The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-12-12
Continued from last Sunday.

Continued from last Sunday.
Gale was here just before Won came
and told me who killed your wife. I
"Well?"
cts pretty late. This place is lonely.
This is the simplest way"
The gambler fell to studying his an
ttagonist, and when he did not speak
Burrell continued:
"Come, brace up! I'm giving you a
chance"
But Stark shook his head
Don't be afraid" insisted the lieu
tenant. There are no witnesses. If
gou get me, nobody will know, aud
Four word is good. If not, it's much
tiupler than the other" Then when
he gambler still made no move he In
listed. you wouldn't have me kill
you like a rattlesnake?"
'You couldn't" said the older man.
YOU'RE not that kind, and I'm not the
kind to be cheated either. Listen. I've
lived over forty years, and I never
took less than was coming to me. I
won't begin tonight"
you'll get your share"
'Bahl You don't know what I mean.
don't want you. It's him I'm after,
and when I'm done with him I'll take
care OF you, but l won't run any risk
right now. You might put me away,
there's the possibility, and I won't let
you or any other manor woman e-
ther, not even my girl-cheat me out
Of Gale. Put up your gum"
The soldier hesitated, then did as he
was hidden, for this man knew him
better than he knew himselef.
81 ought to treat you like a mad dog,
but / can't do it while your hands are
up. I'm going to fight for John Gale,
however, and you can't take him."
"IIl have his carcass hung to my
rldgepole before daylight"
Stark turned to go, but paused at
the door. "And you think you'll mar
ry Necia, do your
II know it."
'Ts that SO? Suppose you find her
FIRST"
"What do you mean? Waltz
& DuL LIS tlSltOI was SOAC, leaving "
hind him a lover already sorely vexed
and now harassed by a new and sud
den apprehension. What venom the
man distilled! Could it be that he had
Eeent Necia away?
Stark traced his way back to his
cabin in a ten times fiercer mood than
he had come, reviling, cursing, hating.
Back past the dark trading post he
went, pausing to shake his clinched
Est and grind out an oath between his
teeth; past the door Of his wi saloon,
which was alight and whence came
the sound of revelry, through the scat
tered houses, where he went more by
feel than by sight, up to the door OF
his own shack. He closed the door
behind him now and locked it, for he
had some thinking to do, then felt
through his pockets for a match, and,
striking 1t, bent over his lamp to adj
Just the wick. 1t flared up steady and
strong at last, flooding the narrow
place with it's illumination. Then he
Strengthened up and turned toward
the bed to throw off his coat, when
suddenly every muscle of his body
leaped with an uncomfortable spasm,
as IL he had uncovered a deadly SER
pent coiled and ready to spring.
John Gale was sitting at his table,
barely an arms length away, his gray
blue eyes fixed upon him and the deep
seams of his heavy face set as If
craven in stone. His huge, knotted
hands were upon the table, and be-
tween them lay a naked knife.
CHAPTER XVI.
JoHN CALLS HOUR.
1T was a heathenish time Of night
to arouse the girl, thought Burrell
as he left the barracks, but he
must allay these fears that were
besetting him; he must see Necia at
once. The low, drifting clouds OBJ
secured what star glow there was in
the heavens, and he stepped back to
light q lantern.
A few moments later he stood above
the squaw, who crouched on the trad
er's doorstep, wailing her death song
Into the night.
whats wrong? Where is Nectar
Where is sheW he demanded and at
last seized her roughly, facing her to
the light, but Alluna only blinked owl
ishly at his lantern and shook her
head.
"Gone away" she finally informed
him and began to weave again in her
despair, but he held her iercely.
Where has she gone? When did she
GOT" He shook her to quicken her re-
ply.
II don't know; l don't know. Long
time she's gone now" She trailed of
into Indian words he could not COM
prehend, SO he pushed past her into
the house to see for himself and with
. out knocking flung Necia's door open
] and stepped into her chamber. Before
he had swept the unfamiliar room with
his eyes he knew that she had indeed
rome, and gone hurriedly, for the signs
Of disorder betrayed a reckless haste.
when did she go, Alluna? For
Gods sake, what does this mean?' he
nrioH NN