Manchester Democrat., 1909-04-14


madly in love with her. and he wonders
If her blood is really tainted. Gale re-
asserts that she is the illegitimate
daughter of himself and the squaw.
CHAPTER ".
THE SOLDIER FINDS AN uNTRoDDEN VAL
LEY.
"A ~ FADE BURRELL had expert
~ enced profound sense Of
TE pity for Necia upon learning
her fathers relation to AL
luna, but this also largely vanished
when he found that the girl was en-
tirelp oblivious to its significance. He
had tried her in many subtle ways and
fornd that she regarded the matter in
nocently, as customary, and therefore
in the light Of an accepted convention,
nor did she seem to see anything in
lier 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 it placed no con-
straint between them.
AS for her, each day brought keen
er delight She unfolded before the
Kentuckian like some beautiful wood
land flower aud through innumerable,
unnoticed 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 smile
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"
Every well, Runnion. Did you bring
an outfit with you?"
"Yes, and I'm pretty fat besides"
He shook Il well laden gold sack Mt the
officer.
what do you want in this place
anyhow" demanded Burrell curiously.
None Of your ID business" the
man answered, grinning.
BE sure it isn't" retorted the lieu
tenant, because it would please me
right down to the ground if it were.
I'd like to get YOU"
I'm glad we understand each 9th
err" Runnion said, falling into 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 n tenderfoot
than Runnion. On the contrary, he
had a bearing of one to whom new
countries are old, who had trod the
edge Of things all his life. There was
a 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 peculiar cruelty that went well
with his thin lips. He was older by
far than Runnion; but, while the latter
was mean visaged and staggering, the
strangers manner was noticeable for
its repression.
Impelled by an irresistible desire tC
learn something about the man, the
lieutenant loitered after Runnion and
his companion and entered the store
in time to sec the. latter greet M
Creek" Lee, the prospector, who hat
come into town for more food Boil
men spoke with quiet restraint.
Mine years since saw you, Stark.
said the miner. Where you bound?'
THE diggings," replied Stark as Lee
addressed the stranger.
.AIining now:"
no; same old thing, but I'm grul
stalking few men, as usual. One o
them stays here. may open a hous
In Dawson il the camp is as good n
they say it is"
This here's good place for you"
Stark laughed noiselessly and with
cut mirth. "Eine! There must be
hundred people living here"
Never mind; you take 1t from me,
said the miner positively, "and get 4
now on the quiet There's somethin
DOING His one sharp eye detectc
the lieutenant close by, so he drew hi
friend aside and began talking to hi
earnestly and with such evident enec
us to alter Stark's plans on the me
ment, for when Runnion entered th
store shortly Stark spoke to him quicl
ly, following which they both hurrle
back to the steamer and saw to til
unloading of much additional freigll
and baggage. From the volume an
variety of this merchandise 1t was ev
dent that Mr. Stark would in nowis
be a burden to the community.
Burrell was not sufficiently verse
In the ways of mining camps to kno'
exactly what this abrupt change {
policy meant, but that there was som.
thing in the air lie knew from til
mysterious manner of NO Creek" lie
and from the suppressed cxcitcmen
Of Doret ard the trader. His curios
ty got the better of him finally, and Ii
fell into talk With Lee, inquiring abou
the stranger by way of an opening.
That's Ben Stark. knew him bac
in the Cassiar country" said Lee.
is he a mining MANI"
"Wcll, summat. He's made and los
a bank roll that greyhound couldn'
leap over In the minin' business, bu
II ain't his reg'lar graft. He run on
of the biggest places In the northwes
for years"
saloon. CHI"
.'i:aloon and variety house-sevc
bartendcrs, that's all. Hes the felle
that killed the gold commissioner. 0
course that put him ON the hike again.
How do you mean?'