The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-18

Lord I'm only goin q small part Of the
way"
You amt goin' TO swim, are you:
Where's your boat
MY Pard's got an old craft, and he
and I are goin' to pack it out next
trip" The stranger paused, blinking
his eyes. Say. partners-you don't
want to sell your boat. do you?'
Kzram stated his figure. and Ben
+ was prone to believe that he had
! adopted a highwayman for buddy.
! The amount named was nearly twice
that which they had paid. And to his
vast amazement the stranger accepted
| the offer in his next breath.
so, you don't know any folks IN
Snowy Gulch, them the stranger had
asked politely. But you'll get ac-
| Quainted soon enough"
i've got a letter to Teller named
! Norris" Ezram replied. And I've
|, heard Of one or two more men, too
Jeffrey Nelson was one of EN-
you'll find Morris in town all
right" the stranger ventured to as
sure him. He lives right next to
Nelson's. And-say-what do You
I know about this man Neilson?'
oh, nothin' at all. Why"
IF you fellows is prospectin', JEFF
ferry Nelson is first-class man to
stay away. from-and his understrap-
pers, too-Ray Brent and Chan Hem
inway. But they're out of town right
now. They skinned out all in a
bunch a few weeks aRo-and I cant
tell You what kind OF scent they
got"
Ezran1 felt cold to the marrow OF
his bones. He glanced covertly at Ben;
fortunately his partner was busy
among the supplies and was not lis
teninE TO this conversation.
You don't know where they went,
do you?" he asked.
Not exactly. They took up this
creek here. a ways, through Spruce
Pass and over to Yuga RiYer-the
country that kind Of a crazy old chap
named Hiram Melville. who died here
few weeks ago, has always pros
pected."
The stranger marveled that his old
listener should have suddenly gone
quite pale.
Ezram had only a moments fur
Their conversation with his new friend.
He put two or three questions-in a
rather curious, hushed voice-and got
his answer.
What have you and your poor vic
tim been talking about all this time?"
Ben asked
'Oh, lust a gab-fest--a tat-i-tat as
you call 1t. But you know, Ben. I've
got idea all a-sudden." Ben straight
ened, lighted his pipe, and prepared
to listen. This old boy tells me
shat we'd save just twelve miles by
striking off from here. instead of goin'
into town. SNOWY Gulch is six miles
and we have 10 come back to this very
place. What's the use Of going into
town at ali""
Good heavens, Ez: Have YOU for
gotten we've got to get supplies? And
your brothers gun---and his dog
Yes. l know-one Of us has. But,
Ben, it seems to me that one Of us
ought to strike Off now and figure out
the way and sort Of get located"
"Oh, it would be all right" Ben
began rather doubtful,y. Il don't see
that much is to be gained by it. But
I'll strike off on foot, if you want me
to-
Ezram's mind was flashing with
thoughts like lightning, and his
answer was ready. Ben. If you don't
mind, I'll do that" he said.
But you'd get ride. if you wait
ed"
Il hate a horse, anyway"
you've surely changed lot since
the war
II was thrown off not long ago
ard have been pretty leary of the
dunn things ever since
Fzram was wholly deliberate. He
knew what waited him on arrival at
his brothers. claim. Jeffrey Nelson
and his gang had assembled there, and
had already jumped the claim. just as