Catoctin clarion., 1923-06-21

nave DlocKeu tne zeal. However,
suppose Plimsoll can be located later
Have you any idea where he might be
fOund2"
1T w'udnt do you one mite of good
said Sandy. "PlimsollF didn't own those
claims. Didn't have an interest I'm 'em.
Tried to jump 'em, an did the jumpin'
himself. l heard some eastern folk
had been samplin' ore an saw some
signs up on the Casey claims. Those
are the claims Plimsoll tried to sell
you, reckon, for cash, figgerin' on the
deal gOin' through quick. He lowed
p 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 bein' my legal ward"
"Ah!" Wilson Keith's eyes grew
keen and cold. "Haye you any interest
In them yourself, Mr.. BOurkef"
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-
m0ter and held them for second or
two.
The thought passed through Keiths
mind that Sandys interest, and that of
his partners, might have been OBJ
tanned from the girl under false pre-
,>tenses but he was very far from fool
and, among the things he saw In San
'dy's eyes, 1t was clearly written that
here was man who was both abso-
lutely fearless and absolutely honest,
He had not seen many such,
"rll be glad to- talk with you later"
he said. "Just now I'm ravenous. Any
place to eat? And does the camp got
up early or just go to bed late?"
The remark raised a 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 chauffeur,
got out and walked stir-legged to their
coffee.
Sandy introduced Sam as his part.
ner, Westlake as mining engineer
and assayer. Keith gave Westlake a
shrewd appraising glance, and nod
"Tm too sleepy myself to talk bust
ness" said Sandy. "My two pardners
are In the same boat. So. If 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' nlghtfall. 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 a yawn.
There were only few old-tmers In
the crowd, Blake" said Keith. "a heap
OF people hear Of a gold rush and
think it's always Tom Tiddler'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 q part
ner?. Picturesque and good stuff for
the prospectuses. You might send off
some stuff about that, Blake, work in
this Sandy Bourke and Plimsoll affair.
Good, lively publicity stuff, we can use
again later on. Romance of Casey's
daughter. Wonder where she is?"
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 PllmsOll
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 mimi, FyS decided"
Lets hold a .pow-wow before we I
turn in," said Sandy "Westlake, what
do you know about Keith? Anything?"
'I've heard of him. l imagine he
started out>as promoter rather than
a developer. He has made some
lucky strikes. There is no doubt but
that he can float this proposition on
large scale, induce others to put
money into it. He'll put the camp on
a working basis. If the COLDS here
that will be sound one. There Is
no doubt in my mind that Patrick
Casey picked the best side of the
gulch. The indications are in sight
there would say sell these for cash,
holding out on price until Keith re-
fuses to offer more. He'll come back
for final bid. But let him organize
with your claims. Those claims are
the big bet of this camp, and he
knows it."
"Fifty-one per cent, an the names
Molly Casey, then," said Sandy.
What's more, you're to be consult
ng engineer or whatever they call
the fat job, Westlake. I'm dawg
tired. Sam, let's shack over to our
claims"
Sandy, Sam and Mormon returned
to the Three Star with the papers
1rawn and signed and the shares of
stock issued that gave 20 per cent Of
he Molly property to her and 20 to
he three partners. Keith returned
% New York with his 40 per cent to
weave his plans for the full develop
nent of the claims he had acquired.
He had the capital and was willing
q nnf II intn davalnninQ the Mollv