Evening star., 1923-09-18

in the paper that interested him pro-
lfoundly. =.
A paragraph provided that, in ad-
dition to a consideration of stock, the
company specifically agreed 10 erect
a huge dredge on the l&oersproperty
consolidated by them and TO- have IL
in operation by the last day~of the
coming January. Even the specinca-
tions of the dredge were set down in
detail. Pete knew, even from his
limited experience in mining. what q
tremendous Aoutlay of capital the
project involved Il
From this point on he pressed his
search for further Information, and
once he had been able to engage the
runner in lengthy conversation.
workmen at the pass were aware of
something decidedly wrong at head
quarters. There had been rumors of
trouble with some of, the old placer
were finding II more and more diff
cult to keep men from entering the
gulch. For some time the story of a.
landslide had sufficad, hut lately. new
excuses had to be made nearly every
week
His great opportunity came. how
ever, one afternoon nearly week
following his talk with the runner.
on this day Pete and his two fellow
workmen were surprised by an un-
expected visit from a group of six
men, all strangers to Pete.
Two of them were obviously labor
ers brought along to carry what
equipment the other four might re-
quire for the journey in addition to
the small haversacks they themselves
carried.
Pete was as much impressed by the
sudden appearance of the four clean
shaven, carefully groomed visitors as
though he himself had always lived
in the hills.
The visitors proved to be ]. D.
Browning. himself distinguished from
the rest of the party by the soft pink
skin of his plump face and the pudgy
at his well groomed mustache. AM
other of the party, one constantly in
his immediate proximity, Pete found
ito be a Mr.. Sharpe.T,. As.Petei care
features he marveled at the appro-
priateness of the name. A small, sob-
long head, from the half bald portion
of which steam arose in a thin vapor
as the owner removed his fur cap,
to converge into a long, beak-
like nose. with eyes on. either side
intended apparently for no other pur-
pose than to emphasize the presence
of the combined nose and forehead.
The pallor of his face. too, blended
perfectly with the dirt-fiecked show
about the entrance of the tunnel.
t. Both Browning and Sharpe snapped
out questions at the ether two. who
stood. with legs wide apart, rolling
and unrolling numerous blue-priuts
that emerged in astonishinglys large
quantities from folds in their pockets.
1T soon became apparent that one was
Peleg Demons, company engineer, and
the other the company lawyer, whose
name Peter finally learned was Hous-
ton. @
After much sweeping of arms and
comparison of notes, intHrspersed
with words Pete could not catch, the
visitors finally folded their docu-
ments and advanced into the entrance
of the tunnel.
Demons called loudly for candles,
then grabbed the ones offered by Pete
with the contempt and overbearing
manner of a man passing on to in
feriors abuse and derision he himself
lis accustomed to receive.
What happened inside the tunnel
Pete could not know. But at the end
of al hour the four men came out
putting and perSpiriug from exercise
more strenuous than mere walking.
Another conference took place at
the mouth of the tunnel and this time
Pete saw TO it that he kept within
hearing distance.
crude shelter over a forge used for
heating dull steel picks and drills.
raced in such way toward the par
ticular spot near which the four men
SIOOQ tHdl IHS SOuUU OI tnGlT voices
carried perfectly. Pete had discov-
cred this listening post quite by acct
dent during his first few days at the
mine and had, in fact, used il fire.
quently for the very purpose it now
served him. Pete listened eagerly for
the expected words and was soon re-
warded. Browning, apparently ad-
dressing Demons, talked first.
well, there's this much about IL.
Demons, we can't move that muck in
there ourselves A. These fool men
you've got up here are apparently
working. Rather unusual. but. never
theless. we've got to look at that
pay stuff you say Is in there"
But none of the three know it's
there" the engineer replied. Don't
you, think it's dangerous? Barclay.
the one who ran into it, swears he
covered it up at once and told no one.
He's been where he can't talk for
weeks now"
We'll. we can't keep it covered up
forever" Sharpe broke in irritably.
Houston here, says he's gone as far
as he can in fixtp' the title. It's as