Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-20
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6pQQ-LitA, Brown S0mparU

embarrassed by the knowledge tina:
they we're to have a lonely all-uaJ
ride together.
The frontier had taught her to
judge men.
AS daylight broke they started
| out. down the Swallowed street of
the little town.
.'The last well see of civilization
| for a long, long time,' the girl re-
minded him. 40,
The man thrilled deeply. And
I'm glad of it," he answered. Moth
| ing ahead but the long trail!"
At the very headquarters of Poor
Mans Creek, where the stream mad
| dwindled to a silver thread between
! messy banks, Beatrice and Ben
made their noon camp.
But it was not to be that this
Journey should hold only delight for
Ben. A hRlf-mile down the river he
suddenly made a most momento
and disturbing discovery.
He had stopped his horse to re-
read the copy of Hiram Melville's
letter, intending to verify his course
His gaze came to rest upon a fam"
liar name.
Look out for JEFF Nelson and his
gang" the letter read. "They seen
some of my dust"
1t first he did not glance at Bea-
trice. Slowly he folded the letter
and put it back into his pocket.
I'm going all right" he an
nounced. He urged his horse for
ward.
at seems to me we must be head
ing into about the same country
Ben went on. you See, Miss Neil
son, I'm going to make my first
permanent camp somewhere along
this still stretch"
"My father has come to the con-
clusion that it's really worth pros
pecting. He's in this same country
ncw.'
81 suppose Til meet him-rn Ike
ly meet him tonight when I take you
to the cabin on the river. Yon said
his name vas"
"Jeffery Nelson"
Ben's thought flashed to Ezran,.
The recovery of the mine had been
the old mans fondest dream, the
last hope of his declining years, and
this setback would go hard with
him. But there would be certain
planning, when they met again over
their camp fire. And there were
three of them allied now. Fenris
JIlG WOIL lldu COlliC III ms
CHAPTER VII
The Wolf Scents Death
AS twilight darkened to the full
gloom of the forest night, Ben and
Beatrice rode to a lonely cabin on
the Yuga River-one that had been
built by Hiram Melville years past.
They had seen a lighted window
from afar, marking the end of
Beatrice's hard days ride.
"Of course you won't try to go
on tonight?" she asked Ben. you'll
stay at the cabin"
''There likely won't be room for
three he answered. But it's a
clear night. I a make a fire and
sleep out"
They halted at last, and Beatrice
saw her fathers form framed in the
doorway. She fastened into his
arms; waiting in the darkness Ben
could not help but hear his wei
come. Many things were doubtful,
but there could be no doubt of the
love that Nelson bore his daughter.
But why Sc many horses, Bea-
trice?" he asked. "You-brought
some one with you?"
He's a prospector-Mr. Darby"
the girl replied. Come here, Ben
and be introduced"
Ben had already decided upon his
course of action. He knew perfect
Iy that it would only put Nelson on
his guard if he stated his true posi-
ton; and besides, he wanted word
of Ezram. az may have a wrong
steer, Mr.. Nelson" he said, "but a
man I met down on the river-trail,
out of Snowy Gulch, advised me to
come here. He said that he had
some sor of a claim up here and
that his brother left him and though
it was a pocket country, he thought
there'd soon be a great rush UP this
way"
81 hardly know who it could have
been that you met" Nelson began
doubtfully. HE didn't tell you his
name"
melville. I believe that was it.
And if you'll tell me how to find
him. I'll try to go on tonight"
melville, eh? 1 guess 1 know who
you mean now. But no-I don't
know Of any claim unless it's owe"
east, beyond here. Maybe further
down the river"
Ben made no reply at once; but
his mind sped like lightning. OF
course Nelson was lying about the
claim; he knew perfectly that at