Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-04-21
CHAPTER X-(Continued)

l cuIu OtuLh. z hGiC D tOO many | gers here. Just to show you how stand. I've put Runnion on guard over my pile of stun. and I'll be glad when 1 it's under cover. It isn't the severity | of punishment that keeps man from going wrong; it's the certainty of it."
 "well. he'd sure get 1t, and get it proper, in this camp" declared Lee. and at that moment. as If his words had been challenge. the flaps of the great tent were thrust aside, and Run nion half led, half threw man into the open space before the bar.
 Lets have look at you" he pant. ed. "Well. if it aln't q niggerw
 "What's up?" cried the men crowd ing about the prisoner. who crouched, terror stricken, in the trampled mud and moss. while those playing roulette and "bank" left the tables, followed by the dealers.
 Hes thief" said Runnion, mop ping the sweat from his brow. ''I caught him after your grub pile. Stark. He dropped a crate of hams when came upon him and tried to run, but dropped him." trickle of blood from the negros head showed how he had been felled
 "Why didn't you shootY grow!ed Stark angrily. at which the negro half arose and broke into excited denials of his guilt. Runnion kicked him say agely. while the crowd murmured ap- proval.
 "Le' me see him." said Lee, elbow Ing his way through the others. Fix Ing his one eye upon the wretch. he spoke impresslvely.
 You're the first downright thief ever seen. Was you hungry?"
 "No; he's got plenty" answered one of the tenderfeet. Hes got bigger outfit than have"
 'Then I reckon it's divine manifes- tation." said No Creek" Lee tearfully. ''This black party Is goin' to furnish an example as will elevate the moral tone of our community for year"
 "What y'all aim to doT .whined the thief
 Were goin' to try you" announced the one eyed miner, ''and if you're found guilty. as you certainly are goin' to be, you'll be fogged, after which perdicament you'll have nice ride downstream on saw log without your laundry"
 But the mosquitoes"-
 "Too bad you didn't think of them l hafnra | at' 0at af thIo hnuG and have 1t over with"
 A miners meeting was called on the spot and messenger sent hurrying to the post for the book in which was recorded the laws of the men who had made the camp. The crowd was de gally and as prescribed by ancient GUS tom up and down the river. There was no defense for the culprit, and he offered none. being too scared to do more than plead. The proceedings were quiet and grim and were well nigh over when Lieutenant Burrell walked into the saloon. He had been in his quarters all day, fighting fight with himself, and in the late evening, rebelling against his war with his con- science, he had sallied out and, drawn by the crowd in Stark's place, had en- | tered.
 A man replied to his whispered ques- tion, giving him the story, for the meeting was under Lees domination, and the miners maintained an orderly and businesslike procedure. The mat ter of fact, relentless expedition of the affair shocked Burrell inexpresslbly, and. seeing Poleon and Gale near by, he edged toward them. thinking that they surely could not be in sympathy with ! this barbarous procedure. You don't understand, lieutenant" said Gale in low voice. ''This nigger is thief"
 "Gentlemen," announced Burrell. standing near the ashen gray wretch and facing the tentful of men, this man is thief, but you can't kill him"
 Stark leaned across the bar, his eyes blazing. and touched the lieuten- ant on the shoulder.
 Do you mean to take hand in all of my affairs;"
 'This isn't your affair. It's mine," said the officer This Is what 1 was sent here for. and its my particular business. You seem to have overlook ed that important fact"
 He stole my stuff, and he'll take his medicine"
 l "I say he won'ttr
 | For the second time in their brief acquaintance these two men looked fair into each others eyes. Few men had dared to look at Stark thus and live. for when a man has once shed the blood of his fellow mania ob- sesses him, disease obtains that is incurable.
 The two men battled with their eyes for an opening Lee and the others mastered their surprise at the inter- ruption and then began to babble un- til Burrell turned from the gambler and threw up his arm for silence.
 There's no use arguing" he told the mob. You can't do It. I'll hold I |