Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-23
SILVER HoRDE
By REX BEACH,

Copyright, 1909, BY Harper g Brothers
CHAPTER V-Continued.

(CHAPTER V-Continued)
"You know Emerson makes me un-
comfortable sometimes, he is so damn
moral Fraser replied, indirectly.
HE won't stand for anything off color.
He's real square guy, he is, the kind
you read about"
"You didn't answer my question:
insisted Cherry.
Again Fraser evaded the issue.
Nov if this Marsh is going after you
in earnest this summer why don't you
let me stick around till spring and
lookout your game? III drop mon
key-wrench in his gear case or put q
spider in his dumpling; and it's more
than an even shot that If him and I
got to know each other right well, I'D
own his cannery before fall
Thank you, can take care of my
self" said the girl, in a tone that
closed the conversation.
Late one stormy night-Constantine
had been gone week-the two men
whom they were expecting blew in
through the binding smother, hall
frozen and well.nigh exhausted with
the marks Of hard travel showing in
their sunken cheeks and in the bleed
ing pads of their dog team But al
though hundred miles of impossible
trails lay behind them, Bait refused
rest or nourishment until he had
learned why Cherry had sent for him
whats wrong?" he demanded OF
her, staring with suspicious eyes at
the strangers.
AS briefly as possible she outlined
the situation while Boyd Emerson
took his measure, for no person quite
like this fisherman had ever crossed
the miners path. He saw huge
barrel-chested creature whose tire
mendous muscles bulged beneath his
nondescript garments, whose red up
standing bristle of hair topped a
leather countenance from which
cleaned pair of the most violent
eyes Emerson had ever beheld, the
dominant expression Of which was
rage. His jaw was long, and the
seams from nostril to lip half hidden
behind stiff stubble, gave it the set
of granite. His hands were gnarled
and cracked from an age-long INNER
sion in brine, his voice was hoarse
with the echo of drumming ratlines
He might have lived forty, sixty years
but every year had been given to the
sea, for it's breath was in his. lungs
its foaming violence was in his blood
AS the significance of Cherrys
words sank into his mind, the signs
of an unholy joy overspread the fish
erman's visage; his thick lips
writhed into an evil grim, and his
hairy paws continued to open and
close hungrily.
do you mean business?" he bel
lowed at Emerson.
II do"
Can you flght?"
eyes"
"Will you do what tell you, or have
you got lot Of sick notions"
mo" the young man declared
,stoutly, II have no scruples; but
won't do what you or anybody else
tells me- I'll do what ! please. I in
tend to run this enterprise absolutely
and run it my way"
"This gang won't stop at anything
warned Bait
Neither will l." affirmed the other
with a scowl and a down-drawing OF
his lin corners. give got to win, sc
don't waste time wondering how fal
I'll 20. What want to know is If you
will join my enterprise"
The giant uttered mirthless
chuckle. "I'll give my life to It,
IT knew you would" flashed Cherry
her eyes beaming.
"And if we don't beat Willis Marsh
by God, I'll kill him!" Bait shouted
fully capable of carrying out his
threat, for his bloodshot eyes We're
lit with bitter hatred and the memory
of his wrongs was like gall in his
mouth Turning to the girl, he said:
Now give me something to eat I've
been living on dog fish till my belly is
full of bones"
He ripped the ragged parka from
his back and flung 1t in a sodden heap
beside the stove; then strobe after her
with the others following.
She seated him at her table and