The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-22


want me to-"
Earam's mind was flashing with
thoughts like lightning. and hts
answer was ready. "i,en. N YOU don't
mind. IN DO that" he said. Il can
got along without gain at the sky
scrapers OF snowy Guich. and to tell
the truth. that is miles Of extra
waikin' don't appeal 60 me one bit
I'd a. soon have you tend 90 all tho
things In town"
But you'd set a ride. n you
waited"
Il hate a horse. ANYWAY
You've surely changed a lot since
the war;
I was thrown of not long ago
and have been ieery OF the dunn
things ever since. ia walk. sooner
than ride. even N did have n horse.
So you roll me that h,g Hudson Ray
blanket and give mo couple % days
rstions IN make pack for my
h=ck that c--'t f-ei Then you
strike off into town"
without especial enthusiasm Hen
agreed Exram gave great SIGH OF
satisfaction He had put thru tho
deal: Bcn's secret thought was that
Exram's uriosity--always pro-
nounccd trait with the old-had mas
tered him. and he could not walt
longer 20 explore tho mine. Not one
glimpse Of the truth as 60 Exram's
real reason for desiring 10 push on
alone as much as occurred TO him.
Ezram was wholly deliberate. He
knew what waited him on arrival az
his brothers claim. Jeffrey Nelson
and his gang had assembled there.
had already jumped tho claim Just ~
his bother had warned him that
they would do: and cooily and quiet
ly he had resolved 10 face them
alcne. They were desperate men. not
likely TO be driven from the gold by
threats or persuasion only but
there was no law In hts life: no
precept In his code. whereby 10 could
subject his young partner 20 the risk.
IL Was true that the desire TO ar
rive on the scene at the earliest pos
sihie moment had been factor In his
decidon- One OF them could hurry
ttN 1tAt4Akf@A-4 W tkA' kAAA 0AAtltAANa
and the other must hinge, % secure
their supplies: and there could real
iy be no question. In Ezrnm's mind.
which should go and which ghouid
stay. He had known pert .tly that
n hen had realized the true need for
haste. he would never have submitted
- tamefy 10 Exram's wilt The old
man Snew VOL. Darby. IN, strong
dark ayes In tho lean. raw-boncd
edEe Ben would go too. n he knew
the truth Likely he would insist on
going alone
Exram had decided ths whole thing
In . flash. realizing that a lone Pc
destrian would be practically as ef-
fsctfve In dealing With tho usurpers
as two horscmen. irnpedsd by the
pack animals. m they didn't shoot
to hin 1t first sight Of him Ezram
would have time In plenty TO ssek
refuge In the forest and do sharp
shooters business that would eli hts
old heart with Joy. And there really
want any question ~ 10 which Of
the two should 70. Their partner
ship was Of long duration: their CON-
rndsship was deep: BEN was young.
and Exram himself was cidf
Exram made his decision entirely
casually. and he would have been
surprised out Of his wits n any ono
had expressed wonder Of H. He knew
no self-pity or scntimentaiity. only
the knowledge that he did not dssfre
that his young buddy should be shot
fun Of holes IN the firss moment OF
play. The only fear that had visited
him was that Ben might catch on md
not let him 70. And now he could
scarcely restrain his triumphant
chueI<ies IN Ben's hearing.
Hs made HIS pack--a few simple
provisions wrapped In his blanket
and = knife and camp are swung on
his belt. He took bis trusted pipe
becauss h knew well that he could
never acuuft himself creditably In a
Tight without q few lungfuis OF to-
bacco smoke fsrst--and he also took
his rine You'll be xetsin' my
brothers gun when you get to
Snowy 0uich.~ he explained. "and I
may zee game on the way out And
you keep this copy Of tho letter" He
handed Ben the copy he had mads
Of Hiram's WILL I'm the worst hand
for iosfn' things you ever seen"
You're sure you've got tho dircc-
tions straight"
~sure--And I guess that's an
Thsy said their simple good-bys.
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