South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-18
BEGIN IRE TO-DAY

bkN DAhb1. prisoner, - QeclaI
ed 10 Do victim OF amnesia by p
noted allenist. and is paToled 20 an
old friend.
EZRA MELVILLE. Tosethcr they
start on trip to the Yusa River,
where Ezra goes 20 take posses
sion Of a rich claim left by his
brother.
HIRAM MELVILLE who recently
had died. Ben Is 70 haze part
nership and a new lease OF lie AZ
Seattle lives
JEFFERY NELSON and his two
partners. Ray Brent and
HAN HEAIINWAY Nelson. lead
or or the notorious gang. has n
beautiful daughter, Beatrice. with
whom Brent is in love She de
tests him Brent complains 20
Nelson and her father promises 10
aid him ia his suit. Nelson hears
of a rich pocket discovered by Hi
ram Melville and plans with his
c0ufederates 20 steal the claim be-
fore Ezra can arrive When Ben
and Ezra reach the north woods
Ben suddenly regains his memory.
knowledge OF his past life re-
turns They meet friendly
stranger who directs them.
co ON WITH THE STORY
"Ye. Coin 10 Snowy Culch."
It's only FIVE miles. up this road. %
the stranger veutured. I'm gOin'
up TO Saltsyille way myself. but /
won't have no river to tow me I've
got 10 do my own paddlin Thank
the lord I'm only goin' a small part
or the way"
You ain't goin' 20 swim are YOU
Where's your boat2"
Ny pard's got an old craft. and
be and ] are coin' 10 pack ID out
next trip" The stranger paused
blinking his syes. say partner
YOU don't want TO sell your boat. do
YOU"
Ezram 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 20
his vast amazement the stranger ac-
cepted the offer in his next breath.
so you don't know any folks IA
Snowy Gulch. then ?" the stranger
had asked politely. But you'u get
acquainted soon enough"
I've got a letter 20 a teller named
Morris" Ezram replied And I've
heard OF one or two more men too
Jeffery Nelson was one Of EN-
your find Morris in town all
right" the stranger ventured TO as
sure him. He lives right next TO
Nelson's And-say-wh do YOU
know about this man Nelson 80
"Oh. nothin' at all. Why"
If you fellows Is prospectin.' JEFF
fiery Nelson is a first class man 20
stay away from-and his under
strappers. too-Ray Brent and Chan
Heminway. But they're out OF
town right now. They skinned out
al in bunch few weeks ago-and
I can't tell you what kind OF a scent
they got
Ezram felt cold 10 the marrow Of
his bones. He glanced cOyertly at
Ben; fortunately his partner was
busy among the supplies and was
rot listening to this conversation.
You don't know where they went
DO your he asked
Not exactly. They took up this
creek here a ways. thrugb Spruce
Pass. and over 10 Tuga River-the
country that kind OF a crazy old
chap named Hiram Melville, who
died here a few weeks ago. has al
ways prospected."
The stranger marveled that his
old listener should have suddenly
gone quite pale
E,zram had only moments fur
Their conversation with his new
friend. lie put ;wo or three ques-
tions-in rather curious. hushed
voice-and got his answer.
What have YOU and your poor
victim been talking about, all this
time ." Ben asked
oh just gab-fest-a tat-i-tat as
you'd call IT, But you know, Ben.
I've got a idea all a-suddeu. Ben
strengthened. lighted his pipe and
prepared 20 listen. This old boy
tells ire tina, we'd save just twelve
miles By striking of from here in
stead OF coin into town snowy
Gu'ch is six miles. and We have TO
come hack TO this very place What's
THE use Of eo'u into town az ali2T
Good heavens II Have you FOR
gotten we've Eot Go get supplies
And your brothers gEn-and his
dog
Eyes. ] know--ore 90 us has Eu-
Rem. E. seems 90 me ,bf- ore Of MS
cugb, tc strike OF moss and tsrre
DOT ,hc way and SORT 90 -st located "
oh &, would oc al r.-at Boa
Legar rather doubtt..y- done
sec that much is 90 oe gained by g.
Bd. I'm strike OF o1 fou. e ycJ
want me to.
Exams mind Vs- a-sh.-s WITH
Thoughts -b. usnten.u-. and mis- au-
swer was ready G,u. e sou don't
mind I'm do that he said
Rut you'd ger ride. - sou wait
ed
u hate q horse anyway
You've surely changed a lot since
he war
II 1as thrown of not ious ago
and have been leery Of the dunn
things ever since.
Ezram was wholly deliberate Tie
knew what waited him on srriva. az
his brothers claim. JeGe-y Nelson
and his sang had assembled there
rad already Jumped the claim just
as his brother had warned him that
they would do. and cody and quiet
IS ne had resolved 10 face chem
alone
lie made his paCk-a Few simple
provisions wrapped in his blanket
and e knife and camp axe swung on
lis belt. lie took his trusted pipe
because he knew well that he could
never acqult himself cred.tably iu a
tight without q few lungfuls o. to-
bacco smoke 6rst-and ne also took