The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-10-31

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
Flambeau. As the two came up past
him he saw that he was mistaken.
This man was no more of a tenderfOot
than Runnion. On the contrary, he
had a 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
leafi 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?"
1.-THE diggings," replied Stark as Lee
addressed the stranger. yff
mining now?' ga
"No; same old thina. but I'm grub
stalking a few men, as usual. One OF
them stays here. l may open a 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. Fine! There must be a
hundred people living here"
"Neyer mind; you take 1t from me-"
said the miner positively, 'and get in
now on the quiet. There's something
doing" His 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-
fment, for when Runnjon entered the
store shortly Stark spoke to him quick.
ly, 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 1t was evil
dent that Mr.. Stark would In nowise
be q burden to the community.
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 Creek 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. l knew him back
in the Cassiar country" said Lee.
els he a mining MANI"
"Well summat. He's made and lost
a bank roll that a greyhound couldn't
leap over in the mimi business, but
1t amt his regular graft. He run one
of the biggest places in the northwest
for years."
saloon, eh?"
saloon and variety house-seven
bartenders. that's all. He's the Teller
that killed the gold commissioner. OF
course that put him on the hike again."
How do you mean?"
Well, he had a record as long as a
| sick mans drug bill before he went
into that country, and when he put the
| commissioner away them Canadian Of
| fcials went after him like they was
KILN snakes, and it cost him all he
had made to get clear. If it had hap
pened across the line the coroner's
| Jury would have freed him, cause the
| commissioner vas drunk and started
the row. But 1t happened right in
Stark's saloon, and you know Canucks
is stronger than vitriol for law and or
der. Not bein' his first o~ffense, it went
hard with him."
"He looks like a killer" said Burrell
Eyes. but he amt the common kind.
He always let's the other man begin,
| and therefore he amt ever done time"
"Come, now" argued the lieutenant,
"if it were the other man who invaria.
bly, shot first. Stark would have been
Killed long ago.
81 don't are what would have hap
pened, it amt happened, and he's got
notches on his gun till 1t looks like a
cub peal had chawed it. If you was a
western man you'd know what they
saw about him. The bullet amt beer
run to kill him That's the sayin'
You needn't grin. There's many a bet
fer man than you believes it."
"Who is 1t that the bullet hasn't
been run to kill?" said the traders
deep voice behind them. He had fin
ished with his duties and nov saunter
ed forward.
ben Stark said Lee, turning
you know him, John?"
"No; | never saw him, but | know
who he is; used to hear of him in thu
Occur d'Alenes."
'That's him | was talking to" sale
the miner. Hes an old friend Of
mine. and he's going to locate here"
Burrell thought he saw Lee wink al