Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-12-12

"Redbear seems to be quiet" ne
said. where is your daughter?"
Dupont pointed vaguely down the
mOuntain-side. "She went off with Mr..
Van, to try to smooth down his fur.
You riled him considerable, Cap"
Il regret that it was necessary to
reprimand you"
"All right, Cap. l don't bear no
grudge. Mebbe now you'd like to take
a look at the mine"
"Yes," crisply agreed Hardy.
Dupont rose and led him into the
mouth of the tunnel. There he I'M
locked a heavy tool chest and took
out two candles. These were needed,
for though the tunnel ran into the
mountain side less than three hundred
feet, its twisting course along the ore
vein soon shut out the daylight. Du-
pOnt noticed his companions dubious
look at the soft ore-body that formed
the roof and one wall of the tunnel.
''Walk quiet, and don't talk loud"
he said. "We amt done no timbering
yet. Drove in this drift to the foot of
|
cusses to work, SOS we could figure
what we had to count on"
Hardy made no reply until they
came to the end of the tunnel and
stepped out into the dim dayli ght of
the shaft bottom. He looked up the
big, square, timbered well, and re-
marked: you sank this first, then
drove in to meet it."
! yep. Wanted to make sure the
vein didn't pinch out nowhere. Nogen
and Mr.. Van both figured we got three
hundred thousand dollars of ore as
good as blocked out"
"Ah," said Hardy, and he signed to
Dupont to lead the way back.
| They had gone twenty-five or thirty
PAGES when a little slither of ore fell
| Dupont. Instantly he sprang forward,
with whispered cry: Jump
quick! !"
Hardy leaped after him, barely in
| time to clear the ton or more of ore
that dropped from the roof in a mass.
/
the two men fastened stealthily down
the slight slope of the tunnel, their
candles appraised and eyes fixed on the
soft, raw ore-body above them. At any
moment the entire roof might cave in
and bury them. The shock of the FIRST
all along the passage. Fragments drib-
bled down behind and in front of the
fugitives and even on their heads.
Panic-stricken, they broke into a run.
1t was none too soon. AS they dashed
around the turn that brought them to
the outlet, the entire roof behind them
came thudding down.
Safe outside, Dupont shook the
| fragments from his hat and clothes,
and pulled out his bandanna to wipe
off the sweat that was gathering in
beads on his forehead.
"Ugh!" he grunted. Don't never
see me in there ag'in till it's timbered."
Rather close CALL" remarked
Hardy.
you're a cool one" muttered the
trader, and he scowled. Nom dun
chien Just my luck! If I hadn't
sung out, you'd "a got smashed under
that first drop"
II shall not forget it, Dupont"
Me, neither. Stead of being rid of
you,. here you are ready as ever to
clean us out-anG done t."
you DO not regret saving my life"
asserted Hardy.
"Well, mebbe not. Just the same,
it's mighty hard luck on us. Here we
went and blocked out all that there
ore-three hundred thousand dollars
as good as in our pockets-not to
speak of all that's down under and
t'other side the shaft. For all we know,
1t runs clean through the mountain
and down to China ~
'sThat does not alter the situation"
said Hardy.
"Mebbe it don't, and then ag'in-"
Dupont began to scratch his head.
Yes, mebbe it don't, and then, ag'in,
mebbe it does. Just you take a look
at it this way, Cap. Suppose that new
/ treaty goes through, the tribe don't
git nothing out of this mine, and we
don't, neither. Just some lucky bum
heats us TO it, and the government says
it's hisn. Is that fair and square?"
"You have acted outside the law"
said Hardy. You must take your
chances with other locators"
How about the tribe?" Queried Du-
pont. Don't you care nothing about
their interests? Just supposing you
and me and Mr.. Van took hold of this
here proposition for the tribe and split
even with them on the proceeds. 1 call
that square deal TO them and us, too
and 1 knew Marie would think the
same. She likes you. Cap. Just show
her you want to do what's best for all
concerned, and Tn dead sure She"
"Stop~ commanded Hardy. Leave
your daughter out of this"
you've got to tell me how I'm
going to do it," replied Dupont in an
injured tone. 'If l don't git my share
in the mine, MFR. Van can't afford to
take her; and you won't have no
show. But you git in right with Marie,
and she'd work her hands to the bone
for YOU. She amt no common breed
girl, neither. You know that. She'd
/ be real lady, If she had money
only you amt going to give her no
chance"
"She knows that 1 wish TO marry
her" said Hardy.
Think she ~believes that when
you're going to rob me and her of
/ fortuneT"
Hardy looked directly at the temp
ter, his eyes clear and resolute, though
his face was white and drawn. 1T is
of no use, Dupont / shall do what I
consider my duty"
Duponts face darkened. $50 that's
what git for saving your life. You
amt got a particle of gratitude. and
you don't care hang about her."
4