Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-24
Is

ing and lin lifted himself to his feet and waited After
interval that seemed long the serorous breathing
of tired men around resumed and Jim again bent
and whispered:
Don't bother about your clothing, he said, "be
cause you and nearly the size, and you can
some of mine. lust slip outside without making
any noise III wait there by the door"
He made his way back out and waited, intently lis
tening see how successfully Frenchy obeyed his in
structons, and gratied when the miner stood be-
side him without having made audible sound. He
took the persistent pains to close the door noise
lessly listened outside it with his to crack for
moment needless of the rain which had wet him through
from head to foot, and then convinced that all within
asleep, caught the shvering Frenchy by the arm
and led him toward the other cabin
HERE we are he said to the wondering miner
IL soon as they were inside snow just stand there
a minute and I'll throw you towel and suit of my
underwear and some clothes. We've got job to do
tonight which we'll explain to you"
"Nce way to wake up and get him out gr1nned
Frenchy. "N1ust be pretty important. Amt gon to
rob bank, murder someone are your"
aHardpan will explain to you while are dressing
Jim said brushing the water from his hair and rolling
sleeve that his would not cling to the paper
He seized the pen that his partner renquished and
went rapidly with the copying following the grabbed
scrawl made by the veteran. The latter turned to
Frenchy took off his spectaces and shook them at the
miner impressively.
1--WE called you,' he said, because we know you're
the sort, Frenchy that be trusted with mans
dollars his life Let's see it's nigh onto fifteen years
since you and me fust worked together, amt it,"
yep
4Weu, the way Of it is this. We got the word tonight
that the's bunch after us-or one skunk, at least
The that told us is afeard this muckers gon to
step in here and claim this whole basin as water re-
and stop us from drainin off the pond. We got
to head him off"
@Dirty trick that feller's workn', eh? Why don't
YOU let him come then just naturally shoot him full of
holes? That's the way you'd have done it when first
knowed you, Hardpan.'
Maybe; but I'm gettn' too old. The amt nothn'
in fghtin'. I've done my share I'm diplomat All
| want IS peace
But me and the boys"
@You do what want you to-" interrupted Hard
pan. aThen there won't be no fussin at all
well, what might that be!'
"Me and Jim wants you to go with us and stake this
basin in your name. We know then that we won't get
the worst of it. Does that goo'
"Does it go? Sure! Only want to say this, Hard
pam I've got conscientious scruples about havin any
man jump claim with my the stake Once
stake if any party undertakes to hop on expect you
felers to stick by me. Now does that go?'
at does was the prompt reply.
@All right Jim, where them other duds?' Frenchy
called thus dsssing his share of the bargain without
further words and Jim from his.work and selected
complete outfit of clothing, waerproos and all, and
tossed them into the adjoining room, and in minute
had resumed his work with the pen.
"Al ready he declared few minutes later, and then
jumped for his hat coat and boots rolled up the forms
he had copied picked up box Of 1T taeks s and hammer
But you amt got rubber coat" insisted
Frenchy, holding back.
Don't want it" declared Jim, refralnlng from from
telling the fact that the only he had then
the volunteers back He blew out the lights in the
cabin carried an unlit lantern for emergencies, and
joined his companions outside.
"Now,' he said, assuming command, Il have filled
these forms out starting from the big pine there to the
left of the outlet That is the keynote OF this situation
We must find it. put the first notice there then step OFT
southwark nearly to theeast sideof the pond
where plant stake Number Two. Then we come back
to the big and step the west Number Four thence
southwark again for Number Three Thatshould bringus
the coedam and we'll on the west side of the
pond Anyone welcome to anything they can get after
have that laid out although would be tohave
title to the whole pond Anyway this should protect us
SILENTLY and with straning eyes they stumbled