Evening star., 1923-09-13
CHAPTER TX.

L nave after these many months. Isn't
il discouraging, Mr.. Hawkins?" The
latter. leaning back against soft pill
lows. took little slips of paper, one
at a time from Tam's hand, and read
each one with care. as she explained
its meaning.
The slips Of paper represented all
OF the notes, dates and facts Susie
had been able to collect in waging
her lone battle of vengeance against
the Salmon River Gold Co, Inc.
I'm afraid we're too late, little
girl. were. much too late. You should
have come to me. or to some one
months ago." was Hawkins only
comment as he finished reading.
Oh 1 wanted to-, so badly. but
whom could trust? Every one
poor brother! I couldn't let any one
here know of him, But I did intend
getting help. after I had done all
could. You see. / knew so little of
business, Mr.. Hawkins. But tell me.
why am l too late?" Yet, even as
she spoke. Tam knew that the task
she had undertaken was far too great
and that Hawkins was right after all
ou've signed away your mine
Tam, and so have the other placer
DOIu SlucS the
creek; Browning owns Salmon Tooth
Pass. so even IL you had your claims
restored, how could you come in and
out? They are too strong. Tam, too
strong. Why. they wanted my Dead
Horse Mine. 1 held out. and look
what they've done to me!'' In spite
of his emaciated face his jaw muscles
Dulged as. he contemplated on this
last remark
But if 1 can prove they really
4hnnn lot
miners, and that they don't intend
developing them. that they only want
10 sell stock, won't they be COM
PEELED TO give them back?"
Prove it," Hawkins WINGED with
pain as he snorted the words. How?
Every office is filled with company
men! Even the land office is bulg-
ing with them: what chance have
your
But the others! They will all find
out that their contracts are valueless.
surely they will rise up and demand
their rights" Tam protested.
Yes, some of them will. Tam. some
of them; but the miners aren't to-
gether. Spies are everywhere! Where
is Jonas? Here, look" Hawkins
note. Here you are, disappeared
1t reads. that's what happened to one
miner that talked too much. Here's
another, Crabtree. old Silas Crabtree.
Made a complaint on Monday, threat
ened action, disappeared on the fol-
lowing Wednesday. Something weird
and mysterious about it, Tam. Don't
you see how they work? The miners
haven't a chance, not a chance!"
Hawkins clenched his fist and groaned
in evident pain.
Then you mean" Tam asked
testify, that we will all lose our
property, all of US. who have worked
so hard and so long?
I'm afraid so. Tam, I'm beginning
to think you will. I've tried to warn
them all. but they called me an old
gopher, and laughed at my advice. ]
thought l would strike something at
the Dead Horse, and fight the com
pany back, but that's over, too, /
guess"
but you said you had a trick
to turn, or something; surely you
know some way it can be stopped
it can't be all lost! Oh, that would
be too terrible! All these people
all of them cheated and ruined, it
can't be! 1t must be stopped" Susie's
eyes sparkled with anger as she
spoke.
There's lots we might do, If
weren't here, but there's no time for
all this now, child. It's seven days
already since Slim Eliot started 70:
Jumbo Point. He'll be crossing the
ridge any day now. and when he
comes" worried frown came over
Hawkins face, land when he comes.
even you, Tam, won't be able to hold
Butler Garret back"
Tamarack Sue shuddered as she
answered: 81 never saw him so ter
rible as he looked today, Mr.. Haw-
kins. I thought he must have known
of our signals, he questioned me SO
closely. / wonder how Mr.. Alden is?
I've been afraid to go near the house
again; the snow has been so soft
that my tracks would surely show,
but he has siEnaled back avery night.
He's alive at least. But what will
happen when Eliot returns? And he
may return in the night. We will
never know. oh, Mr.. Hawkins. please
let me get the sheriff and stop 1t all.
He can at least delay things; give US
O. chance. ."
"That's just what you shouldn't
we'll ask ]. D. himself to help you.
They would arrest Pete for the rob-
berry and for my murder. You're for
getting these, little girl" Hawkins
tapped significantly at the slips Of y
and it will mean just one more of
these. that's all"
>@But what can we do? We must
do something" Tam protested. i
can't sit here and see you both muir
her eyes. cit can't mean that, Mr.
Hawkins, have we no way of pre-
venting it? Oh, If Butler wasn't so
awfully suspicious. If he'd only let
me, I'd-Td oh, Mr.. Hawkins. we
must stop this thingr' Tears rolled
down her cheeks as she buried her
head in her arms and sobbed.
Thoroughly aroused, Hawkins tried
to calm her. "But he Isn't here yet.
You got a signal tonight? Well, Eliot
won't try to pass the ridge at night;
we have one more Day, possibly two.
Many things can happen in a day.
The letter from San Francisco On
the way six days now; II should be
here any time. Come, Tam, be brave,
something will happen"