Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09

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Tied MEEKINS had his collection of antique
K silver hidden under large boulder of con
= glomerate rock half a mile from the Silver
Ledge shafthouse. When even the professors of
geology and mineralogy had disputed with heat the
little the matter, being more largely interested
in the subtle endeavor of acquiring his contorted
slabs of pure silver quietly and the equally difficult
business of finding secretive purchaser.
In Short Red was high grading" assimilating
the precious metal from the sorting board of his
poyers, the Silver Ledge Company.
ethics of stealing it was looked upon as something
akin to beating the customs Meekins found
touch of exhilaration in outwittng, the companys
two detectives. The detectives worked as ordinary
miners; they slept in the one big room OF the bunk
house. which contained thirty beds they ate at the
table with the men, and fancied that they
suspected; but Red knew. A massive jawed fight
ing bulldog was turned loose nightly in the ore
house guard the sacks of high grade ore; but Red
Meekins rubbed shoulders with the two detectives
as fellow workmen, SHE'D rock at the bulldog if he
saw him nosing about alone and went on high grad
ing. -
akin to sixth sense that told Meekins somebody
had found his cache of silver under the big rock For
two sweet moonlight nights he watched Farren and
Riley the detectives, they sat in vigil near his
cache waiting to pounce upon the unknown depos-
itor. On the third night dark clouds smothered the
moon, and Meekins took his little bag of ore from
under the very of the watchers and hid 1T IN
badger hole mile away.
TN the way of establishing an alibi should his alb
sence from the clubhouse cause an inquiry, Meek
ms after he had hidden the silver called at the log
shack of Jack Gray, owner of the Little Star mining
"How's she shown up?" Red asked as he took
seat on Gray's bunk. FLOWS the vein lookin'?"
Not too bad" Gray answered, with the conserva-
tive caution of an oldtme prospector.
haer
Hope you ripped up silver sidewalk-you had
calcite enough Before
Gray ignored the matter of silver sidewalks and
passed the speaker plug of tobacco saying, Fill
Red lighted the pipe and drew at it with tantaiz-
Gray's shot had discovered no bonanza; his whole
manner held the somberness of defeat. Meekins
finally hazarded, Il heerd you'd sold the Little STAR
Well" Gray answered, shutting about the shack
as he spoke 1--WE sold it, an amt. Two hundred
thousand if the vein shows native silver that's the
bargain, Red. Mr.. Downs to come tomorrow
Ar" An the IN mineral Jack got it,"
We'll, we're hopin'. She looks good to me-.
He amt got it yet" Meekins muttered to him
self. And somehow thought of his little silver
horde tangently into his mind like correlative
factor Here was trinity of holdings that, con-
creted into one, would certainly be advantageous.
Say" he calculated as he fused at the pipe bowl
with his knife, oosenng the tobacco, like to see
you soak that Engishman that's b1uffin round here
bout buyn mine. mine! It's pup Bank of
England that Bloater Bangs wants"
"Boultbee Downs is the gents name, Red you've
got his handle sorter twisted Gray advised.
His name don't cut ce Jack; he's porky
little stiff! l meets him kinder offhand like at the
Nugget Hotel last night an makes play to boost
the Little Star for you, Jack, an what dyou think
Bolster & Co. hands out to me?'
Gray chuckled Said he hadn't been introduced;
gave you the wall eye an cut away, chr?
Kinder like that, Jack, only wuss, cold
blooded Says he, takin silver cigarette from
his pocket an lightin one of EN- coffin nails I have
in my service engineer quite competent to adj
,f +lo &c T