The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-11-30
ufffsffsff'....f'fi
A Novel
A Week

AYOW came Mr.. Cortwrights
N turn 10 get up and walk the
floor, II was not until he
had extended the meditatiye
stump and.go to one of the windows
that he stopped short and came
out of tho inventive trance with n
jerk.
Come here" he called curtly.
with a quick finger crook for tho
engineer. and whom Brouillard
Joined him: an you size up
that little caucus over yonder1"
Tho caucus" was a knot OF CT.
cited men blocking the sidewalk
In front OF Gamers real eatate of.
flee. on tho opposite side OF the
street The purpose OF tho ex.
cited ones was not difficult TO
divine, They were all trying TO
crowd into the Kansas city mans
place OF business at once.
1T looks like run on bank"
said Broulllard
1t II" was tho crisp reply.
That thing has got 10 be nippcd In
the bud. right now"
Yes" Brouillard agreed. Give
me free hand with your check.
book for "a few minutes. and I'll try
to stop g."
II spoke volumes for tho million.
aire promoters quick discernment
that he asked no questions. DO
IT," he snapped
You are selling Mirapolis hold.
ftS al Ia h.. IL
cd. when he had pushed thru tho
crowd TO tho spectators desk. And
when Garner laughed and said
there were no takers. he placed his
order promptly You may bid IN
for me. at yesterdays prices. any
thing within the city limits. Bring
your papers over 20 my office after
banking hours. and we'll close for
whatever you've been able 10 pick
up"
lie said II quietly. but there could
be no privacy at such time and
IN such place
What's that, Mr. Brouillardr"
demanded one OF the counter Jam
You're giving Garner blank card
90 buy for your account Say
that's plenty good enough for me
Garner. cancel my order 10 sell.
will your When tho chief engineer
OF the government water works be.
lieyes in Mirapoiis futures. and bets
hts money on 'em. I'm not selling 4"
Two hours later Mirapolls had a
new thrill. Tho suddenly evoked
excitement focused in crowd be.
sieging the window of the principal
iewelry Ehop-focuscd more defi.
nitcly upon sguar. OF white paper
4 In tho window In the center OF
which was displayed a little heap of
virgin gold IN small nuggets and
coarse grains.
While the crowds In the street
we're stili struggling and fighting
10 get near enough 10 read the lab
cling placard. tho Daily spoiLlgh,
came out with an extra which was
all headlines. tho telegraph wires
TO the East were burning, and the
town had gone mad. Tn. goid
specim.n--so said the placard and
the news erira--hAd been washed
from one Of the bars In the Siquoia,
BY 2 o'clock the madness had
illuminated In the complete stop
pare of all work among the town
builders and on tho great dam AZ
well. and goid.crsred mobs we're
frantically digging and panninT on
every bar In tho river from the val.
ley outlet to the power dam five
miles away.
II was J o'clock In the afternoon
~ the day In which Mirapoiia went
/ placer mad when word came TO the
Reclamation Service headquarfers
that the power vas cut off and that
there we're no longer men enough
at the mixers and on the forms TO
keep the work going n the power
should come on again.
Handley. the new fourth assist.
ant. brought the news. dropping
heavily into a chair.
why didn't you fellows turn
out9" he demanded savagely OF
Leshlngton. Arson and Grialow,
who were iounTing in the office and
very pointedly waiting for the
lightning TO strike. "Gassman
anu bafT utNf ffr1y tHiuE DQt
commit cold .blooied murder 20
hold the men on the Job. Where's
the boss7'
Nobody knew.
TITS time somebody was getting
busy" snarled Handley. There
are a hundred tons of fresh con.
crete lying In the forms Just as
they were dumped-with no pud.
dlers--to say nothing OF half az
much more freezing 10 solid rock
right now In the mixers and on the
tclphers."
Grlslow got up and reached for
his coat and hat.
I'm going out 10 hunt for the
boss" he said. "and YOU fellows
had better do the same"
The suggestion was carried out
Immediately by the three to whom
Il was made. but the hydrographer
contrived to he the last to leave
the room. When he found himself
alone he returned hastily to the
desk, rummaging In n until he was
fully convinced that the little buck.
skin bag OF nuggets was gone
Then. instead OF following the 9th.
ers. he took field glass and went
to the window to focus IT upon the
Massingale cabin.
The powerful glass brought out
two ffnurea On tho rabtp rornh a