The Snowflake herald., 1923-05-18
Silence Held. Sandy Stood Noncom
initial. at Ease

plimsoll might have been of the friend
iieSt nature gauged by his attitude.
His hands were on his hips. Back of
him. slightly turning toward the
crowd. were Mormon and Sam, smiling
ty surveying the room. But not one
,there but knew that. faster than the
afitking of clock, guns might glcam
alM squirt fire and lead In case of
trouble.
"Tll attend to my own business In
my own way" said the gambler, know
ing tie room weighed every word Ii
was n noncommittal statement and a
light one. but it passed the situation
for the moment
Sandy pulled out gunmetal watch
IL make 1t half afteh One Bout
three hours TO sunrise. Plimsoll. III
be round later" He turned his back
on the gambler and sauntered toward
the door. A few followed the three out
s Ito the street. among them, Wyatt.
II got hunch 1t amt extry healthy
fo' me in there" he said. "A gambln'
parlor where amt welcome to stay
or play makes no hit with me-"
Many blocks away. men were watch
ing the mesa whence came high-pow-
cred car. rushing at high speed, mag
nificently driven, taking curve and pitch
and level with superb judgment. Two
men were In the tonneau. One of them
leaned forward, looking at the crowd.
square jawed man, clean-shaven but
for the bristle of silver muStache be-
hard mouth and determined chin. The
mintage of the East was stamped upon
his features. He was a man accuS-
toned TO sway. II rot to lead. His
companion was as plainly an Eastern
product. but his manner was subordi-
nate.
I'm looking for man named Plim-
soll," said the first of these two, his
voice an indication that he was accus-
toned to quick answer. "He wired
me about some claims. Wherel ]
find him?"
You'll likely find him at his place"
answered miner. "Up-street on the
left. Names outside"
They let the car go on in a lane that
was pressed out of their ranks They
fell in behind or alongside of it as It
passed slowly up the street. Sandy
turned to Mormon.
"You better see Miss Milandy up to
ho~ lot ~ n ls
enough. Mormon started an appeal.
but it died unvoiced The spinster
knew nothing Of the clash impending
between Sandy and the gambler
Sandy walked up the street without
hurry and. as they had made way
from the car, men gave him space.
The nearer he got to Plimsol's place
the more room they allowed him. They
melted away from the car on all sides.
leaving 1t ciearest between the ma
chine and the entrance to the gambling
shack. The man with the square face
looked alertly about him at the crowd,
giving place to the lean tall man walk
ing leisurely up the street, high lights
touching the metal of the two guns
that hung in holsters we'll to thesfront
of his hips. Sandy's face was serene
but there was no mistaking the fact
that the star performer of the moment
had come upon the stage. Five PAGES
back Of him strolled Sam, his eyes
dancing with the excitement that did
not show in Sandy's steei-gray orbs
Westlake followed to one side, by the
advice of Sam
1t was Plimsol's way-the profess
sional gamblers way--to play his cards
until he knew himself beaten. He had
been hoping for the arrival of this man.
He represented capital, the develop
ment of the camp into mining town,
the movement OF money, the boom OF
quick sales. With his backing-once
the camp understood what 1t meant To .
all OF them-he might turn the tables
on Sandy Bourke The protection Of
Capital was powerful.