Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-18


addressed the stranger.
Mining nowT
mo; same ela thing, but I'm grub
stahins q Nv fSea, ~ usual. One Of
them stays here. I may opsa Q house
In Dawson II tbs camp n - ssed a.
they say II L."
'sfhis hesss a eeod placs ~ ySa."
Stark laughed nglsslesslv and w1Eh.
out mirth. "Finsi There muS9 ~ q
hundred people tivinO hsrsF
"Never mind; you take II fsuo NJ"
said the miner posit1vsly. "9n1 ~ N
now on the quist ThsssS sspseaAng
deing." His one sharp ~ 6g>seto1
the lieutenant Close ~, - ~ lDeW biz
friend aside and began talkia6 - hlm
earnestly and with such evident s6ecS
a. to alter Stark's plans On ths ~
ment, for when 1,unnion sntsso0 The
store shortly Stark spoke 70 him euIeh-
", following which they both hurried
back 70 the steamer anu nav ~ rnv
unloading Of much sdditional freight
ana baggage. From the volume and
variety Of this merchandise It wa evk
dent that Mr.. stark would IN nowtss
be burden to the community.
Burreil was not suH,cisntly vessed
IN the ways Of mining camps to knew
sxacuy what this abrupt change u
policy meant, but TINT thsFs was soms-
thing IN the air hs knew from The
mysterious manner Of mo Creek" Leo
and from the suppressed excitement
Of Doret and the trader. His curiosi-
~ got the better Of him finally, and he
.ell into talk with Lee, fnQuir1ne about
the stranger by way Of an opening.
That's Rem Stark. knew him hack
In the Cassiar country" said Lee.
"Is he a mining manT'
"well summat. He's made ana lost
bank roll that a greyhound couldn't
leap over In the uiinin' business. but
It amt his reg'lar graft. He run one
Of the biggest places m the northwest
for years."
saloon, chr
saloon and variety house-seven
bartenders, that's all. He's the Teller
that killed the gold commissioner. OF
course that put hun on the hike again."
How do you meanT'
"Well, he had record a. long % .
sick mans drug bill before be went
into that country, and when be put the
commissioner away them Canadian Of
6cials went after him like they was
KILN snakes. and It cost him all be
had made to get clear. II It had hap
pened across the line the coroner's
Jury would have freed him, cause the
commissioner was drunk and started
the row. But 1t happened right In
Stark's saloon, and you know Canucks
is stronger than vitrioi for law and or
der. Not bein' his first offense, It went
hard with him"
HE looks like killer" said Burrell
yes, but be amt the common kind.
He always let's the other man begin.
and therefore he amt ever done time"
Come, now" argued the lieutenant,
If It were the other man who invaria.
bly, shot first. Stark would have been
killed long ago."
Il don't care what would have hap
pened, 1t amt happened, and hes got
notches on his gun till 1t looks like q
cub bear had chawed It. II you was q
western man you'd know what they
say about him. The bullet amt been
run to kill him. That's the sayin'.
You needn't grin. There's many bet.
ter man than you believes It."
who is It that the bullet hasn't
been run to kill?' said the traders
deep voice behind them. He had I'm
ished with his duties ana now saunter.
ed forward.
ben Stark" said Lee, turning.
You know him, John?"
mo; l never saw him. but l know
who he is: used to hear Of him In the
Occur dAlenes."
"Thats him l was talking to-" said
the miner. He's an old friend Of
mine. and he's going to locate here"
Burrell thought he saw Lee wink at
the trader but he was not sure. for at
that moment the man Of whom they
were speaking re-entered. Leo intro
duced him. and the three men shook
hands While the soldier fell into easy
conversation with the newcomer, Gale
gazed at him narrowly. studying him
as he studied all men who ca0s %
strangers. As he was doing 90 Allune
entered, followed by Johnny ana Mol
~. She had come for sugar and asked
for 1t In her native tongue. Upon heE
exit Stark broke Oh talking 10 the
lieutenant and turned to the trader.
Your sQuaw. Mr.. Gale"
The old man nodded.
"Pah-Ute. eh?"
Yes. Why. do you savvy the talkr
Some. lived In California once"
Where" The question came like q
shot.
"Oh. here and there! followed the
mother lode for a SPELL"
II don't recall the name" said the
trader after q bit.
POSSIBLY. Where were you locatedT
II never lit on any one place long
enough to call 1t home"
1t seemed to Burrell that both meu
were sparring cautiously In an indi
rect, impersonal manner.
Those your kids, too. eh?" Starr
continued.
Yes, and got another one besides
older, a girl"
She's u pip too" said NO Creek
Lee fervently shes plumb beauti
full"