Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-29
Bv REX BEACH,
Author of THE SPOILERS"

was transcribing.
ct isn't right to let women in on a
mans game" said Runnion.
That's my idea," echoed the second
er.
ct s'pose this is aimed at my girl, !"
said Gale, springing to his feet. IT might
have known you buns were up to some
crooked work"
Poelon likewise rose and ranged him
self with the trader.
''Ba Gar! dom stan for dat" said
he. excitedly. You want for jump Ne
cia's claim, eh7''
"As long as I'm chairman we'll have no
rough work" declared Stark, glaring at
them. IF you want trouble, you two.
1 reckon you can have it, but, whether
you do or not, the majority is going to
rule, and Wen make what laws we want
to.
He took no pains now to mask his dis
like of Gale, who began to move toward
him in his logged, resolute way. Nicola,
observing them, FASTENED to her fathers
side, for that which she sensed in the
bearing Of both men quite overcame her
indignation at this blow against her
self.
mo. no, don't have any trouble" she
pleaded, as she chung to the trader. For
my sake, daddy, sit down." Then she
whispered fiercely into his ear: Cant
you see he's trying to make you fight?
There's too many of them. Wait! Wait!
Burrell attempted to speak, but STARK
who was presiding, turned upon him
fiercely:
Now this is one time when you can't
butt in, Mr.. Soldier Man. This is our
business. Is that plain?"
The lieutenant realized that he had no
place in this discussion, and yet their
move was so openly brazen that he could
restrain himself with difficulty. A moment
later he saw the futility of interference,
when Stark continued, addressing the
trader:
This isn't aimed at you in particular,
Gale nor at your girl, for a motion to
disqualify her isn't necessary. She isn't
old enough to hold mining property"
"She's eighteen" declared the trader.
mot according to her story"
well, I can keep her claims for he
till she gets Of age"
We've just fixed 1t so you can't !"
grinned Runnion, cunningly. mo man
can hold more than one claim on creek.
You voted for that yourself"
Too late, Gale saw the trick by which
Stark had used him to rob his own
daughter. If he and his two friends had
declined to be a part of this meeting.
the others could not have held 1t, and
before another assembly could have been
called the creek would have been staked
from end to end, from rim to rim, By
honest men, over whom no such action
could pass; but, as it was, his own votes
had been used to sew him UP in a mesh
of motions and resolutions.
mo Creek" Lee had the name Of a
man slow in speech and action, and one
who reused himself to anger deliberately,
much as a serpent stings itself into a
painful fury; but now 1t was appar-
ent that he was boiling over; for he STAN
mered and halted and blurted explosive
ly. -.
you're a bunch Of rascals, all of you.
tryin' to down a pore girl and get
her ground; but who put ye 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 it legal, not by
damned sight, and It won't hold, be-
cause won't write it in the book. You
YOU He glared at them malevolent-
ly, searching his mind for an epithet
sufficiently vile, and, finding it, spat II
| out" dressmakersH' ,-.... -.
So this was why both Stark and Run
MON had gone up the creek with the
three new men, thought Burrel. No
doubt they had deliberately arranged
ais 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. He or Runnion, or
| both of them, mad broken Lees oath OF
secrecy even before leaving camp, which
accounted for the presence of these
things; and now. as he revolved the sit
| uation rapidly in his mind, the soldier
looked up at a sudden thought. Poleon
| had begun to speak. and from his APP
pearance It seemed possible that he might
not cease with words; moreover, 1t was
| further evident that they were all intent
| on the excited Frenchman and had no
eyes for the lieutenant. Carefully slip
ping around the corner Of the cabin, and
| keeping the house between him and the
others, Burrell broke into a swift run,
| making the utmost possible speed for
fear they should miss him and guess his
purpose, or, worse yet, finish their dis
cussion and adjourn before he could COM
plete his task. He was a light man
on his feet, and he lodged through thu
forest running more carelessly the far
| Their he went, visiting first the upper
claims, then, making wide detour 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
a mile, but, even so, he laughed grimly
as he walked back towards the cabin,
for It was a game worth playing, and he
was glad to take a hand on the side OF
| the trader and the girl. Coming within
earshot, he heard the meeting vote to
| adjourn. It could not have terminated
more OPPORTUNITY had he held stop
watch on II.
From the look Of triumph on Run
MONS face, the lieutenant needed nc
glance at Gale or Poleon or Nicola to
know that the will of the majority had
prevailed, and that the girls importu-
mites had restrained her advocates from
a resort to violence. She looked very
| forlorn, like a little child just robbed
| and deceived, with the shock of it's frs:
great establishment still fresh in its
| eyes
Runnion addressed the other conspira-
| tors loudly.
well, boys, there are three good calims
open for relocation. I'm sorry I cant
stake one of them"
''They won't be open long" said one
of the undesirable citizens, starting to
turn down stream while his two COM
panions made for the opposite direction
| But Burre44 stopped them.
TOO late boys. Your little game went
| wrong. Now! Now! Don't get excited
Whew! I had quite rum"
Gale paused IN his tracks and looked al
| the young man queerly.
sfWhat do VOn mean 2"