Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-05-05


one who reused himself to anger de-
liberately, much as serpent stings
itself into a painful fury, but now it
was apparent that he was boiling over,
for he stammered and halted and
clustered explosively:
You're 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 ID sight, and 1t won't hold,
because I won't write 1t in the book.
You-you''- He glared at them ma
leyolently, searching his mind for an
epithet sufficiently vile and, finding 1t,
spat it 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 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 light man on
his feet, and he lodged through the
forest. running more carelessly the
farther lie went, visiting first the up
per claims; then, making n 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 mile; but, even
SO, he laughed grimly as he walked
back toward the cabin. for it was Il
game worth playing. and he was glad
to take hand OH 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 stop
watch on it.
Runnion addressed the other con-
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-
tion. But Burrell stopped them.
"Too late, boys. Your little game
went wrong. Now. now. don't get ex-
cited! Whew, / had quite q r11nw
Gale paused in his tracks and looked
at the young man Queerly.
"What do you mean?'
ave jumped those claims myself"
"You jumped them" cried Necia.
"Sure! changed my mind about
stalking -
"It'sMlie!" cried Runnion, at which
Burrelf whirled on him.
"I'vc been waiting for this, Runnion,
ever since you came back. Now
~ mean you haven't had time, the
other temporized hurriedly.
"Oh, that sounds better. If you
don't believe me take look for your
self. You'll find my notice just be-
meath Miss Gales" Then to "No
Creek" Lee be continued, "lindly re-
cord them for me so there will be no
question Of priority"
"I'll be ID il ! dor said the
belligerent recorder. You're worse'n
these crooks. That ground belongs to
Necla Gale"
Up to this time Stark had remained
silent, his impassivc face betraying not
n shadow of chagrin, for lie was Il
good loser, but now lie spoke at large.
Anybody who thinks the American
army is asleep is crazy" Then to Bur-
rell, "You certainly are a nice young
man to double cross your friends like
that"
You're no friend of mine" Meade
retorted.
81? What do you meant"
~ double crossed you, Stark; nobody
else. There's no use mouthing words
about it." said he. "These thugs are
your tools, and you tried to steal that
ground ,-"eause it's sure to be rich"
Stark ex, willy. but the 9th.
err gave him nv X in.
"Now, don't get rous fcause that
20 NV roma and I'd hn pla1sed enollol,
to take you back prisoner" Then,
turning 10 Lee, he said: Don't make
me force you to record my locations.
stakcd those claims for Miss Gale,
and I'll deed them 10 her when she
turns eighteen"
Poleon Doret called to Runnion:
"M'sieu, you member wat l tol. you