Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-02-06
CONTINUED from Our Last lssue)
CHAPTER XVI

CRATER XVI
Tom Sanders, working on after
noon tower at Jackpot Number Three,
the lean, tanned driller in charge of
operations was wise with an uncanny
knowledge the newcomer could not
fathona. For eight hours at stretch
be stood on the platform and watch
ed greasy cable go slipping into the
earth.
This speH romance to Jed Burns.
superintendent of operations, though
he would never have admitted it.
He was sitting sand through his
fingers when Dave came. To Bob
Hart, present as Crawford's personal
representative, he expressed an
opinion.
Fright soon now or never. Sand
tastes, feels, looks, and smells like
oil. But you can't ever be sure. An
oil prospect is like a woman. She
will or she wont, you never can tel
which. Then, if she does, she'g
liable to change her mind
Dave shifted the pleasing, pungent
edor of the crude oil sands. His
friend had told him that Crawford S
fate hung in the balance. Unless
oil flowed very soon in paying guam
titles he was ruined man.
After his shift was over, he rode
to town with Bob.
Got to look for an engineer for
the night tower" Hart explained as
he drew up in front of Gusher sa-
loon.
The place hunlmed with the tur-
bulent hfe that drifts to every wild
frontier on the BOOM. Faro dealers
from the Klondike, poker dealers
from Nome, roulette eroupiers from
Leadville, were all here to reap the
rich harvest to be made from in
vestors, field workers, and operators.
Bob found his man at a faro ia
Bile. While the cards were being
shuffled, he engaged him to come
out next evening to the Jackpot prop
critics. /. ~
While Dave was standing close to
the wall he caught sight of Steve
Russell.
The cowpuneher looked up and
waived his hand.
Bob Joined them. After a mo-
ment's conversation Russell drew
them to a corner,
Say, You heard the news, Bob?''
II can tell you that better after |
know what it is" returned Hart with
a grin.
The stage was held up at Cotton
wood Bend this morning and robbed
of $1,000. The driver was killed. !"
Whose money was it," :
Brad Steelman's pay roll and a
shipment of gold for the bank
Any idea who did it,"
Tha's what / wanta eIlsyou. Two
men were in the job. They're wills
perrin that EN- Crawford was one. .
Crawford! Some of Steelman,s
fine work in that ranaor, I'll bet.
Tha's plumb foolish talk. What evil
dence does he claim?7 demanded
Hart. Nh #4
EN- deposited ten thousand with
the First National to pay off note
he owed the bank. Rode into town
right straight to the bank two hours
after the stage got in Then, too.
seems one Of the hold-ups called the
other one Crawford"
"A plant" said Dave promptly.
They claim the second man was
Dave here
Hmpf What time d. you say this
hold-up took place."
Must a. been about eleven
Lets Dave out. He was fifteen
miles away, and we can prove it by
at least six witnesses. ~
Good, / reckon En- can put in
an abb, too"
"ph bet he can" Hart promised
this with conviction.
Where is Crawford now?. asked
Dave. "He hasn't been arrested, has
he?',
Not yet. But he's bein' watched. )
We'd better go to his house anG
talk with him." suggested Hart
f'Maybe he can give as good an alb
as you, Dave"
1I- s.f 3