The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1916-05-06

disappeared into the mountain with
powder. drills and three months
grub stake. He had told no one OF
his destination. and when he had re-
turned the most he would say was
that he had been peckin' on a ledge
all summer"
So things stood one day when the
stage drew near. The stage was
coming-with passengers! 1t was al
most In; the Kinds House loungers
could hear the drivers cit ep,
Eagle! Git ep, Mig! Git ep-git ep-
git cpl" There was luggage on be-
hind and-Yankee Sans voice broke
as though 1t were changing when he
announced TIA female and two men,
Was this Uncle Bills secret? Had
he known? They could learn nothing
from his face and his mouth was shut
SO tight It looked as IL he had the
lockjaw.
Speculation ended abruptly. A
sharp intake Of breath-a startled
gasp ran through tho tense group as
pair OF nimble, yellow legs flashed
from beneath the robes and the cit
liens OF Ore City saw the smiling
face OF Wilbur Din! They turned TO
each other for confirmation lest their
own eyes deceive them.
Mr.. Dill stamped tho snow from his
feet. flung open the door and beamed
around impartially.
We'll. boys"-hs threw off his opu-
lent. fur-lined coat-"its good to be
back"
For the space Of n second Ore CITY
stood uncertainty Then Pa SNOW
lscntangled his feet from the quilt
and stepped forth briskly.
Diil looked about inauiringly.
Ah-h! Mr. Griswold." He strobe
across the floor. How are your"
Ore City's hand flew 10 its heart.
hgurativcly speaking. and clutched It.
NO man ever called another mister"
IN that tone unless he had something
ne wanted. And no man ever an
swered "tolable" with Uncle Bits
serenity unless he knew he had some
thing the other fellow wanted.
Had no really got hold of some :
thing on his prospecting trip this
summer? Had he sold7 Was he
selling? Did this account for Dllrs
presence and not the options? The
chill az their hearts shot to their feet.
Mr. Dill tapped his pocket and low
cred his Voice-a futile precaution,
for at the moment Ore City could
have heard n Thousand logger" walk
across the moor. i've got the papers
here he said. "all ready to be signed
up if everythlng's as represented"
Ore city went limp. but not too
linn to strain their ears for Uncle
Bill's reply.
yes, he drawled. you want "a
take particular care that amt saltin'
you. Give plenty of time to your
examination. They's no great sweat /:
] wouldn't sign my name to an APP
plication for a Ash license that you
brought me until I'd had n good law
yer look II over first. As promised
you when You wrote me TO open up
that ledge, I'll give you the first shot
at It, but don't try any funny busl-
ness. I know now what I got. and
] don't need you to help me handle II.
I've never made II no secret. Wilbur,
that wouldn't trust you with u red
hot stove"
II don't see why YOU should talk 70
me like this" Din declared In an In
iured tone. "You can't point TO a
single thing I've done"
81 amt got fingers enough" Uncle
Pin sand lrylv, and my toes is under
cover, It's proh1y slipped your mind
that ! was down In South'rn Oregon
when you left between two suns; but
faint that'-his old eyes CLEANED
"ir's what YOU done last winter-goln'
down there deliberate to jump Bruce
Burt's claim" ....s. ::