The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-03-28

been surveying the town without leav-
ing the boat. Evidently this man had
voice In Runnion's affairs, for he
not only gave him instructions. but
bossed tie crew who handled his mer-
chandise, and Meade Burrell concluded
that he must be some incoming ten
derfoot who had grub staked the des-
lperado 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 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 to
| learn something about the man. the
| lieutenant ioitered after Runnion and
his companion and entered the store
in time to see the latter greet No
| Creek" Lee, the prospector, who had
come into town for more food. Both
men spoke with quiet restraint.
Nine years since / saw you, Stark"
said the miner. Where you bound"
THE diggings," replied Stark as Lee
addressed the stranger.
Mining nOw:"
mo: same old thing, but Pm grub
stalking q few men, as usual One of
them stays here. l may open house
In Dawson if the camp is as good as
they say it is"
This here's good place for you"
Stark laughed noiselessly and with
out mirth. Fine! There must be a
hundred people living here"
Never mind; you take it from me-"
said the miner positively, land get in
now on the quiet. There's something
doing" His one sharp eye detected
the lieutenant close by. SO he drew his
friend aside and began talking to him
earnestly anil with such evident effect
rs TO alter Stark's plans On the mo-
ment, fer when RunliCn entered the
store shortly Stark spoke to him quick
~, following which they both hurried
back to the steamer and saw to the
unloading OF much additional freight
and baggage. From the volume and
variety OF this merchandise it was evi-
dent that Mr.. Stark would il nowise
be q burden to the community.
DCrrell was not sufficiently voTsed
in the ways OF mining camps to know
exactly what this abrupt change OF
policy meant, but that there was some
thing in the air he knew from the
mysterious manner of NO Cree" Lee
and from the suppressed excitement
of DOret ard the trader. His curiosi-
ty got the better of him finally, and he
fell into talk with Lee, inquiring about
the stranger by way Of an opening.
That's Ben Stark. l knew him back
In the Cassiar country" said Lee.
as he mining man.?
"Well, summat. He's made and lost
a bank roll that a greyhound couldn't
cap over in the mimi business. but
It amt his regular graft. He run one
Of the biggest places in the northwest
for years."
Saloon, ehY'
Saloon and variety house-seven
that's all He's the Teller
hat killed the gold commissioner. OF
course that put him on the hike again"
How do you mean?'
"Well, he had record as long as
,ick mans drug bill before he went
INTO that country, and when he put the
away them Canadian Of
icials went after him like they was
killin' snakes. and it cost him all he
had made to get clear. If 1t had hap
)ened across the line the corOners
ury would have freed him, cause the
was drunk and started
he row. But 1t happened right in
stark's saloon, and you know Canucks
8 stronger than vitriol for law and or
Ter. Not bein' his first offense, it went
lard with him"
"He looks like a killer" said Burrell.
Eyes, but he amt the common kind.
de always lets the other man begin,
md therefore he amt ever done time"
"Come, now" argued the lieutenant,
If it were the other man who invaria-
,ly shot first, Stark would have been
filled long ago."
II don't care what would have hap
,ened, it amt happened, and he's got
lotches on his gun till it looks like a
.ub bear had chawed 1t. If you was a
western man you'd know what they
ay about him. The bullet amt been
un to kill him. That's the sayin'.
lou needn't grin. There's many bet
er man than you believes it."
"Who Is it that the bullet hasn't
,een run to kill?" said the traders
leep voice behind them. He had fin
shed with his duties and now saunter-
ID forward.