The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-09-26

1 W
to myselfr' He looked around at thei
crestfallen faces, his own anger abat
ing in the light of concern he read IL
| the eyes fixed on him.
Were your friends, Harry" boom
ed Gabriel solemnly. What we'v,
done this night has been agin the law
as we all know 1t, but don't believ,
one mothers son of US would havt
done it for anybody but you Seemi
| like l couldn't bear not to hear you
laugh no more" The rough fellow
drew his sleeve across his brow. and
for an instant his troubled and betray
ing eyes were hidden.
The others nodded assent. mot fol-
nobody but you, Harry" added the
Crane crustily.
Harry Barry stared at their woebe
| gone faces with bewildered eyes. HI
looked little like a condemned man
a man who had faced death but few
short hours before-a man who had
escaped certain hanging from one Of
the three cottonwoods at Satan's Gulch
Whats the rumpusf' he demanded
at length. "You got my note al
right?"
That's why we came, and-what's
happened that you call the limb of 8
cottonwood the first streak of luck
you ever hadr demanded Gabrie
sternly. There want no gal In the
case?"
Harry Barry stared. Mary gall
he managed to say after awhile, "but
what's the limb Of cottonwood tree
got to do with me?"
Silently Gabriel passed over the note
that the Mexican had delivered. and
the Others stared curiously as the
young man read it.
where's the rest OF 1T" he demand
ed.
REST Of it?" they echoed.
'The first part. It's been torn on"
That's the way it was handed tt
me-" said GabrieL
"I'n bet the greasy toad tore some
OF 1t off to make a cigarette" sput
tered Harry Barry. Then, turning to
ward them, he said without a trace O.
humor In his pleasant voice: "Thii
part, boys, sounds mighty desperate
but when l tell you what was In thu
part that the greaser tore Off you'll
understand. The whole note said
| Murray, I've struck silver at Satan's
Gulch after all! Come to the thret
cottonwoods and bring the boys tt
celebrate. It's the Last Chance And
boys, the name of the new mine 1.
Last Chance"
His careless young face grew very
tender as the four yelled themselves
hoarse with delight They joked one
another about the mistake they ha(
made, and as they turned about an6
rode back over the trail into their owl
state they discussed, with much laugh
ter. the pains they had taken to brinl
Harry Barry away from his streak Of
luck. Harry Barry's favorite theme
for months had been his belief tha
silver ore would be found at Satan't
Gulch, and he had utilized his thret
weeks vacation to prospect that re
gion thoroughly. with the best Of sue
| cess.
Harry Barry himself was the only
serious one in the party bound for tn,
cottonwoods. At last, when they al
drew rein under the trees and had ex
amined the notice Of his claim tina
was posted. there they waited for hin
to speak
He looked around at their tired face
and read the satisfaction In their eyes
There came to him then the full
knowledge of what friendship meanl
between men.
Friends" he said gently, 81 under
stand now why you rode down to tn,
three cottonwoods, and you must hav'
believed some in me to do what you
did. This amt going to be big miE'
there amt a fortune in it-but. n,
matter what size it is, there's fiv,
! partners In it, and it's name is Friend
ship. You fellers lay down and sleeI
while get some breakfast"
| Before they obeyed him there was ,
brief instant while hands grippet
hands. and then the tension was re
moved, and they were on the old foot
ing once more. save for the strong
| foundation that the nights work ha(
laid for their future friendship.