Evening star., 1923-09-14

Pete gazed fixedly out into the night
Hour after hour the dreary week had
dragged by, with nothing to relieve
the severe tension but the weird
swing of the lamp on the mountain
side at midnight
Butler BaFret seemed obsessed.
Forced by his own suspicious and
lust he himself was compelled to
in the house. The silence and mo-
notony of the thing made him
wretched to the point of violence.
Alguin and his companions, too,
alone. Even Pete, who heard moth
ing, was plainly aware that the mis-
sion of Slim Eliot was working as a
wedge between the three. He had
little hope from this, however, as he
knew only too well the report Slim
Eliot would bring. He had expected
| more visits from Susie. but the knot
hole in the ceiling remained black
and dead. The message to Judge
! Stivers was still the ali-important
| its fate. He was certain the judge
| would reply if he had received the
letter. The suspense was maddening e.
! A frenZied desire to smash the win
| dow and rush the guards without had
seized him with ever increasing fire.
| quercy as the return of Eliot drew
J near, and but for the certain result
! such a dash for liberty would have
| had on Hawkins he would have tried
| 1t. AS 1t was, he could only sit and
| think. New forms had appeared at
! times about the table by the fire.
place. and from these strangers he
had overheard enough to, piece to-
/ gether fragments here and there of
! the quiet undercurrent of intrigue
and plotting that formed the basis
/ of the warfare between the miners
| and the company. But it was mostly
| a recital of victories for the latter;
A IN sNTV
| cerned over the efforts of the miners
men usually referredfto as "gophers.'
On this night, while Tam and Brud
| Hawkins were talking in the little
cabin on the mountain side. Butler.
| for the Arst time in days, entered
Pete's room and signified a desire to
| say something.
"Slim Eliot's back" he smirked as
| soon as he entered the room: But
! somehow he said 1t badly and Pete
| knew he was bluffing.
Then can go in the morning" he
answered, with well feigned pleas
Huh. still thinking tiataway,, are
| va? Well. forget it, he amt back.
| But he will be: he's shsiIin' up in the
pass tonight. he'll be here tomorrow.
| "Then Til be leaving tomorrow. just
/ the same" Pete returned confidently
Butler ignored the answer. and con-
tinued his smirking words:
| you're packin' around TOO mucil
| in yer head. that's what came In
to tell va. and faint healthy, that S
what. I blowed in here fer to buzz
Iva about KNOWN too much"
"Well, shoot" Pete still outlooked
This visitor.
( How long have va been KNOWN
/ the old Gopher?" Bull threw a snaky
finger and glanced in the direction of
| the mountainside. How long have
! va two been -. Well. knock me
! for a" Butler stood as though
transfixcd. as he looked out of the
window Pete followed his gaze and
saw the signal light completing a
circle! For a moment neither spoke.
Then with an expression of sudden
understanding. Buffers eyes rested
lon Pete's lamp, standing directly in
front of his window.
| Instantly, as their eyes met, Pete's
Hands sought the back of a chair and
Buffers the guns that hung by his
side. But before a move could be
made. Alguin with a sudden jerk
threw open the door and stood ap-
! parently amazed at the posture of
the two threatening figures. Butler
wheeled on him.
/ Now, Al, mebbe. you'll let me fin
'ish this job. Look UP yonder!