The question came like q
shot.
"Oh, here and there. | followed the
mother lode for a spell"
II don't recall the name," said the
trader after bit.
POSSIBLY. Where were you locatedT"
81 never lit on any one place long
enough to call it home
1t seemed to Burreli that both men
were sparring cautiously in an indi-
rect, impersonal manner
Those your kids. too. eh;" Stark
continued.
Yes. and | got another one besides
older, a girl"
"She's Il pip too.' said No Greek"
Lee fervently She's plumb beauu
full"
"All of them half breedsr ques
toned Stark
Sure" The traders answer was
short. and when the other showed no
intention of pressing the subject fur
ther he sauntered way. but no sooner
was he out of hearing than Stark said:
"Humph. They're all alike"
"Whoy
"Squaw men,"
This one ail't." Lee declared. Hes
different. Ait he. lieutenant
He cert>inly is" agreed Burrcll.
This was the first criticism he had
heard of Necia's father. and. although
Stark ,lunteered no argument. it was
plain tl,at his opinion remained unaf-
fo,toI