White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-08
THE IRON TRAIL.


They've got samples with em and say
there r placer indications every
where"
The significance of the incidents
which had troubled him earlier in the
day flashed upon o,Neil: 1t was plain
enough nov why his men bad been
gossiping and buying dogs and fur
robes.
Who are these prospectors?" he in.
quired CURLY.
Nobody seems TO know. Their
names are Thorn and Baker. That
gang from Omar has gone on and our
people will follow in the morning.
Those who can't scrape up an outfit
here are going into town TO equip. We
won't have fifty men OF the job by To-
morrow night"
What made Baker and Thorn stop
hereY'
Gray shrugged. Tired out, perhaps.
We've got TO do something quick. Muir
ray. Thank God. we don't have to sell
EN- grub or haul EN- to Omar. That
will check things for a day or two. If
they ever start for the interior we're
lost. but the cataract isn't frozen over
and there's only one sled trail past II.
We don't need more than six good men
to do the trick"
We can't stop n stampede that
way"
DIR. Gray's face fell into harsh lines.
IN bend a Winchester over the first
man who tries TO pass. Appleton held
the place last summer; I'll guarantee
TO do ii now"
NO. The men have a right to quit.
Stanley. We can't force them to work.
We can't build this bridge with a chain
gang"
"Humph. | can beat up these two
prospectors and ship 'em in to the hos
pital until things cool down"
That won't do. either. I'll talk with
them and If their story is right-well.
I'll throw open the commissary and
outfit every one"
Eliza gasped; Gray stammered
You're crazy!' exclaimed the doctor.
IF it's q real stampede they'll go
anyhow. SO we may MS well take our
medicine with u good grace. The loss
of eve n hundred men would Grip
pie u.s."
The camp is seething. Its all Mel
len can do TO keep the day shift at
work. II you talk to EN- maybe they'll
listen to you"
Argument won't sway them. This
isn't a strike: it's a gold rush" He
turned toward the town.
Eliza was sIeechless with dismay as
she hurried along beside him; Gray was
scowling darkly and muttering anathe-
mas. OfNeil himself was lost in
thought. The gravity of this final ca
tastrophe left nothing TO be said.
Stanley lost little time in bringing
the two miners To the office. and there
for a half hour Murray talked with
them. When they perceived that he
was disposed to treat them courteous
ly they told their story in detail and
answered his questions with apparent
honesty. They willingly showed him
their quartz samples and retailed the
hardships they had suffered.
Gray listened impatiently and once
or twice undertook To interpolate some
question. but III a glance from his
chief he desisted. Nevertheless his
long fingers itched 10 lay hold OF the
strangers and put IN end to this tale
which threatened ruin His anger
grew when Murray dismissed them
with every evidence OF n full belief I'm
their words.
Now that the news IL out aud my
mel are determined TO quit ! want ev-
erybOdy TO have an equal chance"
O'Neil announced as they rose Ia GO.
There's bound to lie a great rush and
a lot of suffering. INA ybessome deaths.
so I'm going to call the boys together
and have you talk to them"
Thorn and Baker agreed and depart
ed. As the door closed behind them
Gray exploded. bnt Murray checked
him quickly. saying with an abrupt
change of manner: Wait, Those fe,
lows are lying"
Serving the lctfHlioHt, ne idh@ w
Dan Appleton and swiftly made known
the situation. STANLEY could hear the
engineers startled exclamation.
Get the cable 10 Cortez as quickly
as you can" O'Ncil was saying. "Yon
have friends there, haven't you? Good
He's JUST the man. for he'll have Cor
don's payroll. Find out If Joe Thorn
aud Henry Baker are known and. II
50. who they are and what they've
been doing lately. Get il quick. under
stand Then phone me lie slammed
the receiver upon its hook. That's
not Alaskan quartz" he said shortly
at came from Nevada. or I'm greatsy
mistaken. Every hard rock miner car
ries specimens like those IN his Kit.
You think Gordon
Il don't know. But We've got rock
men ON this job who'll recognize ore
out of any mine they ever worked in.
Go find them. then come back here and