New Britain herald., 1924-12-20
BEGIN HERE TODAY

| arthur, Springer and Macarthur gel Into a heated argument over a bad deal the prospectors received from Macarthur in the past. You ain't no good, Macarthur" says Springer You skinned me out of one neat little bunch of money. You wont skin me out Of another" Mac. arthur draws gun and kill, Springer. Nichols comes up with 6 yell,
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 You damned cutthroat." he wal screaming, his voice thrown into 6 high falsetto by his emotion, and he ran forward pumping away with his revolver. Not bullet hummed close to the mark. Hii aim was so wild that Macarthur raised his own weapon with the calm precision of one firing at a target, and Nichols pitched on his face while his gun rolled and clat- tered down the slope.
 Macarthur waited until the echoes died down. He faced his horse. which had raised its head and was regarding the motionless bodies with a mild interest.
 This is he'll" breathed Mac. arthur. T didn't mean"
 However, the thing was done and since it was accomplished only fool would let a twinge of con science drive him away before he had reaped the harvest of his crime, He went to the shack searched it thoroughly. and found a little cash, a ten pound sack of gold which was prize almost worth the shooting, he decided and finally he took from the wall d bride with which to replace his own broken one. In five minutes he was riding down the mountain again.
 He paused at the first crossing of the river In the valley. He tied heavy rock to his bridle and threw it In. After that how was any human being to tell that he had been there? For not soul in the world knew 10 what destina- ton he had been riding that day and certainly the keenest eyes in the world could never trace him over the rocks on which he had been riding.
 But before he reached that river, Harry Gloster returned to the mine and he returned leading his horse, which was loaded down with game. He really was d poor shot. But luck had been with him twenty times this day. It had seemed that he could not miss.
 He came back, however, to the black and silent cabin, and when he lighted the lantern he carried it out and found the two dead men lying as they had fallen The lam tern shuddc d In his hand.
 The motive for the double killing was patent at once. For the gold was gone. He went back and car ricd the dead men to the same spot. And when they lay on their backs with the dirt brushed from their faces, they were wonderfully un- changed from the two he had left that morning.
 They must be buried, And he buried them in miners fashion. He took them 10 the old shaft which they had begun to dig until the false vein disappeared. At the mouth oi the hole he sank drill a few inches, welding a double jack with one hand and raining the blows al if he were swinging q carpenter s hammer, for he was a giant of strength. Then he put in his stock of powder. lighted the fuse, and watched the explosion roll twenty tons of stone across the entrance.
 Now for the ride to town! He saddled his horse. the only horse of the three which they pastured near the mine which was capable of bearing his weight It was not un- til the saddle was in place that the other thought came 10 him. sup pose that he rode into town and told them what he had found, They would come pouring out to see the site Of the tragedy.
 But no .sooner were they there than they would begin to ask ques- lions. and those questions would he prompted by the discovery that the mine was paying in rich ore A rich mine owned by three part pers. Of whom two arc suddenly and sadly killed. How fortunate how extremely fortunate for tho third member Of the group.
 It came sickeningly home 10 him He was new 10 that land. No one knew him. No one would vouch for him. Strangers would compose the jury that tried him. A strange iudge would advise them, 4 furious prosecutor would pour forth hl' eloouence about this dastardlS crime - the murder of two honest old prospectors!
 sweat stood upon his forehead Sweat poured out at his armpi's And every mile that he traYeled gave him time for thoughts.
 He went to the town. indeed nu, he did not ride into the center ol it Instead, he left his horse at the outskirts, saddle and all There ne naused moment to rub the nose of the honest mustang and mur- mur: They'll find you. old timer. ThevU give you some chuck. know you're hungry as sin! men pe went on. ,,,.
 He sneaked through the village He came to the railroad station and han an hour later he "ss aboard a freight train and bound for parts farther south.
 When the rsttling wheels hap spun beneath the train TOT l"o hours. he dropped of at a pace .,t..ra it had stopped for water