Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-04-30


soldiers to he worth d-n" He SMART
ed this bitterly, with a peculiar leerlne
lift of his lip, as if his words tasted
bad.
"AIost of the boys are going mp riv
err" said Gale,
well. those bills look as If they bad
gold in them" said the stranger. point
ing vaguely. I'm going TO prospect
Gale knew inStinctively that the fell
low was lying. for his hands were not
those of miner, but there was noth
ing to be said His judgment was veri
fed. however, when PoleOn drew him
aside later and said:
Hes bad man."
"How do you know?"
"Shes leave Dawson d-n Queeck
Dose mounted police t'row i'm on de
boat JUS before we lef'." Then he told
q story that he had heard. The man. II
seemed. had left Skagway between two
suns. upon the disruption Of Soapy
Smiths band Of desperadoes. and had
made for the interior, but had been in
tercepted at the pass by two members
of the citizens committee who came
upon him suddenly. Pretending TO
yield. he had executed some unexpect.
ed coup as he delivered his gun. for
both men fell. shot through the body
No one knew just what it was he did
nor cared to question him overmuch
The next heard Of him was at Lake
Bennett, over the line. where the
.aounted police recognized him and
sent him on They marked him well,
however. and passed him on from post
to post rs they had driven others
whose records were known. but he had
lost himself il the confusion AT Daw
yon for few weeks until the scarlet
rca ed riders searched him out, dis
nrricd him and forced him sullenly
aboard this steamer.
Old Man Gale cared little for this.
for lie had spent his life among such
men, but as lie watched the fellow
scheme outlined itself in his head.
Evidently the man dared not go far
Their down the river for there was
nothing save Indian camps and mis-
sion or two this side Of st. Michael's,
and at that point there were court
and many soldiers. where one was liza
ble to meet the penalty of past mis-
deeds; hence he was probably resolved
to stop here, and, judging by his rec
ord, he was a man Of unsettled con-
victions.
The trader stepped to the door and.
seeing Burrell on the deck Of the
steamer, went down toward him. 1t
was long chance, but the stakes were
big and worth the risk. He had
thought much during the night pre-.
vious-in fact, for many hours-and
the morning had found him still unde-
cided, wherefore he took this course.
"Necia tells me that you aim to keep
law and order here" he began abrupt
ly, having drawn the young man aside.
Those are my instructions" said
Burrell, "but they are so vague
"Well, this camp is bigger than 1t
was an hour ago. and it amt i'm.
proved any in the growth. Yonder
goes the new citizen" He pointed to
the stranger, who had returned to the
steamer for bis baggage and was de-
scending the gangplank beneath them,
q valise in each hand. Hes a thief
and a murderer. and we don't want
him here. Now. it's up to you"
II don't understand" said the lieu
tenant. whereupon the trader told him
Dorets tale. "You and your men were
sent here to keep things peaceable,"
he concluded, "and / reckon when
man is too tough for the Canuck police
he is tough enough for you to tackle.
There amt lock and key in the
camp, and we amt had q killing or a
stealing in ten years. We'd like to
keep it that way"
"Well, you see. I know nothing of
that shooting ARRAY, so l doubt If my
authority would permit me to inter-
fere," the soldier unused, half to him.
self.
81 allowed you were to use your own
Judgment" said the elder man.
$50 l am. suppose. There is one
chance, Mr. Gale. If you'll back me up
I'll send him on down to st. Michael's.
That is the most can do"
The lieutenant outlined his plan. and