The Holly chieftain., 1909-04-16

cen, and he fell into foul monthed
nntterings, addressing himself to i'o-
soo and Stark while the trader was
~ Of earshot
This AFFAIR don't smell right. and
III think its frame-up."
BAH exclaimed Doret
sThs old man sent the girl on ahead
4 ~ to blanket all the good ground.
That's what he did"
wait wan minnit." Interrupted Po-
Apn. his voice as soft as a woman's
i to- you dat l know all bout dis
MACK Bear creek too You member.
~ Waal, mebbe you t'ink l'm traitor
boof Wat? Wy don you spik out
The three Of them were alone. ANA
only the sound OF Gales AK came lo
thsm, but at the light in the Cana
dams face Runnion hastily disrlained
any such thought Oh his part. aud
0tArk shrugged his denial.
There are men quite devoid Of the
ability to read the human face. and
RunniOn was Of this species. More
over, malice was 80 bitter in his mouth
that be must have 1t out So when
they paused to blaze the next stake he
addressed himself to Stark loud enough
IT Poleon to hear.
THAT lieutenant IL more Of n nilii
than l thought he was"
"How sof' Inquired the older nlan,
well, 1t takes nerve to steal II girl
fee one night and then face Ihe fa.
thar, but the old man don't seem to
mind 1t any more than she does.
/ guess he knows what it means. MI
/ r1ght.,'
Stark laughed raucously.
That's probably how Gale go, his
squaw," concluded Runnion, with II
Goeer.
1t seemed full minute before the
1renchman gave sign that he had
heard: then strange cry broke from
~ throat, and he began to trembe as
r with cold. He was no longer the
singer Of songs or the man who wa
forever q boy. The mocking anger ol
4 moment ago was gone. In its place
WAS consuming fury that sucked tn.
Mood from beneath his tan, leaving
him the pallor Of ashes. while his
mouth twitched and his head rolled
slightly from side to side like a palsied
old mans. But evidently PoleOn meant
No violence. for he allowed the passion
- run from him freely until 1t had
lDsnt ft6 tfgof. then said to Runnion:
s'eomebody goin' die for wat you say
~ now. Mehbe IT'S goin' be you,
u'sdsu; mebbe It's goin' to be him. I
can't tell yet, but Pm hope an pray
it's goin' be you, because l t'lnk wat
you say is a lie, AM nobody can spik
dose kin Of lie bout Necia Gale"
He went crashing blindly through
the underbrush, his head wagging his
shoulders slumped loosely forward like
those Of a drunken man, his lips fram-
ing words they could not understand.
When he had disappeared Runnion
drew deep breath.
II guess I've framed something for
kr. Burrell this time"
You 60 about 1t queer" said Stark.
I'D rather tackle a gang saw than
man like Poleon Doret. Your frame
up may work double"
Huh! No chance. The soldier was
ont all night alone with that half
breed girl, and anybody can see she's
crazy about him. What's the answer?"
"Have you got your eye on her too?'
sure! Do you blame mey'
"No, but she's too good for you. Bet
ter stay out" the gambler advised.
Az q matter of fact, don't like her
father any better than you like her
lovers"-
.Well, It's mutual. can see Gale
hates you like poison"
-'tand don't intend to see him and
hi tribe hog all the best ground here
abouts"
They've already done it You can't
stop them"
Yes. can stop them" said Stark.
n want the ground that girl has
staked, and I'm going to get It, 1t lies
next to Lees. and it's sure to be rich
Ours is so far away 1t may not be
worth the recorders fees. This creek
may be as spotted as coach dog. 10
] don't intend to take any chances"
"She made her locations legally"
said Runnlon.
You leave that to me. When will
the other boys be here?' G.
Tomorrow morning. told them to
follow about four hours behind and
not to run in on us till we had finished
They'll camp few miles down the
creek and be In early"
'sYou couldn't get but three, eh!'
'That's all could find who would
agree to give up half.'
"Can we count on them?'