The Press., 1912-01-24

into semic1rcIe about the prisoner The blanket Mas withdrawn from liar " Barry's indignant ccuntenancc and he split the morn!n, air with a whoop of disgust when he viewed the faces of his friends ln the wan day light. Worn and haggard they were, but each pair of faithful eyes viewed him with brotherly love.
 "What in the blankety- -blank-blank is the matter with you gazaboCs?" he beloved wrathfnlly. 'Is this what you call joke to carry a foller thir- ty miles away from the first streak of luck he's ever had? I wish I'd kept it to myself!' He looked around at their crestfallen faces, his own anger abat- ing in the light of concern he read in the eyes fixed on him.
 "We're your friends. Harry" boom ed Gabriel solemnly. What we've done this night has been agin the law, as we all know it, but don't believe one mothers son of us would have done it for anybody but you. Seems like I 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. Not for nobody but you, Harry" added the Crane crustily. ..t..
 Harry Barry stared at their woebe- gone faces with bewildered eyes. He 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 rumpusY' he demanded at length. "You got. my note all right?' .". ..-". ~.:. :..
 That's why we came, and-what's happened that you call the limb of cottonw pod the first streak of luck you ever had?'' demanded Gabriel sternly. There want no gal in the case?" @-' ''s-.-
 Harry Barry stared. Mary gal" he managed to say after awhile, but what's tie limb of a 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 it?" he demand ed.
 "Rest of it?" they echoed.
 "The first part. It's been torn off"
 That's the way it was handed to me-" said Ga,Jrel.
 "I'll bet the greasy toad tore some of it off to make a cigarette" sput- tered Harry Barry. Th>n. turning to. ward them, he said without q trace of humOr in his pleasant voice: "This part, boys, sounds mighty desperate, but when ] tell you what was ill the part that the greaser tore off you'll understand. The whole note said: 'Hurray, I've struck silver at Satan's Gulch after all! Come to the three cottonwoods and. bring the boys to celebrate It's the Last Chance And, boys, the name of the new mine is 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 had made, and as they turned about and rode back over the trail into their own state they discussed, with much laugh ter, the pains they had taken to bring Harry Barry away from his streak of luck. Harry Barry's favorite theme for months had been his belief that silver ore would be found at Satan's Gulch, and he had utilized his three weeks vacation to prospect that re- zion thoroughly. with the best of sue cess.
 Harry Barry himself was the only. serious one in the party bound for the cottonvoods. At last, when they all drew rein under the trees and had ex- amined the notice of his claim that was posted, there they waited for him to speak.
 He looked around at their tired faces and read the satisfaction in tbeir eyes mere came to him then the full knowledge of what friendship means between men.
 Friends" he said gently, "I under stand now why you rode down to the three cottonwoods, and you must have believed some in me to do what you did. This ain't going to be big mine there ain't q fortune in .it-but, no matter what size, it: is.. there's five partners in it, and it's name is Friend ship. You fellers lay down and sleep while I get some breakfast" ,-
 Before they obeyed him there was brief instant while hands gripped 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 had laid for their future friendship.