River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-01-28

d uOISe. LII SOI1S 10 pass KILT LII
to you"
mo good" Smoke said MY hands
are tied behind me and made fast to
the leg of the bunk. But something
must be done. Those fellows are OF
temper to hang me. and, of course. you
know | didn't kill that man"
at wasn't necessary to mention it.
Smoke. want to get you out of this.
It's a tough bunch of men here.
They're shut off from the world. and
they make and enforce their own law
They handled two men already both
grub thieves. One they mixed from
camp without an ounce of grub and
no matches. He made about forty
miles and lasted a couple of days be-
fore he froZe stiff Two weeks ago
they liked the second man. They gave
him his chOice-no grub or ten laShes
for each days ration. He stood for
forty lashes before he tainted and
now they've got you. and every last
one is convinced you killed Kinade.
You see. things have been pretty mo-
| notonous They haven't located any
thing big. Scurvy is beginning to
show up among them. too. and they're
just ripe for excitement"
And it looks like I'll furnish it."
was Smokes comment. Say. Breck.
how did you ever fall in with such
God forsaken bunch?"
Il came up here by way of the Stew
art. hunting for Two Cabins They
beaten me to it. 50 I've been higher
up the Stewart, Just got back yester.,
day out of grub
Hold on" Smoke interrupted Wait
minute. Let me think"
He was very much aware Of the
shores of the SleeperS as he pursued
the idea that had flashed into his mind.
Say. Breck. have they opened up
the meal packs my dogs carried?" he
asked.
"A couple. They put them in Hard
ing's cache"
Did they find anything?'
Meat"
Good. You've got to get into the
brown canvas pack that's patched with
moose hide. You'll fnd few pounds
of lumpy gold. You've never seen
gold like it in the country. nor has any
body else. Here's what you've got to
do. Listen"
MY minds made up right now.
There amt no doubt but what he kill
ed Kinade We heard the whole thing
last night. What's the good of gon'
over it again? | vote guilty.
In such fashion Smokes trial began
The speaker, loose jointed, hard rock
man from Colorado manifested irrita-
ton and disgust when Harding set his
suggestion aside. demanded the pro-
ceedings should be regular and nonli-
mated one Skunk Wilson for judge and
chairman of the meeting The popu-
lation of Two Cabins constituted the
jury. though, after some discussion.
the woman. Lucy, was denied the rig hit
to vote on Smokes guilt or innocence.
While this was going on Smol,e.
damned into a corner on a bunk. over
heard a whispered conversation be-
tween Breck and a miner
You haven't fifty pounds of -four
yOu'n SELF" Breck queried
You amt got the dust to pay the
price I'm askin'," was the reply
I'll give you two hundred"
The man shook his head
Three hundred. Three fifty"
At four hundred the man nodded and
said. Come on over to my cabin an
weigh out the dust"
The two squeezed their way to the
door and slipped out. After a few min
utes Breck returned alone.
Harding was testifying when SMOKE
saw the door showed open slightly and
in the crack appear the face of the
man who had sold the -four He was
grimacing and reckoning emphatically
to some one inside. who arose from
near the stove and started to walk to-
ward the door.
Where are you goin', Sam?'' Skunk
Wilson demanded.
''I'l be back in fifty" Sam explain
ed. Il jes' got to CO."
Smoke was permitted to question
the witness. and he was in the middle
of the cross examination of Harding