The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1915-03-15
AL1 xlICs ea1nllL 1Ia Z 6 l!llss ~
NJ Ar IT,
BY II. RIDER, HAG0ARD 8

noe~ "ss ." senUusUo
II was with the sense Of souss-
thing inimical neal. him. the need Of
human speech suddenly heavy on
him. that he scrambled out Of the
slate floored basin. and up to the
top OF the spruce recovered ridge that
hid u from the nver-bed camp,
With eyes that held . new somber-
moss he looked down on the narrow
valley that widened into the strip
Of level that made . crescent on the
lake shore, backed everywhere BY
mountains; the tiay specs where
that had been Q failure ali the LONG
summer. and now that u was . sue
cess the wilderness meant TO stArve.
A. Hanar1 walked over the river
stonss toward his shack he was not
the fancy picture people have Of z
miner who suddenly finds himself
rich. With plenty to whi1tle over
he was having hard work 10 whistle.
whom he saw Sophy Ridgeway como
out Of her house ana walk to meet
him. A. she ncared him she hest
tated, but she came on.
Look here. she said. i've not g
out to Rider. and he'd tell you Y I
didnt--but don't want you 10 make
a fuss. Promisei Ny gold's gone.
Some one took every bit OF II while
We were outl"
'1one!" For the first time Hazard
the shadow that HAD been only
shadow when he reached II. and was
probably q reality that had been too
clever on tn feet for him. ] won.
der which one OF the men II wa"
he though swiftly. and turned to
sophy. ibid you lock your door
when yop went with us?"
~ lockSd 1t. and II was locked when
Rider and I got back. but the gold
was gone" She glanced at Hazard
and was frightened. II wish I'd
, never told you," she cried. Don't
look like that, there's plenty morsi
don't want you to ask the men
about II. i never would have msh-
toned 1t 10 l hadn't known Ridsr
would say II was gone"
ut can't stay gone" retorted
Hazard, "for know who took tt7eud
that was one Of the mon! Even Sup
I, posing ] meant to run the mine on q
free-for.an gait-which ! don't-this
isn't the way I'd begin. Anyhow. thil
property that's been stolen, and its
rot to be returned. II II isn't, the
man who keeps It viii find he's got "a
pull the laboring oar. ! know It wa
one Of them"
II suppose co." she admitted. "Du,
I wish again I hadn't told you; vel
get the men against W, Just whsc
We can't got on without them"
I'VE cant And II We oouldnt-
we'll, I'd deserve all got from them
II I began by standing thing III.
this. Get In out Of the cold, Mo
Ridgeway. Ill see to your gold"
II wish you wouldn't" said soDny
fatty. and It was not till Ions After,
better than his. Now he only shoet
Got to straighten them out" hl
returned. please 70 Into the house.
II was not said with any emphasls
even, but Miss RidgewAy was Of
Tended. She marched on without
looking at Hasard. which was q pity,
for no was rather . splendid sight a.
he STROBE over to the bunk blouse In
his canvas clothes that were too cool
for the weather.. The one pereon who
the expression Of his face. Any mood
Of sympathy Hazard had had tor the
men was over; Il was not 90 much the
plain theft that had reused him. but
tho entering sophy RidSYway's house
through o locked door; II that could
be done In the. daylight Il could b
better done In tho dark. Anger made
Hazard slow always. and he was very
slow now: Rider, coming out Of the
bunk-house door. had plenty Of time
TO close IL behind him before he spoke.
Hold on. Mr.. Hasard"-hs had 3
scared look that sat oddly on him
Oiuat opa aaCouAg Z hrnst tv1sIv t,allAvA
any OF tho men took that gold"
''Then II must have been you or
me-" roughly. There isn't any one
else
Rider looked up at the black noun.
tain that doomed above them. II don't
know" he murmured, II wish I dfdi
One Of the mon knows, anyhow; but
hos struck dumb"
WHAT" exclaimed Hasard con.
temptuously. You. tool" He opened
the bunk house door and went In.