Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-31


creased as did Hardpan's.
"lve known him a long time, said Jim,
as they were discussing his conduct one even
ing, land, do you know, | never before gave
him credit for SO much self-restraint? | had
always had an idea that he would be a sort
of wasp in a fight"
Hardpan smiled knowingly. "He used to
be more'n that!' he declared. "He was a
catamount that's what he were; but he GER
tain1y has tanned down some in the last four
or five years. | reckon that's because he
quit boozin'. He used to be pretty bad
varmint to tackle, in them days when he was
tryin to lick whisky and anything else that
came across his path at the same time"
They sat for awhile, each absorbed in his
own thoughts, and then Hardpan gave evil
dence that his mind was more on the work
than anything else.
"Well, Jimmy" he said gravely, "tomor-
rer we'll know the best or the worst. It's
five days now since we shot the water out,
and tomorrer we can have whole shore of
bedrock that can be reached. If there's big
pay there, Boy, well locate some of it to-
morrer. Don't you reckon we'd best turn in
SOS to do a big days work?'
HIS partner agreed with him, and they
went to their rooms. Hardpans bed
time preparations were always ridiculously
simple, consisting merely in slipping off his
boots, shirt, and overalls. Sometimes, if he
had been reading, he did not even take the
trouble to remove his glasses, and there had
been occasions when the cabin was threat
ened by fire because he had serenely gone to
sleep with lighted pipe in his mouth.
So he was already snoring regularly when
Jim blew out his light. He paused by the
window to look down on the diminished lake,
which seemed to stare reproachfully at the
moon in its death tlroes. The poet that
lived in Jim caused him slight twinge of
regret at the destruction of feature SO beau
tiful that it seemed to have distinct and
palpitant life of its own. Smiling little at
his own foolish sentiment, he slipped into
his bunk, to stare for a long time at the dim
rafters above his head and think of Eve
Waters before sleep overlook him.
1t seemed to him that he had been asleep
but few minutes when he was aroused by
terrific banging at the door, and instantly
afterward he heard it swung open and heavy
footsteps entering the room where Hardpan
slept. Mingled with his partners sleepy,
disturbed exclamation, he heard Frenchy's
voice calling:
@Hardpan! Jim! Both of you! Get up!
Quick! Don't lose a second! There's
bunch comm to jump your claims! I'm
goin' for the other boys!7
He dashed out of the door, and Jim, as he
sprang from his bed, saw that it was early
dawn, and that everything was clear and dis
tinct. He wasted no time in reaching for his
clothes, and in the other room heard Hard
pan swearing his pet oaths volubly as he too
threw himself into his garments and dragged
at his boots. Jim was at the door almost as
soon as his older partner and then bolted
back inside to get his rife From the mess
house Frenchy came running, and after him,
half dressed, rushed the two other men.
"There they GOMEZ exclaimed Hardpan,
pointing up into the trees, and Jim following
the direction of his finger, saw six men trudg-
ing across the open space.
"Hold on there a minute!" he shouted.
"Wait till we get up there!7
A S he spoke he began running up the hill
= with his followers at his heels. The men
on the hillside turned to one of their number
as if for instructions, and this man, the CEN
ter of the group, appeared to hesitate for
moment or two and then stepped out in
front and awaited the miners coming. Jim,
rapidly approaching, and understanding his
companions, saw that the leader was none
other than Harjes. The presence of the
others explained his abrupt mission, and
Jim, scrutinizing them, saw that they were
a hardened, desperate looking cohort, men
e.