Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-14
THE SOLDIER FINDS AN uNTRoDDEN VAL
n N FADE BuRRELL had expert.
(" enced profound sense Of
pity for Necia upon learning
CHAPTER ".


" enced profound sense Of
pity for Necia upon learning
her fathers relation to Al
luna, but this also largely vanished
when he found that the girl was en-.
tirely oblivious to its significance. He
had tried her in many subtle ways and
found that she regarded the matter In
nocently. as customary, and therefore
in the light of an accepted convention,
nor did she seem to see anything in
her blood or station to render her infe-
rior to other women. She questioned
him tirelessly about his sister, and he
was glad of this, for it placed no con-
straint between them.
AS for her, each day brought keen
er delight. She unfolded before the
Kentuckian like some beautiful wood
land flower and through innumerable,
unnoticed familiarities took him into
her innermost confidence.
A month of this went by, and then
Runnion returned. He came on an up
going steamer. The manner Of his
coming was bold, for he stood fairly
upon the ships deck, and his smile
was evil now, as it had been before.
With him was stranger. When the
boat was at rest Runnion sauntered
down the gangplank and up to the
lieutenant, who stood above the land
ing place and who noted that the scar,
close up against his hatLand, was
scarce healed. He accosted the officer
with an insolent assurance.
"Well, I'm back again, you see, and
I'm back to stay"
every we'll, Runnion. Did you bring
an outfit with you?"
Eyes, and I'm pretty fat besides"
He shook well laden gold sack at the
officer.
"What do you want in this place
anyhow" demanded Burrell curiously.
"None Of your ID business" the
man answered, grinning.
"Be sure it isn't" retorted the lieu
tenant, because it would please me
right down to the ground If it were.
I'd like to get you"
"I'm glad we understand each 9TH
en-" Runnion said, falling into CONVEX
sation with the stranger, who had
been surveying the town without leav-
ing the boat. Evidently this man had
a voice in Runnion's affairs, for he
not only gave him instructions, but
bossed the crew who handled his mer-
chandise, and Meade Burrell concluded
that he must be some incoming ten
derfoot who had grub staked the des-
perado to prospect in the hills back of
him he saw that he was mistaken.
This man was no more Of tenderfoot
than Runnion. On the contrary, he
had bearing of one to whom new
countries are old, who had trod the
edge Of things all his life. There was
a hint Of the meat eating animal about
him. His nose was keen and hawk
like, his walk and movements those Of
the predatory beast, and as he passed
by Burrell observed that his eyes were
of a peculiar cruelty that went well
with his thin lips. He was older by
far than Runnion; but, while the latter
was mean visaged and staggering, the
strangers manner was noticeable for
Its repression.
Impelled by an irresistible desire to
learn something about the man, the
| lieutenant loitered after Runnion and
his companion and entered the store
in time to see the latter greet mo
Creek" Lee, the prospector, who had
| come into town for more food. Both
men spoke with quiet restraint.
Mine years since I saw you, Stark"
said the miner. "Where you bound?"
"The diggings." replied Stark as Lee
addressed the stranger.
mining now?"
"No; same old thing, but I'm grub
stalking few men, as usual. One of
them stays here. may open house
in Dawson If the camp is as good as
they say it is"
'This here's a good place for you."
Stark laughed noiselessly and with
out mirth. Zine! There must be q
hundred people living here"
"Never mind; you take it from me-"
said the miner positively, "and get in
now on the quiet. There's something
doing" Els one sharp eye detected
the lieutenant close by, SO he drew his
friend aside and began talking to him
earnestly and with such evident eject
as to alter Stark's plans on the mo-
ment, for when Rnnnion entered the
store shortly Stark spoke to him. quick
~, following which they both hurried
back to the steamer and saw to the
unloading Of much additional freight
and baggage. From the volume and
variety of this merchandise it was evil
dent that Mr.. Stark would In nowise
be burden to the community.
1 Burrell was not sufficiently versed
in the ways Of mining camps to know
exactly what this abrupt change OF
policy meant, but that there was some
thing in the air he knew from the
mysterious manner Of mo Greek" Lee
and from the suppressed excitement
of Doret and the trader. His curiosi.
ty got the better Of him finally, and he
fell into talk with Lee, inquiring about
the stranger by way Of an opening.
'That's Ben Stark. I knew him back
In the Cassiar country" said Lee.
sis he mining MANI"
| s'Well, summat. He's made and lost
bank roll that a greyhound couldn't
leap over in the mimi business, but
A. a int f,fa raglan GRAFT Ha RIM one