The Washington herald., 1914-09-27

We got insomnia, too. Neither one
could sleep for fear t'other would Job"
him out of his share. We got sus-
picious of one another. and kept our
eyes peeled like onions to see that
t'other didn't get the drop on him We
'rastled with Murder whenever a
stranger eyed the pack animals and got
jealous of the mule that carried the
stuff
When we ambled into the outskirts
of Denver with CANT and staggering
horses that groaned and creaked at
every joint, we was teetering on the
far end of human endurance. We hadn't
been on intimate terms for some days,
either.
"l'll stay here with the kit, Mr. Mar
tin" l says, "and you ride into town
and prepare the welcome"
~Oh, reckon not" says Kink. hol-
ler-eyed and suspicious. "You hunt the
laboratory yourself, while cling to the
riches"
See here" ! answers. plumb hyster-
ical and ragetty-edged at won't do for
US to parade the streets OF Denver with
homestake in stolen gewgaws. unless
we reconnoiter FIRST and see how YOUR
friend stands, He might object"
Him object? | said knew him. You
can duck out and scour the town If you
want to. but for me, Diogenes Martin.
OF Dallas, no! Il don't unglue myself
from this congestion of junk till its
weighed in the balance and | amt
found wanting"
Your lack OF confidence in = pard-
ner is irritating and abnormal" l says.
but, considering that l don't care to
leave you alone with this particular
pack mule to battle with temptation. l
reckon we're due to stay here and
starve, or chance it,
We dubbed those bedridden brutes
into shamble and made the plunge.
Up back streets and dark ALLEYS we
sneaked, panickt and palDitatine. till
we reached a pawnshop. where an
eagle-faced shark came out and stood
watch for the police. We dragged our
burden inside and locked the door.
Then | felt the weakness OF relief
pulling at my knees, while Kink smiled.
the FIRST time in two weeks. pallid and
grisly it was, and held ont his hand.
We did it, old pal" he says. in
spite OF EN-, and we're even with the
priest at last. Open her. quick I'm
starving for sight OF them carved
cups and the yellow Knockers and the
shinin' candlestick>."
As bent over the pack there was
crash behind US. The hinges and lock
splintered of the door and two red
faced men rolled into the room. One
had IS in his teeth. and without
wasting time to rise he sat up and COW
cred us.
Hands up" he yells. Quick! That's
right! Deputy, put them irons on
1t was over in a minute-hrsr time
l ever felt the steel We was % plumb
wore out we wasn't sprightly enough
to institute any kind of a GO Kink
sat down wabbly and pale. while the
first man says: Been laying ior YOU
boys two days. You've Iett trail OF
crippled horses from the border North.
That was plain as boulevard, not 80
mention the outraged feelings OF the
populace. 'Spect you'll stop a while
with US now, won't We :"
Naturally there wasn't thing doing
in the way of rePsrtee
Open her up, Bill" says he We'll
make sure"
Bill slashed the. ropes and unrolled
the tarpaulin, while | felt my stomach
congealing. As she Topped over. out
rolled as fine a specimen OF bull quartz
as Mexico ever raised.
They tore the pack apart and there
spilled out another and another. and
then grub-sack full OF beans. an iron
camp kettle. and some onions
''What'n thunder's this :" says the
officer, kicking the stuff around.
kink rose up and settled in his chair
and wiggled his mouth, but nothing ma
terialized. so l moistened Up and broke
loose.
How dare YOU? Its come to a great
pass when man can't get his samples
assayed without being pinched. Who
do you reckon we are"
You're, the last of that church-rob-
bling gang from Mexico" says he
Like blazes! We been out prospect
by old Boomheimer
bere-just brought in some ore for a
test. Amt that right, Boomheimer?
Sheriff. these emblems OF crime offend
my feelings. Take EN- off Thanks"
It's on us, l guess" says he. Sorry
we troubled sou" And after a few
questions they left
We borrowed four bits from Boom
heimer for square meal and there
was nothing but silence till we'd estab-
Iished credit at the saloon round the