The Holly chieftain., 1923-07-26
BY J. ALLAN DUNN
lsak~@IHs-s HI Aaa.'aA
CopSnshA N. n J. Ailaa Duna
CHAPTER xv-contInusd.


oovsnshs, N, n J. Anaa Duna
CHAPTER xv-contlnusd.
-12-
my names Keith Wilson Keith"
said the other. -I'm>a mining promo
ter. Plimsoll had agreed to sell me his
interest in certain ci&ims which showed
well in assay reports. They alone were
insufficient to interest me. When he
wired me the news Of the general
strike, the prospect Of development
opened and I came on. You seem to.
have blocked the deal. However, I
suppose Plimsoll can be located later.
Have you any idea where he might be
foundr
ut w'udn't do you one mite Of good"
said Sandy. "Plimsoll didn't own those
claims Didn't have an interest In 'em.
Tried to jump 'em. an did the jumpin'
himself. I heard some eastern folk
had been samplin' ore an saw some
signs up on the Casey claims. Those
are the claims Pllmsoll tried to sell
you, ! reckon, for cash, figgerin' on the
deal goin' through quick. He lowed
he'd grubstaked Casey, which was
plumb lie. Plimsoli's got nothin' to
prove his end. From now on he won't
Try to. The claims belong to Molly
Casey, the same bein' my legal ward"
"Ahl" Wilson Keith's eyes grew
+. keen and cold. slave you any inrerest
In them yourself, Mr.. Bourke7"
"Me an my two partners Of the
Three Star ranch own one-half inter
est, equal with Molly" said Sandy cas-
ny. 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 OBJ
tanned from the girl under false pre-
lenses, bat he was very far from a fool
and. among the things he saw in San
dy's eyes, 1t was clearly written that
here was man who was both abso-
iutely fearless and absolutely honest.
he had not seen many such.
"I'll be glad to talk with you later"
he'said. "Just now I'm ravenous. Any
place to eat? And does the camp get
up early or just go to bed later"
The remark raised laugh In the
crowd. now milling good-naturedly
about the machine.
Sandy recommended Simpsons and
pointed 1t out. Keith, the man With
him, his secretary, and the chauneur,
got out and walked stiff-legged to their
coffee.
Sandy introduced Sam as bis part
ner, Westlake as a mining engineer
and assayer. Keith gave Westlake a
shrewd appraising glance, and a nod.
"Tm too sleepy myself to talk bust
ness" said Sandy. "My two pardners
are in the same boat. So, II you-all
want to look oveh the camp ag'in, Mr..
Keith. an talk business with any one
you find awake an willin' I'll probbly
see you ,befo' nightfall. You know
where the claims are"
Keith stood for moment In the door
Of Simpsons, looking after Sandy.
"A fairly slick article, the man with
the two guns, Blake" he said to his
secretary. But he's straight"
"And mighty hard to bend" added
Blake with q yawn.
There were only few old-timers In
the crowd, Blake" said Keith. "A heap
Of people hear Of gold rush and
think it's always Tom T1ddler's
ground. like washing out 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
nerf Picturesque and good stun for
the prospectuses. You might send of
some stun 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 is1'
~ He lapsed 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 ar
=
rival Of Keith.
"It's too bad you didn't run Plimsoll
out Of the county, or the state" re-
marked the spinster. IF that man
Keith wants to buy my claims I'm
willin' to sell. Milkin' is more in my
line than minin', I've decided"
Let's hold pow.wow before We
turn in," said Sandy. "Westlake. what
do you know about Keith Anythingr'
"I've heard Of him. imagine he
started out az promoter rather than
developer. He has made some
lucky strikes. There II no doubt but
that he can float this proposition on
large scale. induce others to put
money Into 1t. He'll put the camp on
q working basis. II the Colds here
tha% xviV 'ha a aouud ono Thora In