Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08

you let me go don't see how you dare to say
thing like that don't know Why"
You can't marry Searle,'' he interrupted "be-
cause you are going to marry mel He raised her
hands to his lips and kissed them both !" Be back
by and BY :" he added and of he went through the
ing, and confused, with hundred wild emotions in
her heart.
He continued on out at the rear of place where
little Mrs Dick valiantly Juggling at two large
buckets of water. He relieved her of the burden.
Say, Priscilla he drawled = if smoke faced
Fastener comes around here while I'm gone looking
for-you know-Miss Kent, remember he cant have
in your house. if he offers million and walks
on his hands and prays in thirteen languages
Little Mrs. Dick glanced up at him shTewdly.
Have you got it as bad as that? Snakes alive! All
right, guess I'll remember"
Be good" said Van, and off he went to the
assayer's shop for which ne had started before
THE assayer glanced up briefly, He was busy at
bucking board, where with energetic application
of very heavy weight the end of handle he was
grinding up lot of dusty Greeting, Van, said
he. Come in
Van shook his outstretched hand. Thought I'd
like to see those results, he said-"t that rock l
brought you last, remember? You thought you
could finish the batch last rock from the
See Saw claim that bought three weeks ago :,
Yes, oh yes. Now, what did / do with Fin
ished EN- up and put EN- away somewhere, said the
assayer busting his hands and moving toward his
desk Such a lot of stuff's been coming in! Here
they are | reckon" He drew half-dozen small
printed forms from cavity in the desk, glanced
them briefly, and handed the lot to Van.
Nothing dong, ne added PIettV gOOd
building purposes.
Nothing doing!' echoed Van incredulously, star
ing at the assay records which showed In rerciless
bluntness that six different samples of reputed ore
had proved to be absolutely worthless !" But man,
the samples you assayed first showed from ten to
hundred and fifty dollars to the ton in gold!'
What's that got to do with this! > inquired the
master of acids and fire You don't mean % say
DO with it, man! 1t all came OF the same
identical prospect" Van interrupted These were
later samples than the Others that's all
The aSsaVer glanced Vans shoulder the
hope destroying. slips; The See Saw claim, he
read rfunetorly You bought it, Van, who FROM"
Sorry" said the assayer briefly HIM! That
Bri !Yon don't mean It coua, have been sa,,ea
on me'' Van declared Il took my own samples,
broke down new face purposely, sacked it all my
self, and sealed the sacks. No touched those
sacks till you broke the seals in this Office. He
couldn't have sailed me, Frank. What possible
chance"
The assayer went to shelf, took down small
canvas bag, glanced at mark that identified it as
in which samples of See Saw rock had arrived for
the former assay, and turned it inside out
"Once in awhile I've heard of a squirting
a sharp syringe full of chlorid Of gold worthless
rock, through the meshes of the canvas even after
the samples were sealed he impaired quietly.
This sack looks to me like some I've encountered
before that were pretty rich in gold III assay the.
cloth, if you like"
Van took the sack in his hand examined it silently
then glanced at his papers again. Sailed, he
curved in mirthless smile Il guess I've got it in
the neck all right These last samples tell the real
story He slapped the papers across his hand then
them into tiny bits and threw them the floor
Sorry, old man." said the assayer, as before.
Hope you didn't pay him much for the claim
" Not much said Van. All had-and some Of
it borrowed money"
The assayer puckered up his mouth Briggs has
skipped-gone East
Il know said Van. We'll all in lifetime l
suppose Pay YOU Frank, when l can
That's all right" his friend assured him For
get it, if you like
Van started off but returned Say Frank he
said, don't hawk this around It's bad enough for