The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-12-05

rs everything ready" he inquired,
at which the shadow grunted unintel-
lightly. So, holding Necia by the arm.
Stark helped her back to a seat in the
stern.
This man will take you through"
he said. You can trust him all right"
The oarsman clambered in and ad-
justed his sweeps; then Stark laid a
hand on the PROV and showed the light
boat out into the current, calling softly:
! "Goodby and good luck!"
"Goodby, Mr.. Stark. Thank you ever
SO much" the girl replied. too numb
and worn out to say much or to notice
or care whittier she was bound or who
was her boatman. She had been swept
along too swiftly to reason or fear for
herself any more.
Stark did not return to his cabin, but
went back instead to his saloon, where
he saw Poleon Doret still sprawling
with elbows on the table, his hat pulled
low above his sullen face. Stark then
went out and down toward the bar
racks. A light behind the drawn cur
tains Of the officers house told that
Burrell was not abed, but he waited a
long moment after his m before
the door was opened. during which he
heard the occupant moving about and
another door close in the rear. When
he was allowed entrance at last he
found the young man alone in a smoke
filled room, with a bottle and two
empty glasses on the table.
For at the sound of his voice Gale
had whispered to Burrell, keep him
out!'' and the lieutenant had decided
to refuse his late visitor admittance
when he lighted on the e%xpedient Of
concealing the trader in the bedroom
at the rear. 1t was only natural, he
reasoned, that Gale should dislike to
face a man like Stark before he had
regained his composure.
go in there and wait till | see what
he wants. he had said, and, shutting
the old man in, he had gone forth to
admit Stark. Stark entered and closed
the door.
1--WE got some work for you. lieuten-
ant. It's got to be done tonight, right
now! You represent the law, or at
least you've taken every occasion to SO
declare yourself, so now I've come to
you with something big. It's a serious
affair. and, being as I'm a peaceful
man. l want to go by the law" His
eyes Knocked the words he uttered.
you seem to carry the weight of this
whole community OF your shoulders,
SO I'm here to give you some informa-
ton"
Burrell said quietly: ITS a little late
for polite conversation. Come to the
point"
eve got a murderer for you"
you've had a killing in your place.
eh?"
mo; I've just made a discovery. |
found it all out by accident, too-pure
accident. By heaven, you can't tell
me there isn't a beneficent Providence
overlooking our affairs. He's a friend
of yours and a highly respected party.
He's a glorious example to this whole
river. He's everybody's friend. He's
the shining mark OF this whole coun-
try. He's the benevolent renegade,
Squaw Man Gale. Gaylord is his name,
and | was a fool not to know 1t
sooner"
The disclosure had not affected the
soldier as Stark expected. and his an
ger began to lift itself.
1.-The mans a murderer. He's want
ed in California, where | came from.
He's been indicted. and there's a price
on his head. He's hidden for fifteen
years. but he'll hang as sure as l stand
here"
Burrell knew he must gain time for
thought. One false step might ruin
all. He could not face this on the
spur of the moment; SO, struggling his
shoulders with an air Of polite skep-
ticism, he assumed a tone of good ma
tured raillery.
Fifteen years? Murder? John Gale
q murderer? Why. that's almost
pardon me If smile-I'm getting
sleepy. What proof have your"
"Proofr blazed the gambler. Proof!
Ask Gaylord! Proof! Why. the wo-
man he murdered was my wifep'
1t was Burrell's turn now to fall in
coherent, and not only did his speech
forsake him, but his thoughts went
madly yeering off into a wilderness
where there was no trail. no light. no
hope. What frightful bones were
these he barred? This man was Ben
nett! This was ,Necia's father! He
raised a pair of eyes that had become
furious and bloodshot. and suddenly
realized that the man before him, who
persisted in saddling upon Gale this
heinous crime, was the slayer Of Ne
cia's mother, for he did not doubt
Gales story for an instant. He found
his fingers writing to feel the crea-
lures throat.
"Proofw Stark was growing. How
much proof do you need? I've fol-
lowed him for fifteen years. I've
tracked. him with aaea md dogs
through woods and deserts and min
ing camps. I've slept on his trail for
5000 miles and now do you think I'm
mistaken He killed my wife, 1 say,
and robbed me of my little girl! That's