The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-12-12
Rex Beach
copya'enr.,soa. " HARPER q eRornExs

again the squaw DFoKe into her sad
lament.
"John Gale-he's gone away with the
knife Of my father. / am afraid; l am
afraid"
"Did he come back here just now?"
mo. He went to the jail house, and
he would not let me follow. He dom
come back no more"
This was confusing, and Meade
cried angrily:
"Why didn't you give the alarm7
| Why didn't you come to me instead OF
yelling your lungs out around the
house,"
HE told me to watt" she said SIM
ply.
go find Poleon, quick"
"He told me to watt" she repeated
stoically, and Burrell knew he was
powerless to Q her. BE saw the
image or a great terror IN the woman'S
face. The night suddenly became
heavy with the hint Of unspeakable
things, and he grew fearful, suspect
ing now that Gale had told him but a
part Of his story, that all the time he
knew Stark's identity and that his
quarry was at hand, ready for the kill,
OF, II not, he had learned enough while
standing behind that partition. Where
was he now7 Where was Nicola?
What part did she play in thisf he
gave up trying to think and fed for
Stark's saloon, reasoning that where
one was the other must be near, and
there would surely be some word Of
Necia. He burst through the door. A
quick glance over the place showed 1t
empty of those he sought; but, spying
Poleon Doret, he dragged him outside,
lnquiring breathlessly:
"Have you seen Gale?"
mo"
"Have you seen Stark? Has he been
aboutY'
Eyes; wan hour, mebbe two, hour
ago. wy? Wat for you askT"
"There's the devil to pay. Those
two have come together, and Necia is
gone"
"Necia gone!" the Canadian jerked
out. swat you mean by dat? Were
she's gone tot"
q" don't know. Nobody knows.
Heaven! Pm shaking like a leaf"
bah! She's feel purity bad. She's
go out by herself. OATS all right"
Il tell you something has happened
to her! There's hi to pay! / found
her clothes at the house torn to rib
bons and all muddy and wet"
Poleon cried out at this.
We've got to find her and Gale, and
we haven't a minute to lose."
Were have you lookT
"I've been to the house, but Alluna
Is crazy and says Gale has gone to
kill Stark, as near as l can make out.
Both of them were at my quarters
tonight, and I'm afraid the squaw is
right,
"But Were is Nectar"
1--WE don't know. Maybe Stark has
got her"
The Frenchman cursed horribly
"Have you try hees cabane?" .
mo"
Without answer the Frenchman
darted away, and the lieutenant sped
after him through the deserted rows
Of log houses.
Burrell gripped his companions arm
with fingers Of steel, and together
they crept up to the door. But even
before they had gained it they heard
a voice within. 1t was Stark's. The
| walls Of the house were of mos
chinked logs that deadened every
sound, but the door itself was Of thin
whipsawed pine boards with ample
cracks at top and bottom, and they
heard plainly. The lieutenant leaned
forward, then with difficulty smoth-
cred an exclamation, for he heard an
other voice now-the voice Of John
Gale. The words came to him muf-
fed, but distinct, and he raised his
hand to knock when suddenly he seized
Poleon, kissing into his ear:
"Listenl For Gods sake, listenw
For the first time In his tempestuous
life Ben Stark lost the iron composure
that had made his name a byword in
the west, and at sight Of his bitterest
enemy seated In the dark Of his own
house waiting for him he became an
ordinary, nervous, frightened a 1t
was the utter unex~pectedness of the
thing that shook him, and before he
could regain his balance Gale spoke:
"I've come to settle, Bennett"
"What are you doing hereT". the
gambler stammered.
II was up at the soldiers place just
now and heard you. I didn't want
any Interruptions, so l came here,
| where we can be Alone" He paused
and when Stark made no answer con-
tinued, "Well, let's get at it." But
still the other made no move. you've
had all the best Of It for twenty
years." Gale went on in his level
voice, "but tonight I get even. I've
lived for thisv'
THAT shot in Lees cabin?" recalled
| Stark, with the light Of new under
| standing. "You knew me thenT"
Eyes"
Stark took a deep breath. what a
Id fool I've been!"
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