The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-05-31
By j. DUNN
Aathor of n Man TO His Mate" etc.
Copyright. 1874, BY J. Allan Dunn
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

liz
"My names Keith. Wilson KEITH
said the other. I'm a mining promo
ter. Plimsoll had agreed to sell me his
interest In certain claims which showed
well In assay reports. They alone were
insufficient to interest me. When he
strike, the prospect Of development
opened and | came on. You seem 10
have blocked the deal. However, ]
suppose Plimsoll can be located later.
Have you any Idea where he might be
tound?"
1T w'udn't do you one mite of good"
said Sandy. "PIimsoll didn't own those
claims. Didn't have an interest In 'em.
Tried TO jump EN-. an did the jumpin'
himself. I heard some eastern folk
bad been samplin' ore an | saw some
signs up on the Casey claims. Those
are the claims PlimsolI tried 10 sell
you, I reckon, for cash, fggerin' on the
deal gnln' through quick. He lowed
he'd grubstaked Casey. which was a
plumb lie. Plimsoll's got nothin' TO
prove his end. From now on he won't
try to. The claims belong to Molly
Casey, the same beln' my legal ward"
"Ah!" Wilson Keith's eyes grew
keen and cold. "Have you any mrerest
In them yourself. Mr.. Bourke?"
ME an my two partners of the
Three Star ranch own one-half inter
est, equal with Molly" said Sandy cas-
lily. His eyes matched those of the pro.
moter and held them for a second or
two.
The thought passed through Keith's
mind that Sandy's interest, and that of
his partners, might have been oh
tanned from the girl under false pre-
lenses, but he was very far from a fool
and, among the things he saw In San
dy's eyes. IL was clearly written that
here was n man who was both abso-
lutely fearless and absolutely honest.
He had not seen many such.
"Ill be glad to talk with You later"
he said. "Just now I'm Any
place TO eat? And does the camp get
up early or just 20 to bed later
The remark raised a laugh In the
crowd, now milling good-naturedly
about the machine.
Sandy recommended Simpsons and
pointed II out. Keith, the man with
him, his secretary, and the chauffeur.
got out and walked stlff-legged to their
coffee.
Sandy introduced Sam as his part
ner. Westlake as n mining engineer
and assayer. Keith gave Westlake a
shrewd appralsing glance, and a nod.
I'm too sleepy myself to talk busi-
ness" said Sandy. "My W. PARTNERS
are In the same boat. So. If you-all
want TO look oven the camp ag'in. Mr..
Keith. an talk business with any one
you find awake an willin' I'll prob'bly
see you befo' nightfall. You know
where the claims are"
Keith stood for a moment In the door
Of simpsons, looking after Sandy.
"A fairly slick article, the man with
the W. guns. Blake" he said to his
secretary. but he's straight"
"And mighty hard to bend" added
Blake with a yawn.
"There were only a few old-timers In
the crowd, Blake" said Keith, "a heal
OF people hear Of a gold rush and
think It's always a Tom Tiddler's
ground, like washing u the rich sands
of Nome. They'll be glad to sell and
take shares for cash."
Ought to change the name Of the
camp suggested Blake. Dynamite
Is known as an exploded prospect
Thought OF that" said Keith. "How
about Casey Town, after the original
discoverer, who always believed In the
place. but lacked the money for devel-
opment and wouldn't take in a part
perf Picturesque and good stuff for
the pruspectuses. You might send off
some stuff about that, Blake, work in
this Sandy Bourke and PlImsoll affair.
Good, lively publicity stun. we can use
again later on. Romance of Casey's
daughter, Wonder where she isf"
He iapsed Into silence. swallowing
his coffee In gulps.
Sandy and his companions found
Mormon asleep on the Bailey claims,
Miranda brewed coffee. and they told
her the news Of Plimsoll and the mr.
rival Of Keith.
'It's too bad you didn't run Plimsoll
oct OF the county. or the state" re-
marked the spinster. IF that man
Keith want to buy my claims I'm
wililn' to sell. Mih;in' Is more In my
line than mimi, I've decided"
Lets hold a pow-wow before we
turn In" said Sandy. "Westlake. what
do yon know about Keith? AnythingY"
1--WE heard OF him. l imagine he
started out as a promoter rather than
q developer. He has made some
lucky strikes. There Is no doubt but
that he can float this proposition on q
large scale, induce others 10 put
money into Il. He'll put the camp on
working basis. IL the guilds here
that Will be "a sound one. There liz
no doubt In my mind that Patrick
Casey picked the best side OF the
gulch. The indications are in sight
there. I would say sell these for cash.
holding ont on price until Keith re-
fuses TO offer more. He'll come back
FOR 4 nnal bid. But let him organize
With your claims. Those claims are
The big bet Of this camp. and ne
Lnows IL"
'~Fifty-one per cent. an the names
llolly Casey. then" said Sandy.
44xx LLsUMLuA- $500 80 -L-Lta.