Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-25
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They've already done It. You can't
stop them"
YES, l ran stop them" said Stark.
81 want the ground that girl has
stnked. and I'm going to get It. Il lies
next to Lees, and it's sure to DO rich.
Ours Is so far away It may moi be
worth the recorders foes. This creek
may be ms spotted as a couch dog. so
I don't intend to take any chances"
'sho made her locations legally"
said Runnion.
"You leave that to me. When will
the other boys bo hereT
Tomorrow morning. l told them to
follow about four hours behind md
not to run In on US till we had nnishod.
They'll camp a few miles down the
creek md be In early"
you couldn't get but three, chi"
THAT'S all I could find who would
agree to give up half"
Can we count on then7"
"Iluh!" the other grunted. "They
worked with me and Soapy Smith on
the Skagway trail"
"Good-fve against three, not count.
Ing the girl and the lieutenant" Stark
unused. well, that will do It." He
outlined his plan: then the two re-
turned to the cabin to find Lee cook
Ing supper.
Polcon had finished several pipes
and after supper sat in the shadows in
the open doorway apparently tired and
detected, though his eyes shone like
diamonds and roved from one to the
other. Talf unconsciously he heard
Stark saying:
This girl was about your size, but
not so dark. However. you remind me
Of her in some ways. That's why 1t
puts her In my mind. l suppose. She
was about your age at the time-nine-
teen
"Oh. I'm not eighteen yet" said Ne
ia.
We'll, she vas a fine woman any
how, the best that ever set foot in
Chnndon, and there was a great deal
of talk when she chose young Bennett
over the Gaylord man, for Bennett
had been running second best from
the start, and everybody thought 1t
settled between her and the other
one. However. they were married
quietly"
The story did not interest the Cana.
dian. His mind was In too great agi-
tattoo to care for dead titles. His
heart burned within him too fercely,
and be felt too great a desire to put
his hands to work. As he watched
Burrell and Runnlon bend over the
looking at d little can Of gold
dust that Lee had taken from under
MS bunk his eyes grew red and blood
shot beneath his hat brim. Which one
Of the two would It be? he wondered.
From the corner of his eye he saw
Gale rise from Lees bed, where he
had stretched himself to smoke, and
take bis six shooter from his belt,
then remove the knotted bandanna
from his neck and begin to clean the
gun, his head bowed over 1t earnestly,
his face in tho shadow. He had ever
been o careful and methodical man,
reflected Polecn, and evidently would
not go to sleep with his frearm in bad
condition.
Nobody imagined that Gaylord
would cause trouble Stark was say
Ing, for he didn't seem to be 6 jeal-
ous sort, just stupid and kind Of heavy
But n night he took ndvan-
tage Of Benefits absence and sneaked
up to the house." The story teller
paused, and Necia, who was under the
spell Of his recital, urged him on:
"Yes, yes. What happened then?
Go on" But Stark stared gloomily at
his hands and held his silence for a
full minute, tho tais appearing to have
more than q 6eeting inter
cat In him.
1T was one Of tho worst killings
that ever happened in those parts" he
Bennett came back to find
hic wife murdered and the kid gone"
"Oh" said the girl IN a shocked
voice.
"Yes, there was a deuce Of q time.
The town rose UP in q body. and We
you see, I happened to be there-we
followed the man for weeks. We
trailed HIN and the lid clear over into
the Nevada dese-r, where we lost
them"
Tie died of thirst in the desert may
be, he and the little one"
"-hat's what we thought at the time.
but I've crossed his trail since then.
No. Gaylord is alive today, and so is
the girl. Some time we'll meet" His
Che floor.
Couldn't the little girl lie traced?"
.aic Necia. What was htr name?"
Stark made to speak, but the word
was never uttered. for there came n
deafening roar that caused Lees can.
ale to leap and flicker and the air In.
side the cabin to strike the occupants
ike a blow. Instantly there was con.
fusion, and each man sprang to his
feet, crying out ahfrightedly. for the
aoise had come with utter unexpected-
ness.
my God, I've killed him" cried
Sale. And with n jump he cleared
half the room and was beside Stark.
While his revolver lay on the floor
where he had been sitting.
what Is IT." exclaimed Burrell.
But there was no need to ask, for
powder smoke was beginning to Ill
the room. and the traders fnce gave
lnswor. 1t was whittier than that of
bis daughter. who had crouchod fear