The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-07

"M'sieu, you member wat l toll you
yestidday? I'm begin for t'ink it's 60
In be you" :
Seeing that the game had gone
against him. Stark got his feelings un-
der control quickly and shrugged his
shoulders as he turned away.
you're in the wrong, lieutenant" he
remarked, but l don't want any trou-
BILE. You've got the law with you"
Then to Runnion and the others he
said, "Well, Pm ready to hit the trail"
When they had shouldered their
packs and disappeared down the val
ley Gale held out his hand to the SOL
der. young man, I reckon you and
I will be friends"
'Thank you," said Burrell, taking the
offer of friendship. which he knew was
genuine at last.
"I'm in ON that said "No Creek
Lee. you're all right"
Poleon had been watching Stark's
party disappear. but now he turned
and addressed the young soldier.
"You maxi some enemies today,
m'sieu."
'That's right" agreed Lee. Ben
Stark will neve let up on you now"
Every well. That is his privilege"
"You don't savvy what 1t means to
get him down on you" insisted Lee.
Hell frame things up to suit himself,
then pick a row with you. He's the
quickest man on a trigger in the west,
but he won't never make no open play,
only just devil the life out of you with
little things till you flare up; then he'll
down you. That's how he killed the
gold commissioner back in British Co
lumbia."
Necia had said little SO far, but the
look in her eyes repaid the soldier for
his undertaking in her behalf and for
any mischief that might ensue from 1t.
upon his.
Don't worry, daughter" treasured
Gale. There's nothing Stark can do,
and whatever happens we're with the
lieutenant. He's u kind of people,"
Burrell liked this grizzled old fellow
with the watchful eyes and was glad
now that he could grip his hand and
face him squarely with no guilt upon
his conscience.
By this time Doret had finished with
their blankets, and the four set out
for town, but instead of following the
others they accepted Necia as guide
and chose the trail to Black Bear
creek.
The party reached Flambeau on the
following day, sufficiently ahead OF
Stark and his men for Lee to make
known his find to his friends, and by
sunset the place was depopulated,
while a line of men could be seen
creeping slowly up the valleys.
Gale found Alluna In charge of the
store, but no opportunity of talking
alone with her occurred until late in
the evening, after Necia had put the
two little ones to bed and had followed
them YEARLY. Then he told his squaw.
She took the news better than he ex-
pected and showed no emotion such as
other women would have displayed,
even when he told her of the gunshot.
Instead she inquired:
"Why did you try it there before all
those others?"
"Well, when l heard him talking the
wish to kill him was more than l
could stand. and it came on me all at
once, so that I was mad, l suppose"
"Does this man %suspect?"
mo"
"Then 1t is child's play. We will lay
a trap"
"No, by Nheaven!' Gale interrupted her
hotly. 81 tried that kind Of work, and
It won't do. I'm no murderer"
"Those are only words" said the
woman quietly. ITO kill your enemy
is the law"
When he made no answer the squaw
slipped out into the shadows, leaving
him staring into the flames, to return
a moment later bearing something in
her hands, which she placed In his. 1t
was a knife in a scabbard old and
worm.
"There is no magic that can turn
bright STEEL" she said, then squatted
again in the dimness outside Of the
freight. Gale slid the case from the
long blade and held it in his palm, let
ting the freight flicker on it. He bal
anced it and tested the feel Of its ham
die against his palm, then tried the
edge of it with his thumb nail and
found it honed like a razor.
The glancing, glinting' light flashing
from the deadly thing seemed to fas-
cinate the man, for he held it a long
while silently. The he spoke:
"For fifteen years I've been a haunt
ed man, with a soul like a dark and
dismal garnet peopled with bats and
yarmints t.. Gaa and futter 1.-the
time. / used to figger that if l killed
this man I'd kill that memory, too,
and those fitting, noiseless things
would leave me. but the thought OF
doing it made me afraid every time,
so I ran away, which never did no
good-you can't outfoot a memory
and. L knew not all the while that we'd
meet sooner or later. Now that the
day Is here at last I'm not ready for 1t.